A Historical Sketch of Norwood by Dr. Francis Tinker-Part II-This Day In Norwood History-October 26, 1898

SOME NOTABLE NAMES.

Norwood has been the residence of men somewhat noted for intellectual eminence and literary ability. A name which will occur to everyone is that of the late Rev. George Hill.

Another name, the name of one once pastor of the old Congregational church, author of a once famous book, “A Voice from the Parsonage,” notable in later life as an aggressive newspaper writer and local agitator, is that of the late Rev. Harrison G. Park, Rev. Theron Brown, a former resident of Norwood, now of Newtonville, is a notable literary man, who was for many yearn a distinguished contributor to the Youth’s Companion.

Of course every one will recall the name of Rev. J. Warren Talbot, a distinguished figure at Norwood town meetings, and who was, we believe, prominent in the movement which made Norwood a town.

Other men, whose deaths have been only recent and who need no added eulogy here, were Henry B. and Francis M. Baker and Caleb Ellis. No history of Norwood would be complete without some mention of Norwood’s old-time dry goods dealer, who began his career as the driver of a peddler’s cart, and who long occupied the store now occupied by Folan, the shoe man.—David Burnham Barrington.

The period which began with the “forties” (editors note, 1840’s) may be called South Dedham, and Norwood’s most important historic epoch. It was the period when the foundations of much of Norwood’s present solid prosperity were laid. In a more material sense, it was the building period. In 1855 Nelson White built on Nahatan Street the finest house that had been erected in what is now the centre of town for over twenty years. The older residences of Fisher Gay, Joseph Day, George S. Winslow, and Mrs. Samuel Morrill, now Mrs. Doane, were built from similar models. The substantial houses on Washington Street, now occupied by Mrs. Lyman Smith, Mrs. H. B. Baker, and Rev. W. B. Eddy, are examples of the fine residences of a former generation.

NORWOOD’S GREATEST PERIOD.

The forty-year period, which, roughly speaking, may be said to extend from 1840 to 1880, was the epoch in which nourished some of the best men which South Dedham or Norwood has ever had. The Hon. Joseph Day, merchant and manufacturer, and father of the present Lewis Day, both of whom have been state senators from this district, then there was Fisher Gay, one of the best and most philanthropic men South Dedham ever had. Willard Gay, father of George W. Gay, was a man of stalwart and great moral excellence, and was, for a time, South Dedham’s postmaster. We may only mention briefly other men who helped to build the town and won honorable fame in their day and generation. Lyman Smith, Deacon Curtis G. Morse, who contributed largely to the building of the Baptist church and to many other good causes, Joel Metcalf Baker, father of the late Henry and Francis M. Baker, and another warm friend of the Baptist movement, L. W. Bigelow, George Winslow, Sr., Deacon Samuel Morrill, Deacon Lewis Rhoades, Francis Tinker, Isaac Colburn, E. Fisher Talbot, Rev. J. Warren Talbot, Otis Morse, Sidney Morse, the Webbs, the Wheelocks, Josiah Tisdale, Deacon Willard Everett, George Everett, J. Edward Everett, Samuel E. Pond,—these and many others like them were the men who made South Dedham noted, not only for industrial growth, but for moral earnestness and philanthropic effort. Old South Dedham was a strong temperance town, and its strong annual vote for “no license” is proof that the community has not wholly departed from the traditions of the fathers.

NORWOOD’S FIRST TOWN MEETING.

The first meeting of the citizens of the South Parish in Dedham interested in the formation of a town, was held in Village Hall, Dec. 22, 1871, and a committee was chosen to appear before the legislative committee on towns and support the petition of George B. Talbot and two hundred and fifty-one other voters within the limits of the old parish lines, with the exception of a small territory and a few persons from East Walpole, whose business and family interests connected them with old South Dedham. The act creating the town of Norwood was approved Feb. 23, 1872, and on March 6 the citizens held a public meeting and celebrated the event. At Norwood’s first town meeting, Willard Gay called the meeting to order, and George Lewis was chosen moderator. Norwood’s first town officers were the following:

Selectmen, Samuel E. Pond, J. Edward Everett, and Willard Gay;

Assessors, Tyler Thayer, Caleb Ellis, and George H. Morse;

Town clerk, Francis Tinker;

Treasurer, L. Waldo Bigelow;

School committee, Hon. John C. Park, Francis O. Winslow, Rev. E. A. Wyman;

Constables, Captain E. W. Strout, James Engles.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)

This entry is part of Norwood’s searchable civic timeline, drawn from town reports, newspapers, or firsthand accounts.