Your Year in Norwood’s Streets, Stories & Neighborhood History
2025 was the year Norwood’s neighborhoods took center stage.
From South Norwood’s evolving streetscape to the deep roots of Swedeville and the quiet corners around the Common, readers returned again and again to the stories that define where we live — and why these places matter.
Below is your Neighborhoods Wrapped, celebrating the most‑read, most‑shared, and most‑talked‑about neighborhood stories of the year.
South Norwood Dominated the Conversation
South Norwood captured more attention than any other neighborhood in 2025.
Points of Interest: South Norwood’s Changing Street Scape
A richly illustrated walk through the district’s transformation.
Growth and Development of South Norwood
A deep look at the neighborhood’s expansion from mill village to modern community.
Images of America: South Norwood
A bestselling book offering a comprehensive visual history of the neighborhood.
Neighborhood Walks Around the Common Stayed Popular
Readers loved exploring the historic streets radiating from the Town Common. Three companion articles formed a “walking tour trilogy.”
To the West of the Common – Washington Street
To the North of the Common – Nahatan Street
To the East of the Common – Central Street
Together, these pieces offered a layered look at the homes, businesses, and civic landmarks that shaped Norwood’s early identity.
Neighborhood Memory Projects Drew Big Engagement
Your audience gravitated toward stories blending geography with personal memory.
We Still Call It Home — Norwood’s Neighborhoods
Savin Avenue: The Neighborhood Expands
These pieces resonated because they weren’t just about streets — they were about belonging.
Historic Maps & Early Settlement Stories Surged
Readers showed strong interest in the earliest layers of Norwood’s neighborhood history.
1876 Map of Norwood
One of the most‑clicked archival items of the year.
The People Who Settled Swedeville
A favorite among genealogists and longtime residents.
Neighborhoods in Transition: Demolition, Development & Change
2025 was a year of looking forward — and looking back at what’s being lost.
Coakley Middle School Demolition Series
Residents followed the transformation of a neighborhood landmark through this multi‑part series:
New Coakley Middle School
A glimpse of what comes next for the neighborhood.
Neighborhoods Wrapped: Your 2025 Takeaway
If 2025 proved anything, it’s that Norwood’s neighborhoods aren’t just places — they’re stories. They’re memory, identity, and community. And your readers showed up for them in record numbers.
This year’s Wrapped celebrates the streets we walk, the homes we remember, and the neighborhoods that continue to shape Norwood’s past, present, and future.
Compiled by the Norwood Historical Society, with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini.
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