This Day in Norwood History-July 15, 1964-McManus Ice Cream Shoppe In Official Grand Opening

The James H. McManus ice cream company, whose products have been featured at soda fountains and other retail outlets since most people can remember, was given a real old-fashioned welcome at the official Grand Opening last weekend of its first ice cream shoppe located on Washington Street in the heart of Norwood. Antique cars reminiscent of the era when the famous ice cream firm was founded in 1927 were very much in evidence as they made their way through the streets of the town announcing the Square. Equipped with horns opening of the attractive; of the same vintage, the shoppe with its homelike antique cars called attention to the fact that the new ice cream shoppe featured “old-fashioned quality’ in its ice cream and sandwiches.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies took place at 11 a. m. Friday in the presence of a host of dignitaries and with Gregg B. Rains, president of the James H. McManus Ice Cream Corp., wielding the shears. Present were Town Manager Walter Blasenak, Chairman of Selectmen Thomas K. McManus, Town Counsel Walter Gotovich, Police Chief James Murphy, and Fire Chief Irving Dobson, as well as Mel Greene, Henry Richia, Richard McAree and Jim O’Donnell of the McManus firm.

Two attractive “Miss McManus Girls’’ also graced the scene and circulated throughout the business district handing out official invitations to the general public to attend the opening, inspect the new shoppe, and enjoy some of the Grand Opening special offerings.

From 1 to 5 p. m. Saturday, a five-piece orchestra beat out old-time music, in front of the store. On both Friday and Saturday, searchlights pierced the. night sky from in front of the store, signalling to everyone in the area that McManus Ice Cream Shoppe had “arrived” in Norwood.

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