Talk of the Town-June 9, 1905

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Norwood enters June with a lively civic spirit — from Fourth of July planning and band concerts to church observances, business changes, and a bustling calendar of social gatherings. The town’s streets, churches, and meeting halls reflect a community in full summer motion.

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Front Page & Civic Life

The Norwood Advertiser of Friday, June 9, 1905, opens with a strong civic call: the Business Association has formally voted to organize a Fourth of July celebration, answering weeks of public encouragement. A committee has been appointed, and enthusiasm is high. The proposed parade will include a line of “Fantastics” and a Trades Parade, with prizes expected for the best get‑ups. Merchants are urged to participate, and private citizens are encouraged to join the “Horribles,” adding humor and spectacle to the day’s festivities.

The paper also revisits the town’s ongoing conversation about band concert seating. While Norwood is proud of its band and handsome bandstand, the lack of seating near the Everett School lot remains a problem. Residents have been discouraged from sitting on nearby stone walls, and signs now forbid trespassing. A Walpole visitor’s suggestion — “Place seats on the lot by the band stand” — is gaining traction as the only practical solution.

Another civic concern is the fate of Prospect Park, the only suitable athletic ground in town. With rising demand for house lots, the land is in danger of being sold off. The paper asks pointedly whether the town might purchase the land and reserve it as a public park, preserving space for baseball, football, and athletic meets.

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Police, Fire & Public Safety

Night Police Officer Michael D. Creed was active this week, first gathering in an insane man wandering the streets early Monday morning, and later responding to a call from watchman A. E. Sargent at the Winslow Bros. & Smith Co. tannery. Sargent had found a stranger, John Lynch, asleep on the premises. Lynch claimed he intended to seek work at the plant. He was arrested for vagrancy, pleaded not guilty before Judge Grover, but was found guilty and sentenced to thirty days in the House of Correction at Dedham.

Local police have also been stopping Sunday baseball games, which had been occurring weekly in certain parts of town.

A number of Norwood firemen attended the Emergency Corps of Dedham graduation and exhibition drill in Memorial Hall on Tuesday evening.

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Community & Social Life

Norwood’s social calendar is full as summer approaches:

• Many young people spent Saturday at Revere Beach.
• Miss Nellie Drummey is visiting friends in Roxbury.
• Mrs. E. J. Shattuck hosted a lawn party on Walpole Street for her daughter’s college friends.
• Mrs. George Streeter of Johnstown, N.Y., is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Russell Williamson of Winter Street.
• Mr. and Mrs. Constant F. Whitney will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary on Nichols Street on Friday evening, June 10.
• Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Eaton welcomed a baby boy.
• Miss Elzura Chandler returned from a health trip to New Hampshire, much improved.
• Bertha C. Chamberlain served as bridesmaid at the West Medford wedding of Miss Laura M. Comstock.
• A large number of local baseball fans traveled to Boston to see the “champs” return after several weeks away.

The Chosen Knights Commandery, Knights of Malta, held a well‑attended entertainment and Strawberry and Ice Cream Festival in Odd Fellows Hall. The evening featured readings by Mr. Milbury and Mr. Cannon, piano solos by Miss Etta Cross and Mrs. Brogett, and vocal and violin solos by Miss Hazel Lamb. About seventy‑five people attended, enjoying a generous spread of strawberries, ice cream, and cake.

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Religious Services & Church News

Church life is especially active this week:

• Children’s Sunday will be observed at the Universalist Church next Sunday at 10:45, with kindergarten exercises and the graduation of the upper class. Decorations will be provided by a special committee, and several children will be christened.
• The Baptist Church reports that Rev. Milford R. Foshay preached on “The Dignity of Divine Service” Sunday morning and “The Demands and Motives of Righteousness” in the evening.
• Children’s Day will also be observed at the Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday evening at 7 o’clock.
• The Children of Mary will receive Holy Communion in a body at St. Catherine’s Church next Sunday morning.
• The Congregational Church will observe Children’s Day with baptisms, Sunday‑school exercises, music, and a short address at 10:45.

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Sports

Norwood’s summer athletics are in full swing:

• The Professional Men’s Baseball Club will play the Sixteen of Us Club on June 17.
• The championship game between Cork City and the South End will be played Saturday, June 10, at Morrill’s Field. Umpires will be W. Donovan and H. Roby, with the pennant and badges awarded afterward.
• Work has begun on the cinder track at Morrill’s Field, preparing for the June 24 athletic events.
• Norwood High plays Mechanics Arts tomorrow; last year’s game was noted for heavy batting.

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Business & Commerce

Norwood’s business community is bustling:

• All grocers and meat dealers except one have agreed to close at 1 p.m. on Thursdays through September 1, giving clerks a much‑needed summer half‑holiday.
• Miss C. G. Cleary will open her newly restored restaurant next week at the corner of Winter and Washington Streets.
• Snow’s Grocery has added a new delivery wagon.
• L. T. Snow, grocer, has installed a bright new sign on his store next to the Universalist Church.
• E. A. and E. L. Bigelow have sold their interest in the L. W. Bigelow Furniture Co. to C. E. McGlashan, formerly of John H. Pray & Sons Co.
• J. W. Conger has a new house on Prospect Avenue; Oscar Bailey is progressing well with his home on Nichols Street.
• Many lots have been sold in the Florence Avenue tract, owned by Frank A. Fales and Fred L. Fisher.

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Transportation

• Motorman Christenson, known as “Chris,” has resigned from the Old Colony Street Railway.
• Michael Lydon of Prospect Street has been promoted to a regular night car on the Old Colony line.
• The Canton cars, now under Blue Hill management, are running commendably, in contrast to the former Norwood, Canton & Sharon Co.

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Schools & Education

• Public schools will close for summer vacation on Friday, June 23.
• Miss Lottie M. Draper, commercial teacher at the High School, has resigned and will marry on June 21.
• The Norwood Co‑operative Bank held its monthly meeting at police headquarters Tuesday evening.

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Weather

While no explicit weather report appears, the week’s many outdoor events — lawn parties, beach trips, and baseball — suggest mild early‑June conditions favorable for community gatherings.

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