Former Millionaire to Speak at Public Meeting in Norwood on Last 12 Years of His Life

NORWOOD, April 7 — At a public meeting in Everett Hall, Civic Building, tomorrow evening, George F. Willett will tell the history of the last 12 years of his life. He will tell of his change from a millionaire to a poor man overnight.

He will also tell of the Norwood Housing Association and the “invisible powers” he alleges are working against him. He will tell of his plan of building a garden city around Willett’s Pond, where hundreds of homes were to be erected, and why this great project fell through.

At a town meeting a month ago, Mr. Willett endeavored to give the citizens assembled, this information but was called to order by Moderator James A. Halloran, as he was not speaking on the subject matter before the meeting.

When Mr. Willett was stopped by the moderator, the assembled gathering gave him a rousing hand of applause and called to the moderator to let him proceed. The meeting tomorrow night is a result of the people’s interest in what Willett had to say. It is expected that the hall will be jammed to the door.

Mr. Willett, when he addressed the town meeting, asked the citizens not to believe he was crazy, as many persons said he was, but to think of him as they did a few years ago before he lost his money, when he gave the town of Norwood the civic property, Norwood Hospital, and the town square.

0 Apr 1930, Mon The Boston Globe

Mother-Daughter Duo Opens Accessible Rental-This Day In Norwood History-March 30, 2025

Mother-Daughter Duo Opens Accessible Rental-This Day In Norwood History-March 30, 2025

georgenhs Mar 29, 2026 4 min read

This mother-daughter duo runs a joyful, disability-friendly short-term rental​Travel presented challenges for those with disabilities, especially when searching for accommodations that met their needs.​Mother and daughter Dara and Paige Adams … Continue reading Mother-Daughter Duo Opens Accessible Rental-This Day In…

In Memory of Timothy J. McDonough (February 21, 1965 – March 12, 2026)

In Memory of Timothy J. McDonough (February 21, 1965 – March 12, 2026)

georgenhs Mar 12, 2026 9 min read

A Life of Service, Community, and Unwavering Norwood Pride On March 12, 2026, the Town of Norwood lost one of its most dedicated public servants and most beloved neighbors with … Continue reading In Memory of Timothy J. McDonough (February…

Day Street

Day Street

georgenhs Feb 1, 2026 3 min read

Day Street is one of Norwood’s richest historic corridors, home to some of the town’s most architecturally significant and culturally meaningful properties. Each house tells a different chapter of Norwood’s … Continue reading Day Street

Six white roses and photographs of victims are displayed at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Norwood Mourns Skating Club Members-This Day in Norwood History–January 29, 2025

georgenhs Jan 27, 2026 10 min read

Norwood Mourns Skating Club Members Lost in Washington, D.C. Mid‑Air Collision January 29 now carries a solemn weight in Norwood’s civic memory. On this day in 2025, a mid‑air collision … Continue reading Norwood Mourns Skating Club Members-This Day in…

2025 This Day In Norwood History: Industry & Workplaces Wrapped

2025 This Day In Norwood History: Industry & Workplaces Wrapped

georgenhs Jan 5, 2026 7 min read

A year of factories, shop floors, printing presses, ice cream plants, car lots, tanneries, department stores, and every workplace that helped build Norwood’s identity. Norwood’s history has always been written … Continue reading 2025 This Day In Norwood History: Industry…