This Day in Norwood History-May 4, 1945-New Memorial Auditorium Is Proposed For Norwood

The construction in Norwood of a new building which would serve as a civic center and which would be dedicated to the service men and women of the town was proposed at the May meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last night in a report of the Town Affairs Committee of that organization.

Fred Howard, chairman of the Town Affairs Committee, submitted the report to the Chamber pointing out that this project is one which has been under consideration for the past two years. The plans are complete he said, and he exhibited an architects drawing or the building as It would stand on the Civic properly owned by the town.

However Mr. Howard emphasized that the plan was not one which the committee is asking anyone to accept it is. he said, simply a report of the Town Affairs Committee. The proposal is offered for the consideration of all that he stated, adding if the Chamber or “any group wants to look into the matter, they will have our full cooperation.”

The proposed memorial Auditorium he said, would be located on the site originally occupied by Everett Hall to the left of the present civic building. The building, he stated, would incorporate civic social, and recreational facilities. The Civic site was selected, he said, because of the central location. because the property is owned by the town and because it has been used for similar purposes in the past.

Charles Britton, a member of the committee, brought out that the architecture of the proposed auditorium would be in harmony with the Junior High School building on the opposite side of the street, and that the capacity of the building would be 50 percent greater than the Junior High.

COMMUNITY CENTER ENVISIONED

Chairman Howard outlined the plans for the building as drawn up free of charge, by an architect who, he explained, prefers to remain anonymous. The building, he stated, could very well form the principal unit of a community center expanded to include the Social Hall and swimming pool unit of the old Civic. A large “U” shaped building could eventually be developed on the unit plan, making a center for most of the town’s civic and recreational activities.

The building would contain a large auditorium on the first floor, which could be used for town meetings, dances, and social functions, dramatic productions, moving pictures, etc. The front portion of the auditorium, according to the plans, has a level floor for special functions, with sloping, stadium-type seating for the remaining section.

There would be three smaller halls on the ground floor, which could be combined by opening folding partitions. There would be a large kitchen for serving of banquets, rooms for headquarters of civic organizations, and several check rooms with washrooms.

There would be four separate entrances to these ground-floor halls and rooms, so that altogether it would be possible to accommodate five different activities in the building at the same time,

The first-floor auditorium, as well as the ground-floor halls, Mr. Howard said, could serve numerous uses, ranging from town meetings to all forms of social functions and recreational activities.

In answer to a question from the floor as to the estimated cost Mr. Howard explained that all details, including cost, had been purposely omitted at this time.

President Harry Korslund of the Chamber, complimented the committee on its report. A motion was made by Mr. Britton that the matter be left in the hands of the Town Affairs Committee, and if the town authorities or the newly organized Servicemen’s Fund Committee, or others, were interested, the Town Affairs Committee, and if the town authorities or the newly organized Servicemen’s Fund Committee, or others, were interested, the Town Affairs Committee should work along with them. This motion was unanimously carried.

The business meeting of the Chamber was held last night in Room 217 of the Senior High School following a beef steak pic dinner served in the cafeteria of the Henry O. Peabody School for Girls.

Further business matters were dispensed with, because of the full “Education Night“ program remaining. The” group, then adjourned to the gymnasium to hear a 20-minute concert by the High School Orchestra under the direction of Prof. J Dethier, to listen to three prize-winning essays by high school students, and to hear an informative address, entitled “Know Your Aptitudes,“ delivered by Prof. Everett Stephens of Boston University.

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