This Day in Norwood History-Talk Of The Town-June 23, 1905

These news items were the talk of the town on June 23, 1905

Fourth of July Approaches High School Boys Win.

Eleven days from today the people of Norwood will be git on a treat such as few towns of its size have ever seen. The committee on the celebration met last Tuesday night in the Norwood Business Association rooms anil the number o! committee reports that were given was more than encouraging Thu manner in which the people are taking hold is far beyond the expectations of anyone. Many of the local clubs, societies, and fraternities were represented at the Tuesday night meeting and told of what they were going to do, and judging from their reports, a very pleasant surprise is in store for those who watch the parade. Music for the parade will probably be furnished by the Norwood Band and other musical features are being! arranged In the afternoon there will be athletic sports, ball games, and a band concert. The Norwood Athletic Club will have charge of the Held athletics in the afternoon and it is expected that they will cooperate with the Norwood baseball team in arranging ball games. The band will give another concert in the evening Milton H. Howard has been appointed Chief Marshal of the parade and the aids will be appointed probably at the next meeting.

Norwood Tennis Club Celebrates.

The Norwood Tennis Club celebrated the 17th of June in a manner that reflected great credit on the enterprise of the organization. In the morning athletic sports were held on the grounds of the club. The first event was a potato race for women. There were ten entries and two heats were run. The race was; won by Miss Lillian Duncan with Miss Catherine Bigelow a close second. The men then had a potato race with eleven entries. Two heats were run and the winners were William Upham and Eldon Smith. The men’s sack race was won by Frank Colcord with Walter Pratt second. There were twelve entries in this race. Miss Lillian Duncan and Miss Catherine Bigelow were tied for the forty-yard dash for women. The forty-yard dash for men was won by Charles Rich with Charles Stewart second. The three-legged race had five pairs entered and was won by Charles Rich and Charles Stewart. In the early evening a baked bean supper was served to the members on the club grounds after which the party went to James Berwick’s hall and enjoyed dancing the rest of the evening. Music was furnished by a hurdy-gurdy.

Field Day Tomorrow at Prospect Park.

An interesting set of games will be offered next Saturday at Prospect Park Broad jump at 1.45; hop, step and jump at 2 ; high jump at 2.15; ball game, High school vs South End at 2.30 ; 50 yard dash and relay race at 3.45 ; Norwood baseball club vs Dedham at 4 p. in. Admission to both games and all sports, 25 cents, rebate of 10 cents given to those wishing to attend only one. There will be five classes in each event. Those desiring to enter in any event must enter their names and be assigned to a class at the field between 1 and 1.30. The committee on entries consists of Charles Rich, Horace Roby, Martin Connelly and Michael Nugent. Class A will consist of those 17 years old or over, prizes, ribbons. Class 1, 2, .3, 4,- under 17, according to height, prizes, Junior League badges. Contests in throwing a baseball and potato race will follow the Norwood-Dedham game. Events open to all. Colors, South End, red; Cork City, dark blue: North End, light blue; Orients, yellow; Dunlin, green; Independents, Orange.

Last Saturday afternoon, the High school boys ended their season by playing a game with the Norwood baseball team in which the latter was defeated 4 to The game was close and exciting from start to finish and although several bad plays were made, it was, as a whole, very interesting. Norwood’s out-of-town players were by no means up to the expectations of the Norwood baseball fans. On the whole, the “Norwoods” played a rather weak game and one which reflected but little credit on the players. The High school boys, on the other hand, played perhaps, the best game they have played this year. The pitching of Foss was excellent and it was through his strenuous efforts, not only while in the box but when his team was in, that the High school won the game. After he called his team together for a conference, it was with a feeling of entire confidence in themselves that they again went out into the field, and without this confidence, the team would probably have lost the game The work of Ryan in left field was phenomenal and brought cheers of admiration from every spectator. As a coach Ryan is also a great success find there are but few pitchers who can stand up and strike a man out while he is stationed between third and home coaching the man at the bat. It is expected that the Norwood team will, however, put up some fine ball through the summer, as Foss will pitch for them and several other High school players will be seen on the diamond.

Ninth Grade Graduation Exercises

The graduation exercises of the two .local ninth grades were held last Thursday afternoon in Village Hall. In spite of the threatening weather, the hall was filled to its utmost capacity with the fond parents and admiring friends of the youthful graduates. The stage was handsomely decorated with flowers and potted ferns and palms, which brought out exquisitely the various graduation gowns behind them. Several minutes before the time set for the opening of the exercises, the eighth grade, who assisted m the various musical numbers, entered, followed by the graduation class of 64 members.

