The New North Schoolhouse-August 14, 1903

New North Schoolhouse Nears Completion on Christian Hill as Monument to Norwood Labor and Enterprise

The striking red brick walls of the new North Schoolhouse can now be seen shining through the trees from nearly any vantage point on Christian Hill. Local observers note that upon its completion, the impressive structure will rank just behind the Morrill Library and the Day Chapel as the third finest public building in town.

Designed and constructed almost entirely through local enterprise, the building project has been praised for its high-quality craftsmanship. General contractor Forrest M. Douglas has overseen stellar work, complemented by masonry contractors Spear & Smith, who handled the massive undertaking of laying 400,000 bricks. Representing the firm’s largest local contract to date, the masonry work has earned a reputation for being first-class in every respect. Spear & Smith, a fixture of the local business community for some twelve years, have built a strong reputation through major projects in Norwood and neighboring Walpole, including recent high-profile contracts for F. W. Bird & Son. Additionally, the building’s plumbing is being handled by local tradesmen, cementing the North Schoolhouse as a true monument to Norwood labor and business acumen.

Town officials hope the schoolhouse will be fully completed and ready for student occupancy by the second week of September.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Norwood Messenger