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Norwood Hospital Administrator David P. Buchmueller stated that the hospital has “no interest” in purchasing the former Aaron Guild School. David P. Buchmueller outlined the institution’s official position in a letter to Town Manager John J. Carroll, which was distributed to about twenty neighborhood residents and local officials during a community meeting held to gather ideas for marketing the property. Located directly across Washington Street from the hospital, the large two-story yellow brick building closed as a school two years prior and had been partially rented out since.
While the hospital—currently investing over $30 million in modernization and expansion—chose not to buy the site, David P. Buchmueller emphasized that the hospital cares deeply about how the 4.3-acre property is utilized. He noted a definite need in this community for good quality, conveniently located medical office space, adding that converting the building into professional offices or residential apartments for the elderly would financially benefit the town without working a hardship on the surrounding neighborhood. However, he cautioned against selling the building for a nursing home or retirement facility due to potential regulatory delays.
Any formal proposal to sell the school remains months away, as Town Manager John J. Carroll explained that an accurate engineering plan, land survey, and title search are needed first to resolve complex boundary questions, such as a portion of Bond Street overlapping the building footprint. Carroll planned to request funding from selectmen for the survey. During an informal poll, Carroll found decreasing opposition among neighbors to adding paved parking at the site, though residents remained split on whether residential condominiums or elderly congregate housing would be acceptable uses. Concerns were also raised by local resident Mary Foley of Bond Street regarding the loss of green space, while discussions included potential buffer strips ranging from 30 to 50 feet along Hoyle Street, Everett Avenue, and Parkway to protect neighboring homes.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Hospital Stories
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Norwood Hospital Proposes Purchasing Civic Center as Expansion Alternative, Other Selectmen’s Notes-August 6, 1975
Facing severe space constraints and rising relocation estimates to Walpole, Norwood Hospital officials proposed acquiring the Civic Center as a viable local expansion alternative during a selectmen’s meeting.⠀
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New Hospital Center Handles July 4th Rush-July 10, 1975
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Proposed Land Swap Between Norwood Civic Center and Hospital Expansion Site Generates Mixed Reactions-August 17, 1974
Candidate Francis J. Keady proposed trading the Norwood Civic Center for the hospital’s 24-acre Walpole expansion site, drawing skepticism from town manager John P. Mogan and selectman Joseph W. Wall.
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Norwood Appeals Board Denies Permit For South Norwood Development-July 27, 1974
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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