Alligator Visits Norwood-This Day In Norwood History-September 3, 1957

890-Pound Alligator In Visit To Norwood

Winding up a tour of New York and the New England states, “Jungle King,” an 890-pound alligator, transported across the country in a specially equipped and built truck, was parked in the yard of a Mylod Street couple yesterday as the owners of the gator, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Godwin of Sebring, Florida, visit their Norwood relatives.

The owners of the alligator, which is over 100 years old and was captured by a group of Seminole Indians in the Florida Everglades 35 years ago, are relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Boardman of 73 Mylod Street.

The gator Is being shown at various events throughout the country during the off-season in Florida where Mr. Godwin’s brother, Owen, owns and operates the largest alligator farm in the country.

The huge alligator has been on exhibition for the past six years and has been viewed by thousands. On leaving Norwood last night, it was to be taken to Worcester and then on to the Great Barrington Fair for the week of September 8 to 14.

It is not uncommon for an alligator to reach an age of three to four hundred years, Godwin said.

The children of the Mylod street neighborhood were allowed to see the huge alligator in his special tank while it was parked in the Boardman yard.