Germantown was an almost self-contained section of Norwood in the early 1900s. Located in the Southwest portion of the town, it was largely unsettled land owned by Joseph Fisher. Around 1767 Mr. Fisher sold a large parcel of the land along Hawes Brook to Solomon Bullard who built a house near today’s dam that forms New Pond, and then he extended the road off the Norfolk Bristol Highway (Walpole’s Main Street) beyond the Fisher house to his house. This road became Bullard Street. Mr. Bullard sold the land and house to Edwin Wilson, and the road that ran from today’s Walpole Street (in Norwood) to his house at the end, became Wilson Street. When Norwood was incorporated in 1872 the land along Wilson Street was brought into the new town of Norwood, and Bullard Street remained in Walpole.
Early settlers to this part of South Dedham, found ample waterways, and dammed the three predominate brooks, the Hawes Brook (Ellis Pond), Germany Brook (Gould Pond), and Bubbling Brook (New Pond), and used the waterpower to power their industries. Abijah Fisher’s sawmill, the Ellis paper mill and later their ice business, and Smith and Winslow Tannery, all established themselves here. But it was the Smith and Winslow Tannery on Everett Street that grew the area. The jobs that the tannery provided drew in many immigrants to the area.
Over the years the good jobs and excellent houses, along with the other German speaking families, made this area a place where the German immigrants settled. They established a Turnverein, playing fields, a grocery store, their own hospital, a pool hall, a social and benevolent club, and provided a tightly knit cultural and social community for these workers and their families. It was one of several places that the German-Austrian Gottshceer people settled after WWI their when homeland became Yugoslavia. Today, it is Slovenia.
Today if you knocked on doors in Germantown you would find descendants of these original immigrant families still residing in Germantown and still in touch with those who grew up there though they may have moved to other towns and states. It still remains one of Norwood’s neighborhoods that everyone truly comes home to.
History of the Germantown Area
Points of Interest in Germantown
93 Day Street – F Holland Day House
The F Holland Day House is notable for its unique architectural style, significant reconstruction, and associations with the remarkable publisher, photographer, and philanthropist Fred Holland Day. The Day House, located … Continue reading 93 Day Street – F Holland Day…
To the East of the Common – Central Street
To the west of the town square is Central Street, which during the summer months becomes an extension of the town square. Since the COVID pandemic, the town has placed … Continue reading To the East of the Common –…
To the South of the Common – Cottage Street
Cottage Street forms the Town Square’s southern side. On the opposite side of Washington Street, Cottage Street is largely a residential, this portion of Cottage Street is an extension, which … Continue reading To the South of the Common –…
To the West of the Common – Washington Street
Washington Street is the main thoroughfare through town and forms the eastern border of the Town Square. It splits at the northern edge of town and becomes Walpole Street, known … Continue reading To the West of the Common –…
Downtown Norwood: Country Village to Modern Town Square
South Dedham officially became Norwood when it was incorporated in 1872. However, long before it was incorporated, Norwood was a growing town and busy stopping point for travelers from … Continue reading Downtown Norwood: Country Village to Modern Town…
The Town Square
The current Town Square, or Common, was envisioned by George Willet to be a central business district framed by the Town Hall and the Theater. He undertook the huge effort … Continue reading The Town Square
To the North of the Common – Nahatan Street
North of the Town Square is Nahatan Street. Running directionally east to west, it was originally laid out in the early 1800s, to be the main road between Medfield and … Continue reading To the North of the Common –…
Norwood Neighborhoods Exhibits Sources and Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements: The Norwood Historical Society would like to give a special thank you to several people, who without their knowledge, help and input made the 2022 Walking Tours both interesting … Continue reading Norwood Neighborhoods Exhibits Sources and Acknowledgements
1930 German Residents of Bullard St., Walpole (second half)
#166 Bullard – The home of Carl Doderer Carl Gotlieb Doderer was born 31 Aug 1874 in Backnang, Baden, Germany and died 28 Nov 1941 in Walpole. He was the … Continue reading 1930 German Residents of Bullard St., Walpole…
1930 German Residents of Bullard St., Walpole (first half)
#276 Bullard Street – The home of John Stamphl, John Stampfl was born 27 Jan 1889 Tiefenthal, Gottshee, and died 1980 Walpole. He was the son of Andreas/Andrew Stamphl and … Continue reading 1930 German Residents of Bullard St., Walpole…
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