Prominent Norwood Resident T.A. Houllahan Drowns in Scituate-This Day In Norwood History- July 14, 1912

T. A. HOULLAHAN STRICKEN BATHING

Printer and Prominent Norwood Citizen,
Long Leader in Public, Social and Fraternal Affairs.

NORWOOD. July 14—Thomas A. Houllahan, one of the most prominent residents of this town, chairman of the Municipal Electric Lighting Board, and a member of the Berwick & Smith Company at the Norwood Press, died suddenly Saturday evening while in bathing at Sand Hill Beach, Scituate, of heart disease.

Mr Houllahan had gone to open his cottage, the Winneconne, last Friday, with Mrs. Houllahan, his daughter, Miss Katherine, and his niece Miss Mary Hennessey, He returned to Norwood for business engagements but went to Scituate again Saturday afternoon and went in bathing about 6 o’clock.

He had not been feeding well, and, his niece, Miss Hennesy saw him fall in the water and called for help. He was brought to shore and Dr. Alexander was called, also Rev Fr Brogan of Scituate and Kev Fr Curry of Cohasset Mr. Houllahan died shortly after being taken from the water.

Mr. Houllahan was born in Alabama in 1854. He came North when a lad and entered the employ of the printing firm Rockwell and Churchill of Boston. There he found a firm friend in the foreman. James Berwick, and when the latter entered into partnership with George Harding Smith, as Berwick & Smith, in 1884 he made Mr. Houllahan foreman of his press room.

When the firm came to Norwood in 1895 as proprietors of the press room department of the Norwood Press, Mr. Houllahan came with them as superintendent, which position he held up to the time of his death. When the firm was incorporated in 1903 he became a member. He moved to Norwood 17 years ago.

Mr. Houllahan had been a member and chairman of the Municipal Electric Light Board for two years. He was on the committees for the building of the Winslow and Shattuck Schools, and was a member of the committee now selecting plans for the school in the Balch District. He was a member of the committee which installed the new water supply system, and several times had served on the “Committee of 15,” or town’s Finance Committee.

Mr. Houllahan was also prominent in the social and fraternal life of the town. He had been a director of the most important committees of the Norwood Board of Trade. He was the first president of the Norwood Press Club and treasurer of the Berwick & Smith Mutual Benefit Association. He was one of the directors of the Norwood Historical Society and of the Old-Home Week Association.

He was one of the organizers and first grand knight of Norwood Council, Knights of Columbus, having previously been a member of Cambridge Council, and was also a member of Boston Chapter. K. of C., Fourth Degree. He was a trustee of Norwood Lodge of Elks and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor of Cambridge.

He was the vice president of the Boston Typothetae Board of Trade and a member of the Franklin Typographical Society of Boston, and of the Printers’ Arts and Crafts Association.

Mr. Houllahan was married 32 years ago to Johanna Hennessey, daughter of William Hennessey of Cambridge. He also leaves two brothers. James P. of Cambridge and John of Somerville and two sisters. Mrs. James McGurk and Mrs. M. Hetherington of Cambridge.

The funeral will take place Tuesday morning, at St Catherine’s Church.