End of an Era: Norwood Civic Center Demolition Complete-July 11, 1981

Norwood Civic Center Demolition

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On July 11, 1981, the Norwood Civic Recreation Center—a fixture of the town’s social and recreational life for decades—was leveled as demolition reached its final stages. For longtime resident and former town finance commissioner Ambrose J. Kelly, the sight of the structure reduced to rubble was a somber conclusion to a long, contentious political battle. Kelly, who had served as the weekend manager of the Civic’s tennis courts as far back as 1930, had been a leading voice in the faction that fought for years to block the sale of the facility and its 5.6-acre site to Norwood Hospital.

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The hospital took title to the property 15 months prior and finalized possession on May 1, clearing the way for an approximate $25 million expansion project. While the old wooden sections of the Civic succumbed quickly to the wrecking ball, the reinforced concrete walls of the swimming pool—some three feet thick—presented a significant challenge, requiring hours of heavy machinery work to break apart. By Tuesday, hospital assistant administrator John D. Dalton expects the site to be fully cleared and rough-graded.

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Despite the demolition, the debate over how to honor the town’s pledge to replace the facility continues to divide local leadership. Kelly remains highly critical of the original $2 million sale price, arguing that the facility is impossible to duplicate in today’s market for anything less than $10 million. In contrast, Selectman Walter J. Dempsey defended the transaction as a deal based on professional appraisals. Dempsey argued that the town is already making progress on the replacement program, citing a $500,000 project to renew Eliot Field in South Norwood as proof of the town’s commitment to providing recreation alternatives. Dempsey further suggested that the town look toward the future by repurposing school real estate, such as potential junior high school buildings, rather than burdening taxpayers with the cost of a brand-new complex. As the community looks ahead, voters are expected to decide the future of the civic fund—and a potential relocation to the former Aaron Guild School—in a referendum slated for around Labor Day.

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