It is so important to preserve history

On Petition by the previous owners of the Governor’s Mansion at 289 Walpole Street, Norwood, Massachusetts, also known as Oak View and/or the Doll House, Article 4 of the Special Town Meeting Warrant of October 7, 2019, states that “historic single family homes built prior to 1930 and containing at least 4,000 square feet of interior space may obtain special permit relief to convert to 2, 3, or 4 separate residential units provided that the historic exterior of the structure is substantially maintained without major change or alteration.” Unfortunately, the mansion is scheduled to be gutted leaving just the exterior. Because no specific property was stated in the article, as it would be spot zoning, this article also could apply to other historic single-family homes in Norwood.

What the article did not state was what happens to the land surrounding the mansion. Well, we now know that tennis courts, a pool, and a 5 car garage will be built on the 86,000 square feet of land. Previously, the Governor’s Mansion was threatened with demolition to build townhouses unless Article 4 was passed decreasing the value of homes in the neighborhood. The Governor’s Mansion, located across the street from Veterans’ Park, sold for $1.5 Million, which would be a bargain today. If the Town of Norwood had bought it, it could have been saved, protected and preserved for community use.

Norwood’s industrial past included, but was not limited to, the Tannery on Endicott Street, Norwood Press, and Plimpton Press. The owners of those original businesses believed in living in Norwood and because of that built their beautiful homes here. Although Norwood has increased its commercial base, one wonders if some officers of these corporations could live in Norwood, but alas, many want their businesses here, only to return to their much less dense bucolic towns.

The Governor’s Mansion was lived in by the Winslow family, owner of Winslow Bros. & Smith on Endicott Street, and by Frank G. Allen, who married a Winslow daughter. Pertinent to local history, he was elected to the Board of Selectmen, being chairman, as well as being chairman of the Board of Assessors. He was elected 51st Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1928. According to town records, so many notables visited Oak View, including Presidents William Howard Taft and Calvin Coolidge, Justice Oliver Wendell Homes, John Singer Sargent, whose paintings are located in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, as well as internationally known composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, whose Concerto No. 2 is played by symphony orchestras all over the world, including Boston’s.

Historic sites, such as the Governor’s Mansion, connects us with our heritage, including the Town’s architecture, parks, gardens, or the arts. It is so important that what we love about our Town of Norwood is carefully preserved by and for everyone: Town Officials, Town Meeting Members, residents, students and businesses. It should illuminate your world!

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Judith Howard, Chair

Norwood Historical Commission