Temporary Leasing of Guild School Suggested-July 13, 1979

The temporary leasing of the Aaron Guild School was suggested by the Guild Utilization Committee as a means to utilize the building until long-range plans are formulated. The committee agreed to recommend that selectmen consider leasing the building out temporarily after hearing several proposed uses.

During an informal meeting in Memorial Hall, about 50 residents, mostly from the Guild area, attended and voiced their support for various potential tenants. Many residents expressed enthusiasm for using the school as a recreation center, citing its proximity to the Civic Recreation Center, which is slated to be sold to Norwood Hospital for expansion. However, some residents were concerned that the school would become a replacement for the Civic Recreation Center.

Town Manager John J. Carroll noted that the problems with the education of the children in Canton and the nursing home property were and are still being addressed by the town. He pointed out that a massive main limb of a tree in the yard of Mrs. Florence Reynolds of 10 Reynolds St., fell off and smashed into a garage on Monday. “Some of the trees on the nursing home property are big and old and look as though they might be in bad shape. I don’t want them falling down like the Reynolds’ did,” he said.

The Civic Replacement Committee reported its findings that the school would be “very desirable” as a recreation center, using the ground level (basement) and the gymnasium-auditorium on the first floor. The committee suggests building a swimming pool and tennis courts on the school grounds and developing Eliot Park in South Norwood for baseball, soccer, football, and track.

The CETA consortium has agreed to pay $6 per square foot ($110,000 a year) for rental of the first and second floors, an increase of $1 per square foot over its first offer. CETA officials have also agreed to “negotiate” with the town to install an elevator and air conditioning.

John H. Green, executive director of The Educational Collaborative of Greater Boston, outlined his agency’s proposal to rent about 5,000 square feet (six rooms) for $40,000 a year, minus $4,000 for ramp construction. Green said the space would be used for work with about 32 severely handicapped students from the Wrentham and Fernald State Schools and would be leased until June 30, 1980.

Det. Sgt. William Travers urged moving the police station to the Guild, citing problems at the present station with overcrowding, flooding, unhealthy fumes from the adjacent fire station, and the fire department’s need for more space. “The police station was built when you had a force of 32 men; now you have 62,” he said.

Trudy Johnson, a Guild neighbor, also supports use by the police, saying it would mean 24-hour police protection for the building. Senior citizens would like space for a meeting center; the board of health wants space for the dental clinic; and the visiting nurses would like 800 square feet of working space.

Chairman Joan H. Cuff reminded the audience that her committee has no jurisdiction over the building and is merely charged with making a report to the selectmen, who will determine its ultimate use. The crowd at times became impatient with the lack of a public address system in the hall, which made it difficult to hear the speakers.

“We can afford a Civic but we don’t have a microphone,” one resident hollered. The neighbors voiced concerns about increased traffic and parking that a new use could bring to the area, and many feared that the Bond Street playground behind the school would also be affected. Selectman Walter J. Dempsey explained that the park has no connection to the school and will remain in its present state.

The committee hopes to have a report to present to selectmen in two weeks. Town urged to hire architect NORWOOD — The Civic Replacement Committee wants the town to hire an architect to prepare cost estimates on renovating part of the Guild School for a recreation center.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger