Norwood Maps-Norwood in 1876

The Evolution of Norwood: From Village to Thriving Town
Norwood, a small village in 1876, had just begun its journey of growth and transformation. This map, created only four years after Norwood separated from Dedham, captures a snapshot of a community on the brink of expansion. By 1875, the population was 1,744, and by the 1880 Federal Census, it had surged to 2,845. This growth was fueled by immigration, with Irish and German communities beginning to establish their roots.

Early Immigration and Population Growth
Irish immigration to Norwood began around 1849-1850, with the arrival of 75 immigrants. By 1875, the Irish population had grown to 217 residents. Similarly, German immigration started in the 1850s, with 35 individuals settling in the town by the end of the decade. Both communities continued to grow, contributing to the town’s expanding population.

Development of the Town Center
As the population increased, Norwood’s town center began to develop along Washington and Nahatan Streets. Side streets were created by subdividing open land into house lots, leading to the partial development of areas around Railroad Avenue, Nahatan and Prospect Streets, and Vernon and Cottage Streets. Residential segregation emerged, with distinct districts for the Irish working class, modest cottages along Nahatan Street, and middle and upper-class areas along the west side of Washington Street and Walpole Street.

A Glimpse of Norwood in 1876
The map from 1876 provides a fascinating glimpse into Norwood before its rapid expansion. Houses and important buildings, such as factories and train stations, are marked with dark squares, indicating areas of habitation and industry. The northern section of town, near the Westwood town line, featured the Ellis Railroad Station, a hub for the Ellis family and was known to locals simply as “Ellis”, and in fact, mail sent to people living in this little village was often addressed ‘Ellis” rather than “Norwood”.

The Transformation of Farmland
The land between Clapboardtree Street, Washington Street, and Prospect Street, where Moderna is now constructing its World Headquarters, was largely uninhabited in 1876, except for the Nichols and Adams farm. Over the years, this farmland passed through several owners, including Henry O. Peabody, W. Cameron Forbes, Harvard University, United Fruit Company, and Polaroid. By the 1990s, it had been subdivided for use by various businesses.

Moderna’s Impact on Norwood

On September 23, 2016, Moderna announced that it had signed a long-term lease (15 years plus renewal options) to build a state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) clinical manufacturing facility on the site. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility opened on July 21, 2018, The digitally-enabled and environmentally sustainable 200,000-square-foot clinical development manufacturing plant was built to advance Moderna’s research pipeline of mRNA-based medicines. In April of 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced an expansion that increased the plant to approximately 650,000 square feet. This was done through a combination of renovation of the existing space and the acquisition of a 240,000-square-foot building previously occupied by UTI. The company has now purchased the entire commercial site (they do not own the Upland Woods apartment complex).

Norwood Center and Surrounding Areas
In 1876, Norwood Center, known as “the Hook,” was relatively undeveloped. Many streets on the west side of Washington Street did not exist or were shorter than they are today. Nahatan Street ran from Westwood to Broadway, ending at the railroad tracks, and Railroad Avenue only extended from Washington Street to Pleasant Street.

The Evolution of Residential Areas
West of Prospect Street, the land was completely undeveloped. Prospect Park, a site for public events, was bounded by Vernon, Prospect, and Winter Streets. The area known as “Cork City,” heavily populated by Irish workers, was a major population center due to Lyman Smith’s tannery, located near the corner of Railroad Ave and Lenox St. (then called Foundry St). The sparse population on Neponset, Pleasant, and Cross Streets highlights the early stages of development.

Above is a closeup of Norwood Center and the “Christian Hill” neighborhood.

Notable Landmarks and Changes
The map also shows the original path of Washington Street, which was rerouted to its current path with the creation of “Subway Hill“. after the Winslow train station was abolished in 1891. The original wooden Balch School appears on the map in the same location as the current brick school, and notable residences like the George H. Morse house and John Morse’s house are marked.

Note that there were no side streets yet in South Norwood from Dean St to Short St on Morse Hill.

At the bottom of this section of the map is the George H. Morse house, at the top of Morse Hill. Toward the middle of the map is John Morse’s house, which is also still standing (adjacent to the convenience store in South Norwood).

At the top right, where Pleasant Street curves and crosses the Neponset River, was George H Morrill’s ink works. The buildings for his factory stood on both sides of the road. Some of the original buildings remain there to this day.

Purgatory swamp, Purgatory Brook, and the Neponset River dominated the east side of town in 1876. Only a handful of families lived on the land east of Neponset St. This included William Curtis Fisher, who lived near the intersection of Pleasant and Neponset Streets. William ran a dry goods store on Washington Street for many years and was later in the real estate business. His brother Leonard Fisher lived a little further down on Neponset Street, where Fisher Gardens is today. When Leonard died, William’s son Frederick Leonard Fisher moved into the family home at 387 Neponset Street. He continued to run the farm for many years, which was later known as the Neponset Valley Farm. Eventually, Frederick passed control of the dairy over to his son, Leonard C. Fisher. Shortly after Leonard died in 1962, Fisher Gardens apartments were built on the rear part of the property, and by 1971 the farm had been completely sold.

The area bounded by Cross Street to the north, Neponset Street to the east, Dean Street to the South, and Pleasant Street to the west was still completely undeveloped. Route 1 would later cut through this area, and F.A. Cleveland would later build a housing development known as Cleveland Park on the land west of Route 1.

The southeast part of town was almost completely uninhabited. There were only a few residents of Sumner Street and a handful of houses on Pleasant Street south of George Morrill’s ink works. At the bottom left of this section, you can see Water Street and the Morse Mill.

Conclusion
The 1876 map of Norwood offers a window into the past, showcasing a village on the cusp of transformation. From its early days of immigration and modest development to the significant industrial and residential growth, Norwood’s evolution is a testament to the dynamic changes that have shaped the town. Today, Norwood stands as a thriving community, deeply rooted in its rich history and continually evolving to meet the needs of its residents.

George Curtis, Norwood Historical Society