This Day in Norwood History-January 5, 1904-Business Association of Norwood Celebrates Tenth Anniversary and Ladies’ Night.

Event a Most Notable Social Success.

NORWOOD, Jan 6—The celebration of its 10th anniversary and ladies’ night by the Norwood business association and board of trade last evening was notable in the history of Norwood. It was an event that had long been looked forward to, and for which ample preparation had been made. The affair took place in Village hall, and the place was handsomely decorated for the occasion.

The program as arranged was a most attractive one, and opened with the reception in Masonic hall, which lasted from 6:30 until 7 o’clock. James A. Hartshorn, H. Allen Halstead, Hon F. A. hales, J. F. Plimpton, George F. Willett. Charles T. Wheelock, Hon Warren E. Hocke, Francis O. Winslow, George H. Morrill Jr, Thomas A. Houllahan, Walter F. Tilton, h red L. Fisher and Dr H. F. Bigelow acted as ushers.

The banquet took place in Village hail, a Boston firm catering. Prayer was offered by Kev James B. Troy of St Catherine’s church.

Pres James A. Halloran, in welcoming the guests and members of the association, said: “Your presence here in such goodly numbers attests your interest in the occasion and our organization. We hope you will find in it that full measure of enjoyment and pleasure that it is our desire to give you.

“I may be pardoned, however, for my seeming trespass on the time which is allotted to our guests if I call attention in a brief way to a few matters which this occasion suggests to me, to say to those who are strangers to our association and its work.

“In the decade of our existence, many things have been done in a public way for the town which have had their inception in this body and were carried out through the activity of the men who are its members.

“We have today the largest enrolment of members in our history—120 active businessmen, the limit of membership under our constitution, together with a considerable waiting list. As a business organization, we will compare favorably with any similar body in the state.“

Pres Halloran spoke feelingly of members of the association who had passed away during the year just ended. H. 12. Farnsworth and W. J. Wallace, and paid a glowing tribute to the late Edmund J. Shattuck. saying that he was no common type of man. and that the town was glad to have his name preserved to her in the beautiful new school building recently erected.

Hon Henry F. Hollis of Concord, N H, a recent candidate for governor, was introduced and followed the reading of the letter from Hon Herbert Parker. Hon Sir Hollis was accompanied by his wife, a Norwood girl. Mr. Hollis was a very entertaining speaker and in opening his remarks said:

If I have a proper understanding of the aims and purposes of a board of trade in its best and truest sense, its activities are not confined to the advancement of business alone, but extend to all that makes for the happiness, contentment and well-being of the community. New industries are of prime importance, electric railroads and telephone systems must be supplied, but no well-regulated board of trade will fail to keep a watchful eye on the public schools, public libraries, parks and streets, the public health and even the public morals. Anything that will make our town more wholesome, more respectable or more attractive, is a fit subject for discussion by our board of trade.

As the house of the individual is his home in a personal sense, so the town is the home of the community at large and of each individual in his public relation. It should be the constant study of an association like this to make the collective home so pleasant and charming that our own young people will be Induced to stay among us. and the best class of citizens will be attracted to us from abroad. Let us remember that while one dollar is very much like another, and all people are equal before the law In the sense that they have a legal right to equal opportunities. there is a tremendous difference in people as citizens and neighbors. The very best citizens and neighbors are none too good for our hometown.

This personal element is frequently overlooked when a new industry is under discussion. Mere size is no measure of success in a community. Merely to double the population of a town will help no one but the owners of real estate. For if there are twice as many people, there will be twice as many grocers and butchers, twice as many lawyers, doctors, and ministers.

We can all mention large towns and even cities which are composed of noisy, smoky, and dirty factories, employing a mass of ignorant and uneducated workmen, paying low wages and providing unsightly and squalid tenements for their operatives. Such a community does not make a pleasant home. A sensible board of trade will not encourage development in that direction.

Certain obvious features of the town set «.ne standard of beauty and neatness for the inhabitants. A well-kept public, square, with a good statue and a fountain and two or three good public buildings, a handsome town hall, a library, a church or two and even an engine house of good design, will raise the standard of taste and beauty for the whole community. It is for this reason that I have always contended that a town is never in danger of appropriating too much money for its public buildings. Every worthy citizen will take pride in a fine town hall or library, and the stimulus to private citizens is worth a dollar or two in added taxes.

