The Hurricane of 1938

An oral history of the Hurricane of 1938 in southeastern Connecticut. Read memories from over 65 people who lived through the storm. Illustrated with more than 60 photographs, many never published before.

The hurricane hit on September 21, 1938 with no warning. Wind speeds of 120 miles per hour tore roofs off of houses and schools, uprooted huge trees, and collapsed barns. In New London, a large part of the city burned. After the storm subsided, a tidal surge raced up the Thames River flooding the city of Norwich in places to a depth of eleven feet. Bridges were washed away, dams were washed out and the city was left cut off from all outside communication. Along the shore in Connecticut and Rhode Island, seaside communities were washed away, never to be rebuilt. Within three hours all of southeastern New England was devastated.

This book covers Norwich and its surrounding towns including: Preston, Griswold, Sprague, Canterbury, and Bozrah. Stories are also included from coastal towns such as New London, Lord's Point, and Watch Hill and Misquamicut, Rhode Island.

Written in partnership with The Norwich Bulletin.