Officials from Factory Mutual Engineering and Research Corp. broke ground yesterday for a major $7 million conference and training center at their Route 1 complex.
Situated on a scenic, wooded 30-acre tract north of the existing complex near the Neponset River, the self-contained facility will feature a five-story private hotel with accommodations for 125 insurance agents attending training sessions, alongside 24 conference rooms and modern dining facilities.
The project is projected to create 50 to 100 initial staff jobs, adding to Factory Mutual’s existing Norwood workforce of approximately 1,400 employees.
Massachusetts Governor Edward J. King joined Factory Mutual Engineering President John A. Love and George R. West, chairman of the Factory Mutual Systems executive committee, to turn the first shovels of earth in a ceremony attended by company executives, spouses, and local Norwood town officials. Praising state cooperation, President Love noted that assistance from the governor’s office in navigating state bureaucracy shaved six to eight months off the project’s timeline. Governor King hailed the new facility as an encouraging indicator for the state’s economic vitality, though he cautioned that regional challenges—such as energy cost hikes and cutbacks at the General Dynamics Shipyard in Quincy—still required attention. (Photography by Larry Welsh).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Cadillac Dealer Carl Johnson Honored At Regional Testimonial-June 16, 1978
From founding the Norwood Airport to developing the Route 1 Automile, a local titan receives state and corporate honors.
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Fire Chief’s Physical Fitness Program Sparks Union Friction-June 8, 1978
Labor tensions rise at the fire station as Union President Collins signals roll-call refusals against mandatory diagnostic health screenings.
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New Regional Title Reflects Chamber’s Growth; Shane Updates Dynamic Industrial Park Progress-June 7, 1978
Officially, the Norwood Chamber of Commerce now will be known as the Norwood Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President William C. Phipps made reference to the new name in remarks during the meeting last night at Airport. The change in title attests to the chamber’s diverse growth in membership, chamber Executive Secretary Robert H. Cook told…
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Talk of the Town-June 6, 1978
The Norwood Planning Board moves to claim an $18,000 construction loan from builder Richard Saccone for unfinished roads at Grandview Estates, while also endorsing a major zoning shift at the old Norwood Arena site on Route 1.
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Charles Strumski Retains Norwood Conservation Seat-August 17, 1977
Despite being denied reappointment by the town manager, veteran official Charles Strumski continues to serve the Norwood Conservation Commission.
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Norwood Conservation Commission Approves Park Place Industrial Site-August 17, 1977
Developer James H. Shane and the Norwood Conservation Commission have agreed on a 56,000 cubic yard flood mitigation plan for Park Place on Route 1.
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Conservation Commission Reaches Flood Control Agreement with Park Place Developer-August 17, 1977
Reaching a compromise under the Wetlands Protection Act, Norwood’s conservation commission approved flood control plans for the Park Place industrial park on Route 1.
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Norwood Plaza Tenants Offer to Fund New Traffic Lights, Other Town Business-August 11, 1977
Anxious to fix traffic hazards at Walpole and Wilson streets, Norwood Plaza tenants offered to install traffic signals at their own expense, winning approval from town selectmen.
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Norwood Emergency Team Services (NETS) Formed to Assist Police with Traffic Control and Patrols-August 8, 1977
Led by Patrolman Paul A. Bishop, the volunteer Norwood Emergency Team Services (NETS) organization utilizes CB radios to assist local police with traffic control during major accidents, fires, and weekend patrols.
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Norwood Mall Location Back On Market-This Day In Norwood History-July 21, 1977
The 25-acre property at Route 1 and Union Street in Norwood is back on the market after the Lanning Corp. allowed its development option to lapse. The site, once intended for an innovative specialty mall, is now open for new commercial or industrial proposals.
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