Hospital Dedicates Non-Denominational Space and Illuminated Garden for Reflection
Surrounded by approximately 125 guests, hospital staff, and community leaders, Norwood Hospital formally dedicated its newly completed meditation room and adjoining garden during ceremonies yesterday at noon.
Designed to serve as a quiet sanctuary for prayer and reflection rather than a formal chapel, the meditation room is decorated in subdued tones of dusky rose and gray and features wall-to-wall carpeting. A massive plate glass window forms one entire wall, offering visitors a serene view of the newly landscaped garden.
The garden itself was donated and partially designed and planted by Jean Michaels of Attleboro in loving memory of her late husband, Ernest.
Dedication Highlights & Project Background
Design & Purpose
- Non-Denominational Sanctuary: Hospital spokesman **Robert A. Johnson** noted that while clergy have served the hospital for years, the facility never had a dedicated chapel space. Organizers deliberately chose a meditation room over a traditional chapel since regular religious services will not be held there.
- Location & Funding: Carved out of a portion of the Draper lobby in the hospital’s old wing, construction and furnishing funds were raised entirely through community donations. The space also houses an office for hospital clergy.
- Year-Round Appeal: **Betty Anne Wissman** of Walpole, Chapel Committee chairman and former trustee, remarked: “The garden will be lighted at night and I can imagine it will be very pleasant to go there during the winter and look out on the snow.”
Ceremony & Committee Leadership
- Invocation & Prayers: The Rev. **Daniel Crowley** of St. Peter’s Church delivered the invocation, while Rabbi **Jonathan Case** of Temple Shaare Tefilah offered the opening prayer.
- Chapel Committee: Led by Betty Anne Wissman, the committee included Kay H. Collins, the Rev. Carole Baker, the Rev. Theodore Fritsch, Barbara Tillinghast, Kay Youngdahl, Donald G. Weir, Dr. James E. O’Neil, Robert A. Johnson, RNs Roberta Trahan, Gail Douglas, and Ida Kerwin, Bruce K. Komiske, Conrad Girard, Robert Simpson, and Marion Sprague. (Photo captured by staff photographer **Greg Derr**).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Hospital Stories
-
Midday Fire at 12 Vernon Street Sends 21 Firefighters to Norwood Hospital-August 8, 1974
A fast-moving basement fire at 12 Vernon Street caused $16,000 in damage and sent 21 firefighters to Norwood Hospital for smoke inhalation and heat-related injuries.
-
Norwood Appeals Board Denies Permit For South Norwood Development-July 27, 1974
The Norwood Appeals Board rejected a nine-acre duplex development by Hobbs Realty Trust due to severe flooding risks, drainage issues, and emergency vehicle access concerns.
-
Norwood Police Chief James M. Murphy Dies At 54-November 23, 1973
Norwood Police Chief James M. Murphy, 54, died yesterday at Norwood Hospital, where he was admitted Thanksgiving Day after a heart attack. Chief Murphy, a Norwood police officer for 33 years and police chief for 10 years, was one of the state’s youngest police chiefs when appointed in 1963. A funeral Mass will be said…
-
Norwood Hospital to Combat Suburban Drinking Crisis-October 24, 1973
As Norwood Hospital’s new alcoholism coordinator, Joan Gallagher partners with local police and employers to address the hidden crisis of suburban alcoholism across the 11-town region.
-
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…
-
Budget-Minded Norwood Officials Form Committee to Trim Overweight Town Report-August 2, 1973
Following a record 580-page centennial town report costing $6,800, Norwood town manager John P. Mogan and local officials formed a special committee to cut extraneous material and reduce future printing costs.
-
Police-Fire Substation Proposed for Old South Norwood Theater Site-November 6, 1972
Led by Selectman William F. Butters, Norwood officials are moving to demolish the former South Norwood theater on Washington Street to construct a new public safety substation.
-
First Male Graduate Breaks Tradition at Peabody Practical Nursing School-August 28, 1972
David Thurber of Austin Street breaks tradition as the lone male among 32 graduates to become the Henry O. Peabody School’s first male licensed practical nurse.
-
Busy Norwood Teenager Balances Pageants, Volunteer Work, and Personal Goals-August 26, 1972
Fifteen-year-old Linda Diane Firth of Buckingham Road reflects on her titles as Miss Norwood and first runner-up in the Miss Massachusetts Teenager Pageant while managing a busy schedule of hospital volunteering and civic activities.
-
Father Miszkin, Pastor of St. Peter’s Polish Church, Passes Away Unexpectedly-August 16, 1971
The Rev. Ferdinand V. Miszkin, longtime pastor of St. Peter’s Polish Church on St. Joseph Avenue in Norwood, passed away unexpectedly at Norwood Hospital at age 62.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.