Norwood Arena Warns Town of Potential Land‑Damage Lawsuit
The long‑running tensions between the Norwood Arena and the town’s Board of Selectmen escalated sharply in June 1969 when the arena’s attorney, John J. Mulvehill, notified the board that the racing enterprise intended to seek land‑damage compensation related to a proposed easement for a heavy‑duty electrical line crossing nearly five acres of arena property.
The easement, agreed to the previous year for a token $1 fee, would allow the town to run a major power line from Sharon across the arena’s parking area. But Mulvehill argued that the land would become effectively unusable for future development — a significant financial burden for the business.
Compounding the issue was the board’s recent decision to ban drag racing at the arena and limit stock‑car racing to one night per week. Mulvehill said the restrictions had “seriously threatened” the arena’s future and might force the owners to sell the property. He accused the board of acting “improperly and illegally,” claiming that the decision was made under pressure from the District 9 Betterment Association, a group of nearby residents opposed to racing operations.
The attorney warned that the board’s actions set a “bad precedent,” suggesting that other neighborhood groups might now demand similar restrictions on businesses they opposed.
Selectmen voted to consult Town Counsel Walter J. Gotovich at their next meeting to review the legal ramifications of the threatened lawsuit.
The conflict highlighted the growing friction between Norwood’s industrial‑era entertainment venues and the expanding residential neighborhoods surrounding them. The arena, once a major regional attraction, now found itself at the center of debates over noise, traffic, land use, and the future character of the Route 1 corridor.
The Patriot Ledger, June 12, 1969 via Newspapers.com
Text and images may have been created, edited, colorized, or digitally restored using AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini. All content is reviewed for accuracy and historical integrity before publication by the Norwood Historical Society
More Norwood Arena Stories
-
Norwood Scrapbook: July 31
Discover historic Norwood, MA snapshots from July 31, including 1950s Norwood Arena racing, bird-nest fires in 1963, and 1980s local clambake fundraisers.
-
Us Funds Would Help Create Trails, Recreation Areas On 90 Acres Along The Neponset-June 23, 2005
Turning a wasteland into parkland The neglected patch of grass and weeds in front of the woods and marsh at the end of Vanderbilt Avenue in Norwood hardly looks like a potential community showplace. Dense thickets of brush make walking around almost impossible. Cellphone towers, high tension wires, and low-slung industrial buildings dominate the landscape.…
-
Park Place Occupancy Permits-July 25, 1978
A significant development occurred in the stalled Park Place industrial complex on Route 1 in Norwood. The board of health had some good news and some bad news for the developer, James H Shane of MJS Realty Trust. The good news was that plans to install a leaching field and septic system for use until…
-
New Regional Title Reflects Chamber’s Growth; Shane Updates Dynamic Industrial Park Progress-June 7, 1978
Officially, the Norwood Chamber of Commerce now will be known as the Norwood Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President William C. Phipps made reference to the new name in remarks during the meeting last night at Airport. The change in title attests to the chamber’s diverse growth in membership, chamber Executive Secretary Robert H. Cook told…
-
Talk of the Town-June 6, 1978
The Norwood Planning Board moves to claim an $18,000 construction loan from builder Richard Saccone for unfinished roads at Grandview Estates, while also endorsing a major zoning shift at the old Norwood Arena site on Route 1.
-
James H. Shane Wins Public Auction Bid to Purchase Historic Norwood Arena Property-August 11, 1976
Following a mortgage default by Norwood Arena, Inc., developer James H. Shane purchased the 72.5-acre Route 1 landmark for $395,751 at a public auction initiated by Baybank Norfolk County Trust Company.
-
Norwood Public Drinking Bylaw Pushes Problem to Outskirts of Town, Says Police Chief James F. Curran-July 30, 1976
Police Chief James F. Curran reported that Norwood’s four-month-old public drinking bylaw successfully cleared the town square but pushed drinking to the outskirts.
-
Norwood Fights Plan For Housing Complex At Arena Site-June 7, 1974
Norwood fights plan for housing complex at arena site For decades, the roar at the Norwood Arena had been the sound of racing engines, cheering crowds, and the unmistakable pulse of a local institution. But by the mid‑1970s, that familiar noise had been replaced by a different kind of rumble — the voices of townspeople,…
-
Norwood Arena Area Study Shelved Following Denial of County Funds-August 14, 1973
Following a denial of matching funds from county commissioners, Norwood’s industrial promotion board shelved its request for a $22,000 area engineering study.
-
Norwood Planning Board Favors Rezoning of Norwood Arena Site-July 17, 1973
Officials deferred a decision on the remaining 40 acres, which were proposed for a 600-unit apartment complex, pending further information.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.