Railroad Tracks Through Norwood Center Become a “No-Man’s Land” of Vandalism and Frustration-October 8, 1979

A desolate “no-man’s land” cutting right through the center of town has transformed into a haven for vandals and a persistent source of frustration for local police officers and commercial property owners alike.

Stretching along the railroad tracks from Railroad Avenue to the South Norwood bridge, the corridor has become a favorite walking, loitering, and drinking strip for local youths. The resulting wave of vandalism is costing abutting businesses thousands of dollars every year—a severe financial drain that often goes unreported as weary owners grow numb to the futility and fear skyrocketing insurance rates.

To address the crisis, Police Chief James F. Curran is spearheading an effort to find actionable solutions, inviting local business leaders to a special meeting in Memorial Hall at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the corridor with Gary Slade, superintendent of the Boston & Maine Railroad police.

A Nightmare for Abutting Businesses

Business owners along the tracks face immense hurdles because police cruisers cannot access the elevated right-of-way. The tracks provide an immediate escape route for perpetrators, and pitch-black darkness at night leaves officers virtually blind to trespassing activity. Furthermore, the jagged granite ballast rocks lining the railroad bed serve as readily available weapons, frequently hurled at roofs, siding, windows, and rooftop air-conditioning units.

Local businesses have borne the brunt of the destruction:

• Emerson Swan Inc. (and owners of the Puritan Furniture building on Lenox Street): Wolf Joerg noted that moving to Norwood was a rude awakening compared to their previous location behind Fenway Park. Over a five-year span, Emerson Swan spent $10,000 on roof repairs and another $3,000 just to board up all windows facing the tracks. Joerg observed that much of the destruction appears casual and thoughtless: “I have seen one kid walk along and casually pick up a rock and throw it. I don’t think they even know they are committing vandalism.”
• Beaver Oil Co. (on East Hoyle Street): Michael Vianno reported spending “at least several hundred dollars a year” on property repairs, alongside enduring two suspicious fires and two separate break-ins.
• John Delaria’s Hair Salon (on Broadway): Suffered a heavy rock thrown through a skylight last summer that narrowly missed an active customer.
• Sansone Motors (on Broadway): Routinely experiences broken bus windows, smashed windshields, smashed doors, and slashed tires in the company bus yard. An employee’s personal vehicle was also stolen from the yard Friday morning.

The Challenges of Enforcement and Solutions

Businessmen point out that police rarely catch culprits in the act, and even when suspects are apprehended, proving intent is difficult. Furthermore, because many of the vandals are juveniles, their identities are legally protected. “Right now, those kids know they are untouchable,” Joerg remarked.

Property owners have experimented with various deterrents. Vianno constructed a six-foot chain-link fence between his property and the tracks, which successfully curbed damage until it was torn down last year during railroad renovations at the nearby station. While some businessmen have considered installing security lighting, they fear the lights will simply become targets for rocks. Others have suggested enforcing trespassing laws to arrest anyone walking the tracks.

To date, only one large company along the corridor has found a reliable remedy: installing closed-circuit security television and cameras, which completely halted vandalism. However, such high-tech solutions remain financially out of reach for smaller local businesses.

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