Points of Interest: Main Streets and Interesting Places In Swedeville

Four family building on Savin Avenue. (photo LLKearney)             The house lots in Swedeville, when originally sold, were empty lots, ready to have a house constructed.  What kind of house, … Continue reading Points of Interest: Main Streets and Interesting Places In Swedeville

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

Poll-Favorite “This Day In Norwood History” Article of January 2023

We want to know- what was your favorite story this month? Here are the top posts for January 2023: Beyond The Train Tracks at the End of Cedar Street January … Continue reading Poll-Favorite “This Day In Norwood History” Article of January 2023

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

12 Vernon Street – The Joel Metcalf Baker House

Joel Baker house, circa 1900, when it was still situated on Washington Street (Norwood Historical Society collection) Joel M. Baker bought this house lot in 1854 from Joseph Day. It … Continue reading 12 Vernon Street – The Joel Metcalf Baker House