Promptly at 3 o’clock, the exercises commenced, the opening number being a song “ Joys of Spring ” by the combined eighth and ninth grades. A roll call of the graduates followed, conducted by Clyde F. Vance and Helen M. Kelly, both of whom made admirable secretaries. The pupils responded with short quotations from Longfellow’s Evangeline The first of the two essayists. Miss Sarah Williams, followed with a paper treating the “Historical Setting of Evangeline.” The essay, though given rather low, was given with marked ability, and the young lady showed a thorough knowledge and appreciation of her subject.

The fourth number entitled an “Essay—Assisted by Scrooge,” was in reality a class prophecy. In it, the members of the class were portrayed in the various pursuits of life in such a witty manner and loud voice that none of the points were lost and the audience were convulsed with laughter. The author of this really witty work was Francis Bernier.

Following the two songs “ Spring Flowers ’’ and “Battle Prayer ’’ by the school, was the second essay, “Extract from an Old Diary,” by Miss Mildred Metcalf. The essay was nicely’ handled by the young lady, who showed much ingeniousness in her subject matter and marked ability in delivery.

The trial scene from “The Merchant of Venice” followed, and was vividly acted. William Shyne the Duke of Venice, adapted by nature to his part, did well, and his colleague in disguise, Portia, taken by Miss Marion Fogg, was one of the best pieces of juvenile acting ever seen in Norwood. Chester Wolfe made a manly Antonio and John Coakley did equally well with Bassanio’s part. Gratiano’s part, taken by Fred Porter, though, short as it regards words, was made considerable of by the young man. Salanno was well taken by Kenneth Halstead. Shy lock, the hardest part perhaps, was taken by Joseph Probert, who made a great hit. especially when on his knees begging for mercy.

This admirable piece of work was followed by a song “O Lonely Rose.” Clifford Sanborn, chairman of the school board, in a short, witty speech, gave some excellent reasons for not making an address, and then presented the John C. Lane medals of scholarship to Chester Wolfe, Helen M. Kelley, Sarah E. Wood, Clyde F. Vance, Sarah B. Williams, Mildred Metcalf, Lawrence Norton, Joseph C. Probert, Hilda S. Sundquist, and Edward E. Jewett. The following received honorable mention:

Grace Ahearn, Katie Hunt, Helen Whedon, Gertrude Cuff, Mary Henry, Beatrice Spear, Mary Miney, Julie McCarthy, Rita Curran, Mary McCartin, Dana Bigelow, Herbert Brady, and John Coakley.

The graduates then received their diplomas and the exercises closed with the singing of America by all present. This was led by B. Harold Hamblin, who had charge of all the music, and he is to be congratulated on the quality of the music given in all the num tiers, and the excellent training the chorus showed, and he was ably assisted by the pianist, Helen Farren. The graduation classes have been under Miss Mary Stuart Fellows and Miss Julia O’Brien, and the training for the graduation has been in their hands.

‘The following were awarded diplomas:

Grace Elizabeth Ahearn, Francis Edward Bernier, Dana Hartshorn Bigelow, Ella Bertha Blasenak, Herbert Vincent Brady, Ellamay Churchill, John Austin Leo Connolly, George Joseph Coakley, Walter Corbett, Ivan Rogers Cottrell, Frank Bernard Coughlin, Gertrude Dorothy Cuff, Marguerita Lillian Qurran, Catherine Veronica Donahue, Samuel Echnund Elston, John Joseph Eppich, William Henry Fales, Helen Gertrude Farren, Daniel Ellery Flynn, Marion Weatherbee Fogg, Delia Elizabeth Foley, Thomas Andrew Gilling, Robert Henry Goodman, Harold Dunstar Hall, Frank Kenneth Halstead, George Tyler Hartshorn, Mary Ellen Lucy Henry, Mildred Genevieve Hoar, Louise Catherine Hogan, Katie Muriel Hunt, Edward Everett Jewett, Helen Marguerite Kelley, Joseph Albert Kelley, Marguerita Agnes Kelley, Rosanna Agnes King, Francis DeSales Lucey, James Ernest Mahoney, Alice Ilanora Manning, Julia Agnes McCarthy, Mary Winifred McCartin, Mildred Metcalf, Mary Josephine Miney, Louise Iinekla Morris, Emma Elizabeth Mullane, Ebon Lawrence Norton, William Henry Otis, Fred Albert Porter, Joseph Curtis Probert, Sarah Elizabeth Probert, Martha Elizabeth Readel, Edith Irene Rhodes, Joseph William Richardson, William Vincent Shyne, Melvin Clay Smith, Beatrice Isadora Spear, Meinrad Joseph Strack, Frank Edward Sullivan, Hilda Sofia Sundquist, Clyde Fulmer Vance, Helen Knowlton Whedon, Hiram Wesley Whitney, Sarah Beatrice Williams, Chester Fisher Wolfe, Sadie Ethel Wood, Raymond Wheelock White.

(Originally published in the Norwood Advertiser and Review)