World War II Memorial Civic Center Dedicated on Nahatan Street-September 24, 1984

Bursting with civic pride, town officials and about 100 residents gathered Saturday morning for the dedication of the new World War II Memorial Civic Center on Nahatan Street, marking the successful conversion of the former National Guard armory into a multi-use town recreation facility.

Transforming the Former Armory into a Community Hub

Selectmen Chairman Walter J. Dempsey addressed the crowd from the building’s front steps, expressing gratitude to everyone involved in the $1.5 million project. Dempsey specifically thanked former Governor Edward J. King, who had authorized the sale of the armory to the town for just $1, remarking, “He was a great governor for Norwood; he never turned us down.” Though King was scheduled to speak, a misunderstanding regarding the event’s timing resulted in his arriving after the ceremony concluded.

State Representative Gregory W. Sullivan (D-Norwood), who collaborated closely with town officials on the renovations, praised Dempsey for dedicating “1,000 hours of work” to the initiative. Ernest Paciorkowsky, chairman of the permanent building construction committee which oversaw the project, noted that while minor work would continue for a few months, the facility was ready for its scheduled public opening. Selectman John Kinnaly—instrumental in acquiring the building from the state—and Town Manager John Carroll also delivered remarks.

Comprehensive Facilities and Membership Structure

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, residents toured the transformed building, which features a wide array of amenities:

• Recreation Spaces: A gymnasium, weight-lifting equipment, a dance and aerobics room, wrestling and boxing areas, a darkroom, a game room, and several meeting rooms.
• Senior Center: The third floor houses a dedicated senior citizens activity center. Margaret M. Amirault of the Norwood Council on Aging praised the space, stating, “The senior center is truly a beautiful spot and we thank all who had a part in it.”
• Municipal Offices: Registry of Motor Vehicles offices occupy the ground floor.

The reconstruction was executed by general contractor Carlos Mello and designed by architect Roger O. Hoit.

Exclusively restricted to Norwood residents, the facility’s fee structure includes annual memberships of $50 for adults and $25 for children through high school age, or $75 for families. Alternatively, daily drop-in rates are set at $1 for adults and 25 cents for children, while residents aged 62 and older are admitted free of charge. Youngsters unable to afford the daily fee may also utilize the center with recreation department approval.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger