Washington No. 7 Fire House Held a Special Place In Norwood History

While South Dedham’s separation from Dedham ultimately stemmed from immediate issues, the rivalry between the two communities was longstanding. This tension began in the colonial era and was fueled by various incidents through the years. When Eleazer Lusher and Joshua Fisher built a sawmill on the Neponset River (now East Walpole) in 1659, they were partly motivated by disputes with Dedham church authorities over land rights. Similarly, Ezra Morse III emigrated to Tiot in 1678 due to conflicts with Dedham farmers and mill owners who opposed his use of Mother Brook waterpower, which they believed was their prior claim. Other settlers followed Morse for more fertile lands and personal independence, feelings that didn’t sit well with those they left behind.

The parish dispute in the 1720s solidified differences between Dedham proper and their southern neighbors well before Norwood’s incorporation. At the heart of the conflict was the geographical distance, a common source of discord. Tiot parishioners objected to the long, rough journey to attend mandatory church services in Dedham and pay the annual ministerial tax. By 1730, after repeated petitions, the General Legislature approved the creation of a new “South Parish.” However, the loss of church tax revenue and members left Dedham residents feeling resentful.

The push for separation continued to build through the 18th and into the 19th century. In 1817, Samuel Dean and others attempted to form a separate town for South and West Dedham (Clapboard Trees), but the Dedham Town Meeting rejected the idea. Later in 1828, a proposal to create a town from Dedham’s Second and Third Parishes was similarly dismissed. Nevertheless, the divide grew as Tiot residents felt burdened by the distance to town meetings and resisted funding improvements that wouldn’t benefit them directly. Dedham, wealthier and culturally elite, often looked down on the South Dedham farmers and laborers, a friction symbolized in the fierce competition between the town’s fire companies at the Norfolk County Agricultural Society fairs. Differing industrial growth patterns further divided the towns, with Dedham giving little attention to South Parish’s manufacturing needs.

Two final issues pushed South Dedham’s leaders to petition for separate incorporation. The first was a seemingly minor issue but one deeply felt in Tiot. For years, South Dedham marked the Fourth of July by ringing the bell at the Washington Fire Company “Number 7” firehouse. But in 1868, Dedham officials prohibited the tradition. Despite the order, fire company steward George E. Metcalf rang the bell, sparking further defiance. Weeks later, “Number 7” declined to attend Dedham’s Memorial Hall dedication, angering Dedham citizens. Fuelled by these slights, tensions grew, leading to the high school controversy in 1870. South Dedham residents had long requested a local high school, citing the difficulty of traveling to Dedham. When their petition was denied due to insufficient student numbers, they saw separation as their only solution.

Motivated by these frustrations, South Dedham leaders met on November 25, 1871, to draft a petition for incorporation. They proposed naming the new town “Lyman,” after the founder of a local tannery. On December 22, at Village Hall, residents organized a committee to present the petition to the Massachusetts Legislature. Dedham’s Town Meeting acknowledged the separation request in January 1872, raising minor objections about boundaries and residents who wished to remain with Dedham. After reaching an agreement, Dedham and neighboring Walpole consented to the reallocation of territories.

Finally, on February 23, 1872, the “Town of Norwood” was officially incorporated by the Massachusetts General Court, signed by Governor William B. Washburn.

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