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

Beyond The Train Tracks at the End of Cedar Street

View of the tunnel looking towards South Norwood. (photo by LLKearney) At the junction of Cedar Street and Savin Avenue, the train tracks are visible. These tracks were here years … Continue reading Beyond The Train Tracks at the End of Cedar Street

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

Melville Avenue – A Place Called Home

The Wiik house soon after it was built. (Courtesy of Barbara Wiik Brierley) Grandfather Frank Neimi with grandson Richard Wiik. (Courtesy of Barbara Wiik Brierley) Melville Avenue is a dead … Continue reading Melville Avenue – A Place Called Home

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

Development of the Swedeville Area

1888 Bird's Eye view map of the Chapel Street area. No houses had yet been constructed. Plans on file at the Norfolk County Deeds office in Dedham showing the layout … Continue reading Development of the Swedeville Area

Italianate

The Italianate style was prevalent from 1840 to 1880, and like the Greek Revival, frequently has pedimented gables on columns at the front entry and is defined by simple but … Continue reading Italianate

99 Day Street – The James A. Hartshorn House

James A. Hartshorn house circa 1990 (Source: MACRIS database.) This house Italianate style with stick style elements was built by merchant, James A. Hartshorn around 1881. Originally this house lot … Continue reading 99 Day Street – The James A. Hartshorn House