Henry Bill Publishing Company

Few of the sons of Norwich have made a more lasting impression upon its material and moral interests than Henry Bill ( 1824 – 1891).  Henry accepted an offer by a relative, Hon, James A. Bill of Lyme, who owned a book publishing company in Philadelphia, to come work for him. He learned the publishing business and traveled often throughout the western states selling books door to door, which was a typical sales method at that time. After three years he returned to Norwich in 1847 to open his own book publishing company. He was encouraged by the elder Harper Bros., of New York, who recognized Henry's skills and who provided him with unlimited credit. Henry's company located at Water and Shetucket Street produced hundreds of thousands of books primarily having to do with travel or religious themes such as Alvan Bond's "History of the Bible". Henry Bill's publishing company grew and prospered over the next twenty-five years. In 1865 the Norwich Board of Trade listed Henry as one of the sixty wealthiest people in Norwich with an annual income of $6,923. With ample prosperity and failing health, Henry embraced retirement. He converted his large publishing business into a joint-stock corporation which continued to flourish as the Henry Bill Publishing Company.

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