But the public buildings and public streets are not the real heart of the community, nor are the people who live in the large houses and drive handsome carriages and donate the libraries and churches. The life blood of a community runs in the veins of the wage-earners, who have been happily termed “the forgotten millions.“ the men who work every weekday. rend their papers in the evening, pay their bills and raise large families.

I think that it is universally conceded that the remarkable industrial success of our country is due to the intelligence, industry and genius of our working class. The whole business fabric re its upon the wage-earner, who reminds us now and then that if capital should be entirely ‘destroyed he can create more, while without his help we cannot add to capital, and may even lose what we have.

The success which has attended the cause of organized labor is a sufficient excuse for its existence.

With labor and capital firmly entrenched, ready to enforce their demands by strike or lockout, the community at large is likely to suffer, and it is the present opportunity of boards of trade to furnish a meeting ground between the two forces, where they may confer and adjust their differences.

All organizations partake largely of the spirit of the community in which they exist and it rests with your board of trade to determine whether organized labor in Norwood shall be a menace or a blessing. Admit to your banquets, your meetings, and your membership the worthy representatives of organized labor, realize that the welfare of the community rests upon the welfare of the wage-earner, win the confidence of the employee, retain the confidence of the capitalist, mold the public opinion when conflict is impending, and you will have taken a long step toward the solution of the greatest industrial problem of this or any time.”

Capt J. Stearns Cushing, the first active president of the association, was the last speaker, and devoted a few minutes to a resume of the work accomplished by the Norwood business association. He closed his remarks by offering to Pres Halloran a toast: “The town of Norwood is to be congratulated for its board of trade; long may it continue in its good work and prosper under your management.”

Vocal selections by Miss Clara Sexton of Boston, with Mrs. A. Julian Rowan as accompanist, and orchestra numbers varied the program and were warmly encored.

The program closed at 11 o’clock, and dancing followed. James A. Halloran was floor director. Dr. H. Leon Steele chief of aids, Dr. Clark S. Gould, Theo E. Grant, Dr. L. F. Wolfe, F. W. Talbot, W J. Berwick, P. B. Thompson, C. B. Sanborn, J. F. Kiley, H. W. Gay, J. F. Squires, L. G. Marston aids.

Among those present were:

Mr & Mrs II F Walker, Mrs B F Colburn, Mr Adolphus D Holton, Mr & Mrs G W Cushing, Mr & Mrs C Fleming Mr & Mrs II E Fales, Mr & Mrs F W Talbot, Mr & Mrs E II Dunbar, Mr Frank S Squires, Mr & Mrs F A Fales, Mr & Mrs F A Morrill, Mr & Mrs H E Rhodes, Dr & Mrs F H Nutting, Mr & Mrs W D Hultoon, Mr & Mrs Oliver J Barr, Mr & Mrs E W Ellis, Mr. Charles Boyden, Dr. & Mrs. E H Steele, Mr, & Mrs. F S Fisher, Mr. & Mrs. F W Coombs, Dr. & Mrs. E C Norton, Mr. & Mrs. J A Hartshorn, Mr. & Mrs. T A Houllahan, Mr. Dana Fisher, Mr. & Mrs. W J Berwick, Mr. Hartman, Mr. & Mrs. Geo H Morrill Jr., Mr. & Mrs. B E Rice, Mr. Henry I Everett, Mr. & Mrs. H M Plimpton, Mr Chas B Smith, Mr & Mrs W F Tilton, Mr & Mrs P B Thompson, Mr & Mrs F M Douglas, Mr & Mrs Geo H Smith, Mr & Mrs R J Fuller, Mr Oliver Pray, Mr & Mrs F W Bateman, Mr & Mrs W Smith, Mr Harvey L Boyden, Mr J E Plimpton, Dr & Mrs O S Gould, Mr & Mrs Geo W Robinson, Mr & Mrs 0 A Briggs, Mr & Mrs C T Wheelock, Mr & Mrs A W Morse, Mr & Mrs. W. E. Mayer, Mr & Mrs Jas M Folan, Mr & Mrs J B Hanscom, Mr E E Chamberlain, Mr & Mrs J F Freese, Mr Jas Berwick, Mr M F McCarty, Mrs J S Cushing, Mr & Mrs F Doane, Mr Clifford B Sanborn, Miss Dnncan, Rev Jas B Troy, Miss Susie Wheelock, Mr & Mrs F H Farnsworth, Mr Walter Chickering

The Boston Globe • 06 Jan 1904, Wed • Page 6 • (Boston, Massachusetts)