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

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

128 Vernon Street – The Augusts P Stockbridge House

Augustus Stockbridge house circa 1990 (Source: MACRIS database) Augustus P. Stockbridge bought a quarter of an acre house lot from Joseph Day, Joel M. Baker and Lyman Smith and built … Continue reading 128 Vernon Street – The Augusts P Stockbridge House

25 Beacon St. – The William W. & Eliza M. (Blake) Dexter House

The Dexter house in the early 1900s. Note how the porch wraps around the side of the house. (Norwood Historical Society collection) It appears this Queen Anne style house was … Continue reading 25 Beacon St. – The William W. & Eliza M. (Blake) Dexter House

Stick Style

The predominant form of the stick style was a front facing gable with a steeply pitched roof and were prevalent from 1860 to 1890.  There were often cross gables or … Continue reading Stick Style