Combined Police Action Averts Near-Riot Following Skating Rink Disturbance-September 1, 1964

A massive coordinated response by Norwood police, state troopers, and neighboring departments averted a potential teen riot following a violent disturbance at a Route 1 roller skating dance. The trouble began inside the Art Johnson Skating Rink on Route 1 near the Westwood line, where an undetermined number of youths among a crowd of dancers engaged in a pushing and shoving match that quickly escalated.

Rapid Escalation and Request for Reinforcements

Sgt. James Curran and Officer William Costello—who had been stationed inside the hall after police received prior intelligence warning of a potential gang rumble—immediately called for reinforcements as five or six separate fights broke out simultaneously around 8:30 p.m. The hall was quickly emptied, swelling the crowd outside to approximately 500 teenagers who spilled into an adjoining parking lot and scattered across town.

Police Chief James M. Murphy noted that no specific issue caused the outbreak, describing it as “a few out of town kids with a few drinks in them picking fights with one another.” Investigators observed that the crowd featured many youngsters sporting “mop-top” and “Beatle-style” haircuts, accompanied by teenage girls with shaggy Bohemian hairstyles. While a large proportion of the youth hailed from Boston sections including Mattapan, Roslindale, and Roxbury—with others identifying as residents of Quincy and Hull—Chief Murphy emphasized that very few local Norwood youths were involved in the initial altercations.

State Police Intervention and Curfew Enforcement

As the unrest spread along Route 1 toward Norwood Center, nearly 40 officers from State Police barracks in Foxboro, Middleboro, and Framingham—led by Cpl. Daniel O’Brien—rushed to the scene equipped with tear gas guns and riot control gear. Eight off-duty Norwood patrolmen were also recalled to duty.

Authorities established checkpoints and screening areas across commercial zones:

• Art Johnson Drive-In Restaurant: Approximately 300 youths milled about the drive-in parking lot before combined Norwood, Westwood, and State Police dispersed the mob and ordered the establishment to close.
• Mister Donut (Route 128 Interchange): State and Westwood police screened all incoming traffic and turned away would-be customers.
• Norwood Center: A dedicated detail headed by Chief Murphy and Sgt. William Travers swept through downtown, ordering ice cream shops and youth hangouts to close early. Officers stopped suspicious vehicles, questioned occupants, took license plate numbers, and ordered out-of-town teenagers to leave town immediately.

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