A Historical Sketch of Norwood by Dr. Francis Tinker-Part III-This Day In Norwood History-October 28, 1898

MORE RECENT HISTORY.

Some names will occur to many of men no longer residents here, who were prominent in the early years of Norwood’s actual existence as a town. Among such names may be mentioned that of Hon. John C. Park, and of those wide-awake businessmen, Charles and T. Frank Gay.

Some of the town’s most important advances in comparatively recent years are the establishment here of the New England, now the New York, New Haven & Hartford car repair shops, the establishment of the great printing and bookmaking industry, with its beautiful grounds and buildings, the Norwood Press and Bindery, later on the opening of the Plimpton Press and Bindery, and the construction of the Norfolk Central Street Railway, an electric road connecting Norwood and East Walpole with Dedham and Forest Hills.

Norwood has, practically, two steam railroads, although these actually represent two divisions of the same railroad system, the New England division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Road, a central line between Boston and New York, and the Wrcntham branch of the Providence division of the same railroad system connecting Norwood with Dedham and Roxbury points on the one band, and with East Walpole, Wrentham, the Attleboros and Providence on the other. Norwood is now nearly as large in population as the old mother town of Dedham, and has long since outclassed her in business importance and diversity of industries. In fact, Norwood is one of the most important commercial and industrial centers in Norfolk County.

JOSEPH P. HAMLIN.

Mr. Joseph Percy Hamlin, son of William and Polenah (Bacon) Hamlin, was born in Sidney, Kennebec County, Me., June 9, 1832. His educational opportunities were scant and were embraced in a few short terms in the common school of Sidney. At the age of twelve years he left school and secured his first situation, towing logs. At sixteen, with only five dollars in his pocket, he went to Boston, travelling by stage to Portland, thence by boat to Boston. For ten days he walked the streets, looking for work, homesick and disheartened, his money all gone, when, providentially, he walked into the Pearl Street House and, while waiting, took up the morning paper, which gave an account of the death of the head waiter of the United States Hotel by drowning in Braman’s baths the day previous. He at once hastened to the hotel and applied for the place, which he fortunately secured, and in which he remained for some time, working for his board. Later the provider gave him $10 per month as bell boy. Out of his scanty wages at the end of the first year, he had saved $25 and deposited it in the old Suffolk Savings Bank. He afterwards secured a situation in the dry goods store of C. F. Hovey & Co., then on Winter Street. From there he went into the service of Mr. Metcalf on the corner of Washington and Boylston Streets, and remained with him until he closed out his business. The next few years he spent in the employ of W. W. Palmer of Salem, who in 1850 kindly secured him a situation with Turner, Wilson & Co., wholesale dealers in dry good, on the corner of Milk and Congress Streets, Boston, where he remained for two years, at a salary of $800 a year. Mr. Brown, the junior partner, then formed the firm of White, Brown, Davis & Co., and Mr. Hamlin became the junior partner, which connection he retained for nine years. Here he conceived the idea and made the suggestion to the firm of selling goods by sample of a traveling salesman. The senior members were incredulous but permitted him to make the trial. The first year he sold goods to the amount of $54,000, demonstrating the practicability of this method. So far as known, he was the first traveling salesman and the originator of this now universally accepted method of doing business. In 1863 Mr. Hamlin left the firm of White, Brown. Davis & Co., and went into business on Chambers Street, New York City, where from Jan. 1 to June 27, 1863, he sold goods to the amount of $1,200,000. He then sold out his business, and, ag providentially, he went to Williman Conn., where he bought real estate at ill rates in 1864. He purchased the Hall estate, the old Brainard House also the Bassett, Atwood, and Hibbl Blocks, and built the Hamlin Block. In 1868 he sold his real estate to old residents of the town, left Willimantic, and bought a farm from Robert Dresser in Needham, Mass., where he resided for three years. He then exchanged his farm for estates in East Boston and established his residence there. In 1880 Mr. Hamlin was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the Second District, consisting of Ward 2, East Boston and was re-elected in 1881. He served during both terms on the Committee of Public Health, and was chairman of the Committee on Pay Roll in the late year. In politics, he has been a lifetime Republican, but was twice elected to the Legislature from a strong Democrat ward on a Republican nomination. Hamlin now resides on his farm of about a hundred acres in Norwood. He is the owner of considerable real estate and has just completed the erection of a new business block at the corner Washington and Day Streets, a picture of which is shown elsewhere. He is in the enjoyment of good health and unbeatable physical and mental activity, and enjoys the goodwill of his many friends and business associates.

L. W. Bigelow & Sons, Dry Goods

SHOES, FURNITURE, CARPETS, STOVES, ETC.

In 1853, when Norwood, then South Dedham, was a small village, compared with the industrial and commercial importance she enjoys today, Mr. L.W. Bigelow began business here on a small scale with a line of dry goods, groceries, and everything usually found in a country store. From the first he was successful, and today the establishment conducted by L.W. Bigelow’s Sons is the largest and acknowledged most reliable house doing business in Norwood or vicinity. The premises occupied on Washington Street in Post Office Square, include store floor of 25 x 80 feet in dimensions, with basement 40 x 60 feet, and are literally packed with a diversified assortment goods, including the latest styles and best makes in dry goods, ladies’ and gentlemen’s furnishing goods, boots and shoes, gentlemen’s hats, trunks, crockery and glassware, carpets, window shade! and paper hangings, in fact, a variety of articles too numerous to itemize, and which must be seen to be appreciated. In addition, they also occupy a two-and-a-half-story building on Cottage Street which is exclusively devoted to office and household furniture, stoves, ranges heaters, refrigerators, sewing machines baby carriages, etc. All these have been bought and are sold on their merits, and are guaranteed to be as represented, and are sold at honest prices. Courteous and attentive assistants are employed under the personal supervision of the proprietors, and every attention is shown for the comfort and convenience of patrons. In conclusion, we can but say that the success of this house during its 45 years of life has been owing to the honesty and integrity of its proprietors, and the same will ensure its success in the future.

Dr. Frederick S. Baston, dentist, whose residence we show elsewhere, enjoys extensive practice in this town, as well as in Boston. He can be found at his office in Norwood on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from nine to five, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. At his office in Boston Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from nine to four. Boston office, Hoffman House, 212 Columbus Avenue, corner of Berkeley Street.

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)