Norwood Little League Seeks $15,000 to Build Official Field After 16 Years Without Home-November 4, 1968

Charles Sumner Bird Donates Land Behind Endean Playground for New Ballfield

The Norwood Little League, which has operated without a home for 16 years, may have an official field for the start of the 1969 season. Charles Sumner Bird of Walpole has donated two-and-a-half acres of land behind the Endean Playground on Washington Street to Norwood Little League Inc., and a committee has been formed to raise $15,000 for construction and landscaping of a ballfield to official Little League specifications. According to Paul J. Nolan, Little League president, the proposed field would include a parking lot, stands on two sides, a press box and concession facilities. “We have been in dire need of a Little League field in Norwood for years, and now that Mr. Bird has donated the land, we hope the people of Norwood will come through with funds to build the best field in the state,” Mr. Nolan said. The entire month of November has been designated for Little League collection, and nearly 500 mothers of the young ballplayers will call at every home in town for donations.

Collection captains have been designated for each voting district. Mr. Nolan said there are approximately 1,200 Norwood boys between the ages of eight and 12 playing on Little League teams. They have used various school and playground fields for games until now, although these are not built to Little League specifications. In addition to Mr. Nolan, the fund committee includes Donald McPhee, William Clifford, Gary Maus, Richard McEachern and Charles J. Saraca.

Norwood Little League Field Project Overview

Land & Capital Campaign

Land Donor: Charles Sumner Bird of Walpole (2.5 acres behind Endean Playground).
Fundraising Goal: $15,000 during November door-to-door drive.
Volunteers: Nearly 500 mothers calling at every home in Norwood.
Youth Impact: Serves 1,200 Norwood boys ages 8 to 12.

Proposed Field Facilities

Official Little League spec diamond
Spectator stands on two sides
Dedicated press box
Concession facilities and parking lot

Youth For Human Rights and Emmanuel Lutheran Church News

The Norwood Youth For Human Rights Committee will hold its second meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Temple Shaare Tefilah on Nichols Street. The committee’s statements on organization and purpose, drafted at the first meeting, will be discussed and voted upon. Also, nominations for all offices will be held, with elections to be held at the following meeting. Topic of discussion on Wednesday will be the election results and how they effect the fight for human rights. A program to aid the starving people of Biafra and Nigeria will also be drafted. Every Norwood student is urged to attend this meeting and become a member of the Youth for Human Rights Committee. Anyone wishing further information may call Vincent Lembo or Jon Sallet.

The Lutheran Church Women of Emmanuel Lutheran Church will meet at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the parish hall. New ideas in Christmas decorations will be discussed by Mrs. Marilyn Astor following the business meeting. Mrs. Astor, who was crafts instructor at Camp Calumet this past summer, will demonstrate and allow the women to work along with her on various patterns. The organization’s “Christmas For Others” work days have already begun and will be held each Wednesday in the parish hall from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

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