Rep. Sullivan Proposes Guild School as Multi-Purpose Elderly Center-August 6, 1979

State Representative Gregory W. Sullivan (D-Norwood) announced that his previous proposal to convert the Norwood Armory into a comprehensive elderly affairs center is no longer viable, but suggested that the surplus Aaron Guild School building presents a promising alternative. According to Sullivan, the Guild building on Washington Street fulfills a critical federal prerequisite for acquiring grants under the Older Americans Act to establish a multi-purpose center: it is a publicly owned building. The shift comes after a year of attempting to secure a state-to-town transfer for the armory, a plan Sullivan declared dead due to the governor’s office refusing to part with state property without a high price. While Sullivan noted that the administration expressed some willingness to discuss a low-cost lease for just the armory’s ground floor, local leaders are setting their sights elsewhere.

Unlike a basic senior citizens drop-in center—such as the one currently operated by the Council on Aging in the basement of the United Church—a fully realized multi-purpose center could house expanded services, including a hot-lunch program, clinics, and the Norwood Visiting Nurses Association. Although selectmen have authorized short-term leases for portions of the surplus Guild School, they have promised to prioritize senior needs during long-term disposition planning. Emphasizing the need for a dedicated space that caters to a wider range of activities, Sullivan remarked, “My big push is to get the town to go after federal funds and build a very nice place,” noting that retired men have expressed a desire for amenities like a pool table.

Local senior advocates strongly echoed support for the Guild School location. Council on Aging Vice Chairman William A. Balfour praised the Washington Street building as having a “beautiful location” that offers pleasant, accessible surroundings, adding that members “definitely want no part of the armory.” Edward Freedman, vice chairman of the council and president of the Norwood chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), warmly welcomed any effort to elevate local seniors, noting that while the United Church has been a gracious landlord, the current drop-in facility is located in a basement. “I want to bring the senior citizens up a bit and keep their dignity,” Freedman remarked, pointing out that Norwood’s elderly population aged 60 and older stands at approximately 4,400 residents. With selectmen required to initiate any federal grant application, Sullivan plans to meet with the Council on Aging this fall to map out the next steps.

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