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The Printing Industry of Norwood: A Lasting Indelible “Ink” Mark in the Pages of Norwood’s History
This exhibit explores the history of Norwood’s printing industry and some of the changes that transpired because of these industries, but it becomes the story of people who made a difference in their community.
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A Timeline: Norwood and a Nation
From the end of the Civil War to the Stock Market crash of 1929, what was happening in Norwood reflects what was happening in the United States, with the US leading they way with policy and reform, and Norwood adopting changes sometime after the US. During the Reconstruction Era, Norwood (or South Dedham) was struggling…
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Come To Norwood!
“The growth of any town or city is largely dependent on the character and expansive abilities of its industries and the character of the labor which these industries employ. Intelligent and educated labor is ambitious; it is made of the stuff that builds and creates; it enlarges its capabilities and forges to the front.” …
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How to Grow a Town
In March of 1893, The Norwood Business Association was formed by Judge John C. Lane, its goal was to find ways to bring new businesses and home-seekers to Norwood. This association began an active campaign to lure new businesses to Norwood. The Norwood Business Association considered the kind of industry they wanted in Norwood, they…
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The Norwood Press
“The buildings of the Norwood Press are at last an assured fact. The idea which elaborated itself in the councils of the Business Association has changed from a fancy into a reality. The incredulity which filled the mind of the average citizen of our town, when axes began to cut away the trees and undergrowth,…
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When 3 makes 1: The Companies of the Norwood Press
The success of the Norwood Press was due to the three independent companies that made up this partnership, J.S. Cushing & Co., Berwick and Smith, and E. Fleming & Co. The Norwood Press specialized in printing mostly school and college textbooks and their clients were the major textbook publishers of the day. In 1909, the…
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Movers & Shakers of the Norwood Press
The Norwood Press was three separate companies, and each company had its own an owner/president. Each of these men, who founded very successful companies, came from humble beginnings. Two even came from other countries. All entered into an apprenticeship in their teens, and learned to make books by hand. When their companies opened in the…
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The Plimpton Press: “Perfect Book Making in its Entirety”
“Perfect Book Making in its Entirety” was a slogan the Plimpton Press used in an advertisement they placed in a 1912 edition of The Publishers Weekly, hoping to attract customers to their printing business. At that time, the notion of one-stop printing was a relatively new idea, and hopefully new clients would find this service…
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The Plimpton Bros.
Herbert and Howard Plimpton were brothers who were in business together. Their father died when they were little boys so they were raised by their single mother. They grew up in Walpole, an area called Plimptonville. Herbert was the businessman who knew how to grow a company and Howard enjoyed toying with mechanics. Herbert Mosley…
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Lock-Outs, Walk-Outs & Strikes
Both the presses in Norwood took a great deal of consideration to create a nice working environment, and because of this, they probably thought they were a great place to work. However, there were many strikes and walkouts by their workers over the years showing this may not have been true. Eventual changes the presses…
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