Board of Selectmen Consider Fire Chief Succession Following Chief Harry Butler’s Retirement-October 25, 1962

Norwood Fire Chief Position Remains Vacant as Selectmen Weigh Appointments

The Norwood Board of Selectmen is continuing deliberations to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Fire Chief Harry Butler, who stepped down on Tuesday at midnight. According to Board Secretary Mrs. Mary G. Wilford, no formal time limit has been imposed on the selectmen’s decision, and applications have not been actively solicited from outside the department.

While tradition in Norwood has often seen the deputy chief automatically step into the role—as Chief Butler did when succeeding retiring Chief Alonzo Earle—Mrs. Wilford noted that an outside appointment remains a possibility. In the interim, Deputy Chief Irving Dobson has assumed leadership as acting fire chief, a role he has routinely filled during vacations and leaves of absence. Deputy Chief Dobson, who resides with his family at 18 Marion Avenue, has served with the Norwood Fire Department for 22 years.

Community Briefings: Industrial Committee, Voter Advisory, and Annual Teachers Convention

In other town news, several local developments and meetings were announced:

• Industrial Commission: The Committee on Industrial Establishment scheduled a meeting for tonight at 7:45 p.m. at the Municipal Building.
• Election Reminders: The Town Clerk’s office urged Norwood’s 13,158 registered voters to cast their ballots early on election day to avoid heavy 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. rush-hour crowds. Polling for all town precincts will take place at the Norwood Armory from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Teachers Convention: Nearly 300 educators from the Norwood school system will participate in the annual one-day Teachers Convention tomorrow, according to Robert Fox, principal of the Shattuck School and Norfolk County representative. Teachers will assemble across four regional host schools by grade level:
  • Kindergarten through Grade 3: King Philip Regional High School, Wrentham.
  • Grades 4 through 6: Millis High School (featuring a special section meeting on “Enrichment in the Grades” led by Norwood Special Services Director Miss Ann Lanoue).
  • Junior High: North Junior High School, Randolph.
  • High School: Avon Consolidated School.
  • Featured Speaker: Dr. Abram Sachar of Brandeis University.

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