Digging Up Washington Street Uncovers Historic Street Paving
It sounded like a great idea at the time to Town Manager John J. Carroll, but as the logistical reality sets in, he admits he is not entirely sure.
When town crews began excavating Washington Street last summer as part of Norwood’s extensive $1.9 million uptown renewal project, workers uncovered thousands of historic Belgium block stones. Used in earlier eras to pave the town’s primary commercial thoroughfares, the brick-sized, light-gray granite blocks were carefully removed and hauled to the public works yard behind the Norwood Armory on Nahatan Street.
Belgium Block Stockpile & Auction Mechanics
The Stockpile at the Public Works Yard
- Location: Public works yard behind the Norwood Armory
- Estimated Quantity: Approximately 50,000 Belgium block stones
- Physical Dimensions: A massive pile rising 30 feet high from a 75-foot base
Sealed-Bidding Process
- Bidding Model: Price-per-stone basis via sealed bids following upcoming Town Meeting approval
- Lot Quantities: Offered in quantities ranging from a minimum of 100 to a maximum of 10,000
- Priority Allocation: Highest bid per stone wins first, regardless of quantity—protecting homeowners building walkways from commercial contractors
- Financial Target: A bid of $0.25 per stone is a “loser,” while $1.50 per stone would be “very juicy” for town coffers
50,000 Stones Sealed-Bid Auction Planned Following Town Meeting
Prompted by an influx of inquiries from local residents eager to take home a piece of Norwood’s history, Carroll arranged for the town to sell the surplus stones via sealed bids pending formal authorization at the upcoming Town Meeting.
The stockpile—captured in a staff photo by Tom Tajima—forms a mini-mountain rising 30 feet high over a 75-foot base, containing an estimated 50,000 stones. To ensure local homeowners looking to construct small garden walkways or backyard patios are not outbid by commercial contractors seeking massive lots, bids will be structured strictly on a highest-price-per-stone basis across lot sizes from 100 to 10,000 blocks. For example, a resident bidding $0.95 per stone for 100 blocks would take priority over a commercial firm bidding $0.93 per stone for 10,000.
While Carroll acknowledges that managing the individual bids and sorting out the stones could create a mountain of paperwork for municipal employees, he noted that the worst outcome would be a total lack of public interest: “We’ll have a lifetime supply of paving blocks.”
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Town Manager John Carroll Hopes Sale of Historic Belgium Block Stones Proves a Good Idea-November 2, 1983
Uncovered during Washington Street’s $1.9 million uptown renewal, 50,000 historic Belgium block paving stones will be auctioned to residents by sealed bid.
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