📰 Norfolk County in 1965: A Portrait of Community, Resilience, and Everyday Life
Commemorating the stories and spirit of our town through the lens of the Norfolk County Press, August 25, 1965.
🏡 A County of Homes and Hopes
In the summer of 1965, Norfolk County was a tapestry of growing neighborhoods, modest ranches, and stately colonials. Families in Norwood, Walpole, Sharon, Canton, and Foxboro were settling into homes priced between $13,500 and $28,000—many built by local craftsmen like George H. Davis of East Walpole, whose legacy of homebuilding shaped the region’s residential character.
From cozy capes ideal for newlyweds to sprawling Dutch Colonials with screened porches and butler’s pantries, the real estate pages reflected a community in motion—expanding, investing, and dreaming.
🚗 On the Road: Cars, Crashes, and Community
Used car lots buzzed with deals: a 1964 Chevy Impala Super Sport for $2,095, a 1963 Volkswagen for $995, and mechanic specials for under $500. But the roads weren’t always kind.
A late-night crash near the Morrill Memorial Library sent two Norwood residents to the hospital. And ten years earlier, Hurricane Diane had turned Route 1 into a river, submerging Cadillacs and Dodges in twelve feet of water. Billy Wragg and Harvey Clark of Sansone Motors famously donned swimsuits to tow a stranded Dodge—an image that still floats in local lore.
🌊 Remembering Diane: A Storm Etched in Memory
August 25, 1965 marked the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Diane, which dropped 12 inches of rain on Norfolk County. Hundreds of homes flooded, industries were crippled, and two boys were rescued from the raging Neponset River by firefighters who themselves capsized during the mission.
Bird & Son and Plymouth Rubber suffered losses in the millions. Yet the community rallied—firefighters, police, and public works crews worked around the clock to restore order. It was a moment that defined the county’s resilience.
🕊️ Lives Remembered
The obituary pages honored lives that shaped the county:
- George H. Davis, a builder whose homes still stand in East Walpole and Hyannis.
- Albin Stitt, a chemist and antique collector from Norwood.
- Mary Devine, an Irish immigrant and mother of six, remembered at St. Catherine of Siena Church.
- Alfred L. Atwood, a Norwood native and Amherst graduate, whose civic and legal contributions spanned decades.
Their stories remind us that heritage is built not only in buildings and roads, but in the lives lived within them.
🎓 Civic Pride and Cultural Flourish
Bentley College was expanding into a new $25 million campus in Waltham, and George E. Phalen of Norwood had just been elected Treasurer of its National Alumni Association.
Meanwhile, Mrs. May Atwood of Norwood was named exhibit chairwoman for the United Federation of Doll Collectors, preparing to host conventions in Chicago and Boston. Her passion for preservation and storytelling mirrored the county’s own.
🛍️ Everyday Life: Prices, Promotions, and Personality
- Sirloin steak: $1.49/lb
- Ground beef: $0.69/lb
- Miracle Whip: $0.47/quart
- Schoolgirl ensembles: $9.99
- Haircuts for teens: “Startle the stag line” at Plaza Beauty Salon
- Grocery delivery: 25¢, fruits and vegetables included
These prices, now quaint, reflect a simpler time—when a family could furnish a home, fill a pantry, and fuel a car on a modest budget.
📚 A Living Legacy
The Norfolk County Press of August 25, 1965 is more than a newspaper—it’s a time capsule. It captures the pulse of a community: its joys, its losses, its ambitions, and its humor. From the classifieds to the obituaries, from storm rescues to doll conventions, it tells the story of a county that worked hard, cared deeply, and lived fully .Let this commemorative article serve as a tribute to the people and places that made Nowood what it was—and what it continues to be.
🕊️ Vital Statistics: Deaths & Obituaries
Notable Individuals
- George H. Davis (64)
Retired builder from East Walpole; moved to Hyannis. Built many homes in the region. Survived by four children and multiple siblings. Funeral held at St. Mary’s Church, Walpole. - Albin Stitt (78)
Retired chemist and antique collector from Norwood. Born in Czechoslovakia. Survived by four children. Burial at Forest Hills Cemetery. - Mary Devine (60)
Irish-born resident of Norwood. Mother of six, including children in Hyde Park, Rehoboth, and East Walpole. Funeral at St. Catherine of Siena Church. - Alfred L. Atwood (78)
Retired lawyer and realtor from Norwood. Amherst graduate with degrees from UPenn and BU Law. Funeral in Southport, Maine; committal in Norwood. - J. Curtis Probert
Former Norwood resident. Survived by three sons, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. - Edward L. Wolff
Retired design superintendent at Scovill Manufacturing, Waterbury, CT. Father of a Norwood resident. Held patents in casting procedures.
🚨 Accidents & Rescues
- Walpole Plane Crash
A family of four survived a crash of their Piper Tri-Pacer. Rescuers used an 85-foot aerial ladder and a boat to reach the flooded airport crash site. - Hurricane Diane (1955) Retrospective
Ten years earlier, Diane dropped 12 inches of rain, crippling local industry and flooding homes.- 350 cellar pump-out requests in Norwood alone
- Two boys rescued from the Neponset River by firefighters who themselves capsized
- Cars submerged in 12 feet of water on Upland Road
- Bird & Son and Plymouth Rubber suffered millions in damage
🧑🎓 Civic & Cultural Highlights
- Bentley College Expansion
George E. Phalen of Norwood elected Treasurer of Bentley’s National Alumni Association. The college was developing a new 102-acre campus in Waltham at a cost of $25 million. - Doll Collectors Convention
Mrs. May Atwood of Norwood named exhibit chairwoman for the United Federation of Doll Collectors. She helped host a 5-day convention in Washington, D.C., with over 3,000 attendees. - Civil Service Exam Results
18 local residents (from Norwood, Walpole, Sharon, Canton, Westwood) placed on the state’s eligibility list for Senior Clerk and Typist roles.
🧒 Youth & Education
- Driver Education Promotion
A&B Auto School offered classes starting Sept. 9 for males aged 16–25, promising up to $73.50/year in insurance savings. - Back-to-School Hair Styling
Plaza Beauty Salon promoted teen and pre-teen haircuts to “startle the stag line” with stylish looks.
🛍️ Local Color & Anecdotes
- Tow Line Swim Rescue
Billy Wragg and Harvey Clark of Sansone Motors donned swimsuits to attach a tow line to a submerged Dodge after Hurricane Diane. - Cadillacs & Dodges Submerged
Sightseers groaned at the sight of luxury cars sunk in floodwaters—an ironic twist to the storm’s aftermath. - Bird & Son Plant Losses
The Canton River flooded the Plymouth Rubber Company, scattering bales of raw rubber through the streets. - Delivery Service for 25¢
A Norwood grocery offered personalized delivery—including fruits and vegetables—for just a quarter.
Compiled by the Norwood Historical Society, with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini.