Would The Proposed Norwood Press Be Good For Norwood?-This Day in Norwood History-July 1, 1893

A MISTAKE was made inadvertently in our article on “Norwood’s Opportunity” printed three weeks ago. It was stated that James Berwick & Co., .and J. S. Cushing & Co. were in the same business, that of book printers at 192 Summer Street, Boston. The correction is that while their street and number are the same, their business differs; in the fact that one is a book printer, the other does type-setting and electrotyping, a different branch of bookmaking entirely. Mr.Berwick prints, Mr. Cushing illustrates and prepares the pictures, and Mr. Plimpton binds the book, thus completing the manufacture of the article. To have the whole process of bookmaking in the highest style of the art, completed in this town, under the name of the “Norwood Press,” would be an honor, as well as benefit, to our community. It would advertise us to the reading and business world.

But the chief advantage to Norwood would be in the introduction of a clean and educative business for the employment of our intelligent youth. It requires some brains and education to be a good printer. It is a stepping-stone to higher grades of work, such as proofreading, editing, possibly authorship, and possibly further of an appointment to the consulship of some foreign nation. But outside these higher possibilities, an extensive book-making establishment in our midst would be a good opening for our intelligent, deft-fingered boys and girls. It would keep them at home and give them honorable employment. The young people will all vote for the introduction of the new business enterprises.

To-Night! To-Night!

Citizens who are interested in the plan proposed by Messrs. Plimpton & Co., Cushing & Co., and Berwick & Smith, should not fail to attend the meeting in Village Hall tonight. The whole plan will be laid before the people and it is hoped that there will be a full house.

Look Both Ways.

The comment of a conservative gentleman the other morning on reading the poster for the public meeting tonight, was, “Yes, it will help the introduction of new business by compelling the town to build more new schoolhouses.” There was nothing particular not very strange in the remark to call for any notice except that it expresses a very short-sighted view of the relation of new business to the welfare and prosperity of the town. Admitting that new business and increased population will necessitate the building of new schoolhouses, what does the building of new schoolhouses imply? It implies, says our conservative friend, more expense to the Town, more taxation, more children in the streets. Yes, that is true, but not all. It implies more families to house, clothe and feed; more little feet to wear out shoes; more work for the carpenter, the grocer, the provision dealer, the merchant; more life, more laughter, more fun, more ice cream, confectionery, and soda. In fact, children add a good deal to the industry and business of the world. What would mothers and nursemaids find to do if there were no children? School teachers and doctors, Sunday schools and picnics would be out of business in a town with no children. It would be a dull community, a dull home, a dull church without children. They are very good things in their place. The town is willing to build them schoolhouses and do very much to make them happy, but it expects them to be mannerly, respectful, obedient to their; parents, and to keep off the sidewalks with their marbles and bicycles.

What it Means.

The question is asked, What benefit will the proposed boom be to Norwood? If the concerns mentioned come here it means that Berwick & Smith now employ 53 hands with an average payroll of upwards of $1000 per week. Cushing Co. employs 125 hands, 70 women and 55 men with an average payroll of $1500 per week, and including electrotyping, $400 more. Messrs Plimpton Co. employs 90 hands with an average payroll of $900 per week, making in all 208 hands with a weekly payroll of $3400. All this is to come to Norwood of course, if the town’s people desire and are willing to pay the expense of moving the plants of the firms, or its equivalent in land.

(All articles were originally published in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)