🚶 The Lenox Street Sidewalk: Infrastructure and Community Planning in 1938
In the waning days of summer 1938, the Norwood Board of Selectmen approved the construction of a permanent sidewalk along the easterly side of Lenox Street, stretching from Cross Street to Willow Street. The project, estimated at $1,760 by the town engineer, was a modest but meaningful investment in pedestrian safety and neighborhood connectivity — emblematic of Depression-era infrastructure planning.
🏗️ A Sidewalk for Safety and Access
Lenox Street, a residential corridor linking key intersections in Norwood, had long lacked a formal pedestrian path. With school in session and foot traffic increasing, the Selectmen acted on the recommendation of General Manager William C. Kendrick to prioritize the project. The sidewalk would serve students, families, and workers commuting through the area, reinforcing the town’s commitment to accessible public spaces.
đź’° Budgeting in the Depression Era
The funding for the sidewalk came from the remaining balance of Norwood’s tar sidewalk construction program. In an era defined by fiscal caution and federal relief programs, local governments like Norwood’s had to make strategic decisions about where and how to invest in infrastructure. The Lenox Street project reflects a careful balance between cost, community need, and long-term planning.
🏛️ Civic Process and Public Works
The decision was made during the Selectmen’s regular meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 1938 — a session also marked by debates over parking regulations and preparations for the upcoming recall election. Despite broader political tensions, the sidewalk vote demonstrated how local governance could still deliver practical improvements for residents.
📸 Suggested Visuals
- Archival map of Lenox Street with overlay of the sidewalk route
- 1930s photo of Norwood street construction or schoolchildren walking
- Budget breakdown graphic comparing 1938 sidewalk costs to modern equivalents
🔍 Sidebar Feature: “What $1,760 Built in 1938”
- 300+ feet of concrete sidewalk
- Labor sourced locally or via PWA programs
- Materials: tar, gravel, concrete, and edging
- Equivalent to ~$38,000 in 2025 dollars
Norwood Free Press from September 16, 1938