Plans Are Drawn For Restaurant On Town Square-This Day in Norwood History-July 14, 1939

Modern Dining Place Is Alternative To Gas Station

Precipitated by the threat of a gas station on the corner of Central and Cottage streets, plans have gone ahead rapidly since the latter days of last week for a business block for that location, with the understanding that a local man is interested in erecting a $40,000 restaurant on the site.

Harry J. Korslund, local architect, has made plans for a completely modern building to house a restaurant which he terms as up-to-date as anything that could be found in New York.

Antagonism to a gas station on the million-dollar town square came not alone from gas station proprietors who have claimed that the town is over-stationed now, but also from interested citizens who feel that it would be a detriment both to the appearance of the square and to adjacent land values.

Modernistic Building

Plans for the restaurant building as drawn by Architect Korslund call for a one-story stucco building trimmed with marble, obtruded metal, and obscure plate glass.

The building fronts on both Cottage and Central Streets and would occupy 3500 square feet of the property or half of the lot. 122 would be seated in the restaurant with space for a large kitchen serving both ways, powder room and restrooms, and two private dining rooms.

A private dance salon is planned as a further addition in the basement which because of the contour of the land is spacious. Decoration and furnishings of the restaurant would be strictly modernistic as is the design of the building.

Color would be allowed plenty of play. Air conditioning and air cooling would make for year round comfort.

Cost of the building is estimated as $28,000 and of the furnishings, $12,000.

Gasoline dealers protested the erection of a gas station on the lot in question before the Board of Selectmen a week ago, when an application for a license for the station came before the Board. In view of the opposition, the hearing was postponed until early in August.

Gas dealers have held several meetings since on the matter contending that the town is over-stationed now and that a station on that location would materially affect the value of adjacent property.

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