Oolah Avenue to St. James Avenue

Oolah Avenue Named after the Abdallahs – “Oolah” is Syrian for Nicholas. Over the years, this street has been the home to waves of immigrants – Irish, Polish, Lithuanian, Italian, … Continue reading Oolah Avenue to St. James Avenue

Dean Street to Oolah Avenue

The Temple building today is home to a business (photo: Google Street View) Temple Shaare Tefilah – 935 Washington Street Although this building is located about a quarter of a … Continue reading Dean Street to Oolah Avenue

Norwood’s Italian Immigrants

In over forty years, between 1880 and 1920 over four million Italians began arriving in The United States, many coming from the poor agricultural towns located in Mezzogiorno region (the … Continue reading Norwood’s Italian Immigrants

Chapel Court – Finnish Hall

Chapel Court lot plans showing names of lot owners (Norfolk County Deeds) By the early 1900s, the Finns began arriving in a steady stream and settling in Norwood. In February … Continue reading Chapel Court – Finnish Hall

Savin Avenue: The Neighborhood Expands

Looking down Savin Avenue towards Chapel Street. (photo LLKearney) In May of 1899, Melville Smith bought approximately eight acres from Clara Robbins, the widow of John Robbins, and within a … Continue reading Savin Avenue: The Neighborhood Expands

Cedar Street: A New Neighborhood is Established

View looking down Cedar Street today. (photo LLKearney) In 1888, George Winslow & George Peterson laid out Cedar Street, Quincy Avenue, and the lower portion of Savin Avenue, creating 38 … Continue reading Cedar Street: A New Neighborhood is Established

Chapel Street: A Main Road with a Long History

Looking down Chapel Street toward Walpole Street. Chapel Street is a road that had been part of the landscape of South Dedham years before it became a part of Swedeville. … Continue reading Chapel Street: A Main Road with a Long History

The People Who Settled Swedeville

A view down Cedar Street. (photo by LLKearney)             Initially, Swedeville appears to have been a multi-ethnic neighborhood; composed of German, Irish, Lithuanian, New England/Canadian, as well as families from … Continue reading The People Who Settled Swedeville

24 Cottage Street – The George B. Talbot/L. Waldo Bigelow House

The Talbot/Bigelow house, circa 1990 (Source: MACRIS database) George B. Talbot built this Italianate style house for himself around 1855. Originally this house was on the corner of Cottage and … Continue reading 24 Cottage Street – The George B. Talbot/L. Waldo Bigelow House

100 Cottage Street – The Henry B Mylod House

Henry B. Mylod house, circa 1990 (Source: MACRIS database) Henry B. Mylod bought his ¼ of an acre house lot on the corner of Vernon and Nichols Streets in June … Continue reading 100 Cottage Street – The Henry B Mylod House