Renowned architect Harry J. Korslund, the visionary designer behind many of Norwood’s most iconic municipal and commercial landmarks, was honored posthumously last night during a meeting of the Norwood Rotary Club at Concannon’s Village.
Selectmen Chairman Martin Lydon presented a commemorative plaque celebrating Korslund’s profound architectural legacy to his widow, Mrs. Irene Korslund, before an audience of roughly 50 friends, colleagues, and fellow Rotarians.
Korslund, who passed away in late April at the age of ___, was a dedicated community leader, having maintained membership in the Norwood Rotary Club for more than 30 years and served as its past president. The plaque, signed by the Board of Selectmen and dated June 30, 1978, reads: “The memory of Harry J. Korslund lives long in the hearts of the people and the many neighborhoods of Norwood, Mass.” He is survived by his wife and two sons, Ben Korslund of Maryland and Harry Korslund Jr. of New Hampshire.
A Lasting Architectural Legacy
After graduating from the University of Minnesota and Harvard Architectural School, Korslund opened his architectural office in Norwood in 1933—a practice that evolved into Korslund, LeNormand & Quann Inc. Over a career spanning decades, his distinctive designs physically shaped the civic and commercial landscape of the town. His prominent Norwood projects included:
- The Norwood Memorial Municipal Building (Town Hall)
- The Morrill Memorial Library
- The municipal Police and Fire Department buildings
- Public schools including the Cleveland, Oldham, Prescott, and Willett schools, alongside an addition to Norwood High School
- The Norwood Theater and the Union Warren Savings Bank (housed in a converted former theater)
- Corporate and industrial facilities including the Masoneilan office building and The Foxboro Company in Foxboro.
Beyond his drafting table, Korslund was deeply invested in civic life. He served as a past president of the Norwood Chamber of Commerce, a trustee of Norwood Hospital, past chairman of the Norwood Building Committee, and a member of the Board of Appeals.
Paying tribute at the gathering, former Norwood Chamber of Commerce President Raymond Wragg captured the sentiments of the community: “He was a quiet, unassuming man. His integrity was unquestionable. His word was his bond.”
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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