George F. Willett’s Proposal For Forbes Mansion Property-This Day in Norwood History-January 31, 1957

George F. Willett Asks Chance To Be Heard

Claiming that the interests of the community would best be served by establishing an engineering school at the Forbes Mansion as part of the program of the new Central Norfolk Foundation George F Willett today expressed the hope that some means may yet be found to present his program to the town officials and the citizens

In a statement, Mr Willett said:

“One of the strongest editorials ever printed in the New York Herald-Tribune today emphasized the need of trained engineers to meet the threat of soviet Russia to our supremacy in the air The progress of the Communists In this direction has received the anxious comment of other papers and of committees of Congress.”

“Likewise such noted radio commentators as Eduard Murrow of CBS have long been stressing this danger.”

“For several weeks there has been available a constructive program for helping to meet this need for trained scientists and engineers. The Forbes property, including the Forbes mansion, is a dominating factor in this program, but believe it or not, I was denied an opportunity to present this program before the Board of Appeals before the Forbes mansion was hastily turned over for other purposes of little civic value to our community.

“At the only hearing held by the Board of Appeals on the question, I emphasized that this program was of utmost importance, and I likened it to my experience almost 40 years ago when I fought almost single-handed for the widening of Washington Street to 72 feet allowing six lanes of traffic. The result of that is now evident to everyone.

“Some means may yet be found to present this program to our town officials and our citizens so that the interests of the community may perhaps still be served and a program of national significance preserved ”