Norwood Split Over Airport Expansion Plan-This Day In Norwood History-April 21, 1979

A spirited debate divided Norwood residents in the spring of 1981 over a proposed $1.5 million improvement project at Norwood Memorial Airport. The plan, advanced by the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission, called for repaving and lighting the main runway and taxiway, installing new navigational equipment, and constructing an aircraft parking apron. Supporters argued that the upgrades would enhance safety and efficiency, while opponents feared the changes would transform the small suburban airfield into a satellite for Boston’s Logan Airport, bringing heavier traffic and nighttime operations.

Under the proposal, federal funds would cover 80 percent of the cost, the Commonwealth 15 percent, and the town the remaining 5 percent—about $74,000. Town meeting members were scheduled to vote on whether Norwood would contribute its share. The airport, located twelve miles southwest of Boston, then handled unscheduled passenger and cargo flights and served as a training center for pilots. The Norwood Airport Association, composed of pilots and local business owners, strongly supported the plan.

Controversy deepened when Selectman Walter Dempsey invited Governor Edward J. King to address the town meeting. Some residents viewed the invitation as an attempt to sway support toward the project, though Dempsey denied any such motive, saying he merely wished the governor to see Norwood’s many construction initiatives. Meanwhile, Malcolm Woronoff, a Norwood resident recently appointed to the state aeronautics commission, faced criticism for signing a petition calling for the special town meeting. Opponents claimed a conflict of interest because Woronoff also headed an aerial photography firm based at the airport, but he insisted he acted only as a taxpayer.

Among the most vocal critics was Ann Sheehan, a former commission member and nearby resident. She warned that installing a glide‑slope indicator—an instrument landing system allowing approaches in lower visibility—would open the door to scheduled cargo and passenger service. “Norwood already has the third‑busiest airport in the state,” she said, citing nearly 220,000 takeoffs and landings the previous year. “We shouldn’t become a reliever for Logan.”

State Aeronautics Commission Director Richard Hodgkins acknowledged that the improvements would make the airport more accessible but emphasized that Norwood’s 4,000‑foot runways were too short for jumbo jets. He noted that the surfaces were in poor condition and barely met safety standards. Hodgkins outlined the cost breakdown: $500,000 for runway rehabilitation, $375,000 for the main taxiway, $375,000 for the parking apron, $35,000 for taxiway lights, and $190,000 for approach lighting and additional fixtures. Lighting for Runway 17‑35 had already been approved under emergency funding.

As town meeting approached, Norwood’s 31,000 residents remained sharply divided—some seeing modernization as progress, others fearing the loss of the town’s quiet character to the roar of expanding air traffic. ​

Source: Boston Globe, 1979