August 10, 1939
Editor of the Free Press:
On Tuesday evening before the Board of Selectmen I made the statement in plain language that for years as president of the Norwood Civic Association and trustee, I had been seeking the cooperation of the town officials for the dedication of the park properties on Willett Pond and Ellis Pond to the three towns in which these properties lie and at the same time ensure a unified control and management of these properties by representative citizens of the three towns.
I told the Board that the chief obstacle to the consummation of these plans had been the Town Counsel and others counseled with the Norwood Trust Co. and re- minded them of letters which had been submitted to the Board bearing out my statement. I made other important announcements referring to the purposes of the Norwood Civic Trust with reference to these matters. I notice this morning that yesterday’s Norwood Messenger ignores my statements, in these matters vital to the town’s welfare but emphasizes the unfortunate conditions which I have been seeking to remedy and would by implication place the blame upon my shoulders rather .than- those to whom it rightfully belongs. Please inform your readers that by your next issue I shall have prepared a full statement of the facts in this matter and with copies of the communications referred to above and copies of the deeds which were submitted to Judge Halloran, town counsel, more than six months ago and which would have taken care of this matter in the best fashion for the town’s interest. I gave the statement of counsel even after I became seriously ill. Judge Halloran still refused to cooperate with me.
George F. Willett
(All articles originally appeared in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)