South Norwood Improvement Association Prepares For Second Year of Activity-This Day In Norwood History-September 11, 1938

The year-old South Norwood Improvement Association will hold its second annual meeting on Wednesday, September 13th, when new officers will be elected and plans laid for the fall and winter program. President Frederick Howard says that he will recommend that all present officers be outgoing so that new leadership may stimulate new interest.

He names two projects which are likely to occupy Association’s attention in the new year. One Is a continuing campaign on the major issues before the Association last year, namely the request for a crossway from Washington to Pleasant Streets. This South Norwood highway project was actively sponsored by the Association last year and was one of the major items of interest to the town. Mr. Howard says that the Association starts this year’s campaign with a promise of support from the central committee of Improvement Associations.

Interest in School Grounds

Another project likely to be sponsored by the Association is one for improvement and beautification of the Balch Schoolyard. Some attention has been given to the yard, and Mr. Howard feels that community pride should foster like supervision of the front yard, making its care and upkeep match the improved Washington Street.

The South Norwood Association is the youngest of the district associatîons of the town. It was organized just a year ago with Mr. Howard named president, Felix Babel, secretary, and Salvatore Gulla, treasurer. The Association now has a paid membership of 100, with a total membership, including non-paying members of 260.

Greatest achievement of the group Mr. Howard cites as fostering a community consciousness and a pride in the district together with a desire to improve it. Last year their main activity centered around the highway. Other items given attention were the matter of unsightliness of junkyards which resulted in a partial cleaning up of the yards and the building of fences around two of them; conditions at the underpass on Cedar Street where lights had been broken and wiring exposed for a matter of a year, and was corrected by the town; garbage removal; and interest in the resurfacing of Dean street.

Interest in community discussion of community- problems and common action toward their correction is apt to be as lively this year, as the Association swings into its second year as the watchdog of district interests.