The Norwood Hospital Study Committee officially commenced its work gathering information regarding a proposal by hospital officials to purchase the Norwood Civic Center to accommodate long-range facility expansion.
Study Committee Scope and Options
When hospital representatives first approached selectmen a month prior, they indicated a desire to gauge the town’s attitude toward purchasing the 5.3-acre Civic Center property as part of a feasibility study. Norwood Hospital faces three primary strategic alternatives: relocating entirely to the 30-acre “Walwood” site in Walpole donated by industrialist Charles Sumner Bird, expanding locally in Norwood, or implementing a hybrid approach that retains certain healthcare services in Norwood while shifting primary operations to Walpole.
Selectman Joseph F. Curran, serving as committee chairman, indicated that the hospital’s willingness to pay fair market value for the Civic Center parcel and assist the town in financing a replacement facility would be explored with hospital administrator David P. Buchmueller at the group’s subsequent meeting.
Committee members expressed diverse viewpoints on the proposal:
- Recreational Replacement Sites: Town Engineer Robert A. Hamilton presented an extensive list of potential alternative locations for a relocated recreation center, headed by a 37-acre parcel off Mylod Street owned by Mr. Bird (abuting land recently purchased by the town for $94,000). Other suggested sites included land off Clapboardtree Street and Upland Road owned by Polaroid, the Schofield land off Route I-95, old well fields near University Avenue, town-owned Hennessey Field, the Norwood Arena, and land near the Willett School.
- Recreation and Veteran Concerns: Recreation Director Robert H. Ivatts stressed the absolute necessity of receiving a binding commitment from the hospital to construct a modern replacement facility before taking possession of the Civic Center to prevent service interruptions. Meanwhile, committee member Frank Ciavattone, president of the Veterans’ Council, flatly opposed selling the building on emotional grounds, noting that a World War II Memorial addition was dedicated there in 1969 and the facility was recently renamed in honor of the late veteran leader Francis E. Donlan.
Chairman Curran emphasized that the study committee’s sole mandate is to gather factual information and community sentiment rather than issue binding recommendations, with the final decision ultimately resting with town meeting.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Hospital Stories
-
George Willett Seeks Senate Seat-This Day In Norwood History- July 1, 1930
George F. Willett, one of Norwood’s most influential civic figures, surprised the region in 1930 by launching a State Senate campaign.
-
Town Considers Buying Civic Property-This Day In Norwood History-April 22, 1930
Norwood awoke on April 22, 1930, to the smoldering remains of one of its proudest civic landmarks. The Norwood Civic Association complex, a six‑building group gifted to the town years earlier by philanthropist George F. Willett, was gutted by a fire that began the previous afternoon and raged into the night. Four of the six structures—Everett Hall, the gymnasium, the office building,…
-
Gives Administration Building To Norwood Hospital-This Day In Norwood History-February 24, 1928
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OF NORWOOD HOSPITAL NORWOOD, Feb 24—The new administration building of Norwood Hospital was opened Wednesday for the first time for inspection. About 800 persons were present at the opening exercises. There remain two weeks for visitation by the public. The new building is the gift of Herbert Mosley Plimpton. Mr. Plimpton has always…
-
More Than 2500 Attend Norwood Hospital Opening-This Day in Norwood History-September 2, 1926
This Day in Norwood History- September 2, 1926- More Than 2500 Attend Norwood Hospital Opening
-
Norwood Hospital To Be Opened For Inspection-This Day in Norwood History- August 31, 1926
This Day in Norwood History- August 31, 1926-Norwood Hospital To Be Opened For Inspection
-
Work Begins on First Addition to Norwood Hospital-This Day in Norwood History-September 16, 1925
Work Begins on First Addition to Norwood Hospital-This Day in Norwood History- September 16, 1925
-
Norwood Hospital Announces Major Expansion and Remodeling Plan-This Day In Norwood History-April 7, 1925
In 1925, Norwood Hospital unveiled an ambitious plan to triple its bed capacity and build a major new wing behind the original structure.
-
Norwood’s Living History-Study Town Planning
At the annual town meeting on March 1, 1909, a committee was formed to investigate the financial condition of the town. This committee consisted of George F. Willett, chairman, the Hon. Frank A. Fales, and Cornelius M. Callahan. Willett and his associates were all wealthy men. Applying the analytical techniques that had served them well…
-
Alice Morrill Plimpton Bequeathes $50,000 to Morrill Memorial Library-This Day In Norwood History- July 25, 1923
NORWOOD LIBRARY GIVEN $50,000 NORWOOD, July 25, 1923—The sum of $25,000 has been turned over to Town Treas Harold Gay, as treasurer of the Library Board. This is one-half of the $50,000 bequeathed to the Morrill Memorial Library by the will of Mrs. Alice Plimpton of this town, who died recently. The Library Board has…
-
Many Bequests in the Will of Mrs Alice E. Plimpton-This Day In Norwood History-January 17, 1923
$50,000 TOTAL FOR HARVARD Bequests totaling $50,000 to Harvard University, of which $30,000 is for general purposes and the balance for the medical school, are made in the will of Mrs. Alice E. Plimpton of Norwood, filed for probate here today. There are further bequests of $50,000 each to the Norwood Hospital and the Norwood…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.