This Day in Norwood History-July 21, 1955-Joint Board Asks 12-Mile Neponset River Dredging

$1,750,000 Bond Issue Urged To Drain Valley

STATE HOUSE, Boston, July 20 — Specific legislation calling for the immediate dredging of Neponset River from Dorchester Lower Mills to Norwood has been filed with the House of Representatives by a special joint board which recently made a survey of the river

The bill as filed in the House calls for an M.D.C Bond Issue of $1,750,000 to complete the project. The estimated cost of dredging the river channel above Mattapan Mills (Tilestondlollings worth) is $1,050,000; of digging an auxiliary flood channel along the same water course, $78,000, of reconstructing bridges and pipelines along the river $335,000 and the reconstruction of Mattapan Mills dam, S152,-500. The study board also recommends river dredging between Mattapan Mills and the Chocolate Mills at a cost of $59,800, reconstruction of bridges downstream from Mattapan Mills at a cost of $25,000 and dam improvements over the same course, $32,000. The total estimated cost of the entire recommended project would be $1,731,500. The survey board included representatives of the Metropolitan District Commission, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Commerce.

The study was headed by MDC Commissioner Charles W Greenough. According to Greenough, the full effect of the dredging of the river would be to deepen its channel all the way from Norwood to Dorchester. It was pointed that the exposed river bed would be eliminated to a great extent, thus curbing the hot weather odors emanating from the Neponset.

Greenough, In his report, further stated “At the present time substantial areas of land on both sides of the Neponset River between Paul’s bridge and Traphole Brook, are subjected almost every year to flooding, and as a result this land is almost wholly marshland and swamp. In its present condition, it is not adaptable to any useful purpose. From a public health point of view, it forms a breeding ground for large numbers of mosquitoes.

“It is estimated that by means of a program of work similiar to that which is recommended, more than 2,500 acres of this swampland would be reclaimed and made available for development of either residential, industrial or recreational purposes. Under existing statutes, the development of these reclaimed lands would be governed by the zoning by-laws of the municipalities in which they are located.”

The report states that 28 percent of the reclaimable acreage is located in Norwood; 32 percent in Canton, and 20 percent in Metropolitan District Commission-controlled territory.

The dredging of the Neponset River would be the first and most important step in the long-range development program now being mapped out by a special committee made up of representatives from the various towns in the area At a meeting m Norwood a week ago tonight presided over by Charles L. Rich, Norwood Selectmen and chairman of the town’s Industrial Development Committee. James J Drummey, former chairman of the Norwood Planning Board, was appointed chairman of a committee of three to outline objectives and draw up plans of procedure for the valley development program.

Drummey conferred yesterday with legislators and other authorities at the State House in the interests of the special legislation calling for the river dredging.

By TOM O’DAY

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