NORWICH - Have you ever wondered why our local American Legion post and airport bear the name Lieutenant Warren E. Eaton, DSC? Or, if you are of a certain age, it might cross your mind to wonder what happened to the large Jewish community that lived in the area and worshipped in Norwich? You might not know there was a World War II aircraft carrier named the USS Chenango or that New York State produced over 52% of the fighter planes America used in World War II. And, unless you are member of the Norwich High School Class of 1968, you wouldn’t know that 25 of the graduates served in the Armed Forces, two of whom earned Purple Hearts in Vietnam.

Join noted historian Dr. Edward J. “Ed” Erickson at the Guernsey Memorial Library each month through August as he discusses his publications about local and New York State history. Although Erickson specializes in Ottoman and Middle Eastern history, he returns to his hometown roots in many of his journal articles. His range of topics includes Chenango County in WWI, the growth of the Jewish community in Norwich, the aircraft carrier USS Chenango, and the effect of the draft on the Norwich High School classes of 1940 and 1968. There will be time for questions at the conclusion of each presentation. The presentations are open to the public and begin at 6:30 p.m.

The schedule of presentations is:

March 16 - Chenango County in the First World War, “As Seen Through The Norwich Sun”

April 13 - Tradesmen, Cattle Dealers, and Chemists, Chenango County’s Jewish Community from 1914-2025

May 11 - The USS Chenango in World War II, “A ship with her own private rabbit’s foot”

June 15 - The Instrument of Victory, New York State’s Fighter Planes in World War II

July 13 - Kinship, Stories of Norwich High School, the Draft, and War

August 17 - “For Extraordinary Heroism,” Warren Eaton, Jack Lee, and Winning the Distinguished Service Cross.

— Information from Guernsey Memorial Library