Excerpt from Norwood, One of the Newest and Most Progressive Towns in Massachusetts, 1906: Her Industries, Past and Present, Business, Houses, Societies, and Advantages for Location

Among the oldest and largest industries in Norwoodare the Winslow Bros. Smith Co. Tanneries, whose history goes back as far as 1776, or earlier, and is now a large stock company. This tanning industry deals in the conversion of hides, sheep-skins, etc., into leather, and is also interested in the wool industry. It has en joyed a steady growth from its very beginning, and is now one of the largest plants of its kind in New Eng land.

The second largest ink manufactory in the world, and the second largest printers' ink producing plant in the United States, was founded here in 1869, and is now known as the George H. Morrill Co.

The New York, New Haven Hartford Railroad shops give employment to a great many men and have been a very important factor in the growth and develop ment of the town in bringing here a class of intelligent, well-paid and thrifty mechanics.

The Plimpton Iron Foundry was established here in 1854, by Spencer, Fuller Colburn, under the firm name of Fuller Colburn. In recent years it passed into the hands of J. Edward Plimpton. The business gives employment to many men, is growing every year, and it is generally believed that it will in the future form the nucleus for the establishment here of other and larger iron industries.

The existence of these large and important indus tries, the history of which goes back, in some instances, to the days when Norwood was a mere precinct or village of the old town of Dedham, accounts for the great growth and importance of the modern town of Norwood, a town which, though only fourteen miles from a great city, is not a mere sleeping place for a few city people, but a live, progressive town with large busi ness interests), fine homes and a most intelligent, wide awake and up-to-date population, reaching out always for greater and better things.

Norwood lays no claim as to being a summer resort, but it has many advantages as a place of suburban resi dence. In a good many ways it is a central point. It is one of the few important business points between Providence and Boston. It is within three miles of East Walpole, with its enormous and constantly growing paper mill industries. It has admirable steam railroad facilities, and in its splendidly kept streets and roads, and the great beauty and picturesqueness of its residen tial portions, it will take rank as one of the prettiest towns in Eastern Massachusetts. It has good water, good schools, a fine public library, and, in proportion to its size, a remarkably large school population. Its tax rate is low. It has about inhabitants, fineschool buildings, seven handsome church buildings, and eight religious parishes or societies.

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