This Day in Norwood History-Talk Of The Town-May 4, 1900

These news items were the talk of the town on May 4, 1900

A number of acts of wanton vandalism have been occurring for some time past at the Bell & Casey foundry building on Broadway, near the foot of Day Street. The perpetrators are supposed to be mischievous boys. From 75 o 100 lights have been broken in the windows and in some instances, the entire window has been shattered. A steam gauge has been stolen from the engine and an oil cup broken off and carried away. These last actions and the peculiarly thorough manner in which the windows have been broken would indicate that the building has been several times broken into, it looks as if the authorities ought to look into this matter.

Wednesday, May 3, 1900. 3:30 pm.— It still continues dusty and there are no watering carts in sight.

At the meeting of Norwood Council, R. A,, on Friday evening of Inst week, Past Regent Fisher G. Johnson was presented with a jewel, the presentation speech being made by Past Regent A, R. Small. The jewel is of gold and is very handsomely engraved. The presentation should have been carried out several months ago and the Council had intended doing so, but various causes had prevented.

Past Regents A. C. Small and J. A. A. Griebel attended the sessions of the Grand Council of the Royal Arcanum in Boston, on Thursday and Friday of last week.

It is expected that work in the old Bell & Casey foundry is soon to be started again under entirely new management.

Emery Colburn of Westwood has gone to Puerto Rico to engage in work for the government.

The trial of the charges of assault brought against Adolphus and H. S. Holton has been postponed until this morning.

The tulip beds in front of the Norwood Press are beginning to assume their usual fine appearance. The shrubbery in front of Berwick & Smith’s department is also in an unusually fresh and forward condition.

James A. Halloran, Esq., has secured the services of Henry A. Connor of Boston to assist him in attending to his Norwood practice. Mr. Connor is an able and experienced lawyer, and his engagement will enable Mr. Halloran to give the public in Norwood a law office open every evening in the week.

Julia Curran, the little daughter of William and Julia Curran, died at her home on Davis Avenue on Monday last, at the age of 1 year, 8 months, and 9 days, Burial was in Highland cemetery.

A grass fire on Neponset Street last Thursday afternoon burned over a good many acres. It was extinguished by the department which was called out on a still alarm.

The teachers of the Guild and East schools, with Miss Annie White of the West school, had a visiting day last Wednesday.

A number of the members of Norwood Council, K. of C., will take the fourth degree in Boston, next Tuesday evening.

Tiot Lodge, I. O. O. F , initiated one candidate Wednesday evening.

The lawns in front of St. Catherine’s church and parochial residence are looking unusually well this season, and Sexton Rorke is doing a great deal of good work on them. The display of tulips and Hyacinthia is noticeably fine.

Some six or eight Norwood gentlemen, including several adept in athletic sports, went to Boston Wednesday evening to attend an exhibition given by Henry Austin Higgins and John Y. Smith, the world’s champion strongmen. Smith is the champion dumbbell exerciser of the world, and can lift even larger dumbbells than those manipulated by Mr. Huntoon and Mr. Jardine.

Wood fires in the ink mill neighborhood raged most of the day Sunday and burned over several hundred acres of woodland. The department was called out on a still alarm and did very efficient work.

The letter carriers are about to appear in entirely new uniforms, furnished by, the Norwood Clothing Co.

Ivrr Johnson cycles. Harriott, agent.

Neponset Lodge, N. E. O. P., conferred the first degree on a candidate last evening, the work being performed by the new degree staff, George H. Dexter, decree master. Visitors from Fairmount Lodge of Hyde Park were present. Ice cream and cake were served.

There were anxious demands made upon Superintendent Halstead for the “no school’’ whistle in the order of yesterday noon, but Mr. Halstead proved a wiser weather prophet than some of the teachers and pupils, as the weather changed rapidly in the afternoon. The schools hold their sessions, though with a somewhat limited attendance.

H. E. Rice is to occupy both his own store and the store about to be vacated by Partridge’s Cash Grocery. This will give Mr. Rice a little more than double his present store space.

Mr. Partridge of the Cash Grocery will remove his store across the street to the store formerly occupied by M. H. Seller. He will begin moving into his new quarters tomorrow (Saturday) and will probably be ready for business at the new stand on Monday.

J. Tennyson Seller has removed the Seller Store to the store building on Washington Street, formerly occupied by H. B. Baker.

Fire was discovered in a small unoccupied building situated in the rear of the dwelling house on School Street, owned by Mr. A. H. Thayer, and occupied by William Skakle, at 10 o’clock today. The dames were communicated to a barn a few feet away which was only slightly damaged. The buildings affected by the fire were owned by the heirs of Newman Sumner. Cause unknown.

There will be a yellow supper at the Baptist vestry, Wednesday evening, May 9th, from 6:30 to 7 o’clock. Entertainment at 8. Admission, 25 cents.

A large gathering of the members of the Masonic fraternity was held in Masonic Hall, Norwood, on Wednesday afternoon and evening, it being a convocation of lodges in the twenty-second Masonic district, held for exemplification of and lectures on the three degrees, under the direction of James A. Hartshorn, D. D. G. M. of the 22nd Masonic District, work of this kind having been ordered through Grand Master Gallagher and placed in the hands of Rt. Wor. Charles M. Avory, Grand Lecturer. Some 175 brethren from lodges within the district attended. The work was carried out as follows by various lodges within the district: First Degree: Opening and First Section, St. Alban’s Lodge, Foxboro. Second section. Rising Star Lodge, Stoughton Lecture: First section, St. James Lodge, Mansfield. Second Degree: First section and Lecture, Blue Hill Lodge, Canton. Second section, Orient Lodge, Norwood. Third Degree, First Section, Paul Dean Lodge, North Easton. Second section, Constellation Lodge, Dedham. Lecture and Close, Hyde Park Lodge, Hyde Park. A particularly fine banquet was served at 0 p.m. by Caterer Rhoads. The exercises monopolized the time pretty closely from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

(Originally published in the Norwood Advertiser and Review)