Norwood Board Weighs Alternatives For Two Lyman Place Houses-October 17, 1973

Rewritten Narrative Feature

A Town Divided Over Municipal Property

The future of two Lyman Place houses—purchased by Town Meeting for $25,000—remains completely unresolved following a tense and ultimately inconclusive joint meeting between the Board of Selectmen, the Youth Commission, and representatives from the Pulse hotline. Situated near the public works yard, the properties were initially eyed as an ideal location for a youth drop-in center. However, competing proposals have thrown the town’s plans into disarray, leaving municipal leaders searching for a clear path forward.

Competing Visions: Youth Center vs. Alcohol Halfway House

The debate intensified dramatically when Dr. John Kelly from Norwood Hospital stepped forward with an alternative proposal to utilize both municipal buildings for adult alcohol halfway houses. This suggestion caught selectmen by surprise, as discussions had long centered around establishing a dedicated drop-in space for local adolescents.

When pressed by municipal leaders, officials from Pulse revealed they were not nearly as eager to open and operate a youth drop-in center as both the selectmen and the Youth Commission had previously assumed. Selectman Walter J. Dempsey and Youth Commission Chairman Dr. Paul Jansen noted they had been operating under the impression that Pulse was fully committed to running the facility, a possibility first broached during a meeting last February.

Weighing the Pitfalls and Potential

Adding to the caution, The Rev. Joseph P. McDermott, speaking on behalf of Pulse, commented that for the organization to take over a drop-in center entirely on its own “could be dangerous, and that is why the organization is hesitant.” While the Pulse board of directors was scheduled to vote on whether it wished to operate a drop-in center the following day, Rev. McDermott clarified that the group had previously only suggested a drop-in center “would be good there.” He added that management could potentially fall to either the town, the town operating alongside the Youth Commission, or Pulse if formally requested.

The Youth Commission had previously submitted a comprehensive report highlighting both the pitfalls and advantages of a drop-in center while recommending a strict set of conditions should Pulse ultimately take the reins. Yet, as the meeting concluded without answers, Dr. Jansen and Rev. McDermott both pointed out a compelling counter-perspective: an adult alcohol halfway house could prove just as valuable to the community, noting that many adolescent hardships in Norwood stem directly from living with problem drinking in the home.

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