Bank Items Find New Life at Local Historical Organizations

GROTON, Conn. - As Chelsea Groton Bank approaches its 171st anniversary, historical pieces once displayed in the Bank’s downtown Norwich building are being given a new life at the Slater Museum of Norwich Free Academy and Mystic River Historical Society. The Bank recently donated portraits of two former presidents of Chelsea Savings Bank, Lorenzo Blackstone and Edward Harland. Also donated were a framed newsprint picture of flooded Downtown Norwich, and a framed building sketch and building blueprints of the One Franklin Square building to Slater Museum. In addition, Chelsea Groton donated Groton Savings Bank presidential portraits of Nathan Gallup Fisher and John Rossie to the Mystic River Historical Society.  
 
“We are elated these pieces are going to Slater Museum and Mystic River Historical Society,” said Lori Dufficy, EVP, Chief Experience and Engagement Officer at Chelsea Groton Bank. “After digitizing each of these items for the Bank’s own Legacy Wall display in our headquarters, it was important to us to find the proper home where these artifacts could be preserved and displayed to help recount the history of the community they were created for. These antiques have a story to tell, and the fact that the community can hear, read, or see their stories again after many decades is exciting!”
 
"Slater Museum is thrilled to receive these valued works of art and artifacts from Chelsea Groton Bank,” said Dayne Rugh, Director of Slater Museum at Norwich Free Academy. “These pieces not only enhance our existing permanent collection but also allow us to preserve the stories that they represent. We are grateful to have partnered with Chelsea Groton Bank to keep our shared community history intact."
 
Groton Savings Bank, founded in Mystic in 1854, and Chelsea Savings Bank, founded in Norwich in 1858, merged as one financial institution – Chelsea Groton Bank – in 1982. The portraits of Groton Savings Bank presidents Gallup and Rossie, dated 1870 and 1956 respectively, were painted by unknown artists. The portrait of Chelsea Savings Bank president Lorenzo Blackstone, dated 1873, was painted by A. H. Emmons, and the portrait of Chelsea Savings Bank president Edward Harland, dated 1910, was painted by Charles Noel Flagg.
 
About Chelsea Groton Bank
Based in Groton, Conn., Chelsea Groton Bank is a full-service mutually owned bank with over $1.7 billion in assets. Chelsea Groton Bank’s products and services include consumer banking, business banking, mortgage and business lending, cash management, financial planning, and financial education programming. With 14 branch locations throughout New London County, Chelsea Groton Bank also provides online and mobile banking, 24-hour telephone banking, video banking, and nationwide ATM banking for individuals, families and businesses. To learn more, please visit www.chelseagroton.com. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS Institution ID 402928.