USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Canton > One hundred fifty years of yesterday : dedicated to Canton's tomorrows, Canton, Massachusetts 1947 > Part 2
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the blood of a new town will course through its heart. Canton has al- ways had a tremendous appetite for industry, and this capacity will be in- creased with the many improvements that have already been approved by the voters. In the 1945 report of the Planning Board an exhaustive survey pointed the way to a promis- ing future. Accenting the pressing need for proper parking facilities and traffic circulation, it was pointed out that the character, volume of busi- ness and property values would be greatly benefitted. The report stated that in so doing, "Canton is sure to become a magnet for business from nearby towns and at the same time attract the most desirable type of new
A Penny Saved A Penny Earned
Banking facilities in Canton are of carly origin. The Canton Insti- tution for Savings was chartered in 1835. The Norfolk County Trust Company is the modern counterpart of the Neponset National Bank, chartered as the Neponset Bank in 1836 and becoming a National Bank in 1865. The Canton Co-operative Bank, soon to erect new quarters, is over forty years old.
PARK
PARKING
-
AMES
LINE
POST
OFFICE
G
RKIN
ROAD
MINOR
SHOPPING
PARK
co LOW
HIGH
SCHOOL
71
WIDENING
AVE.
WASHINGTON
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residents desiring to establish new homes in the community."
Beginning with the inception of the most ambitious high school plant in Canton's history, "the resulting im- provement in school facilities cannot but attract better families as new- comers, increase the value of real estate, help business and uplift the general level of culture and citizen- ship" to quote further from the Plan- ning Board report.
Besides the many school improve- ments which are the first responsibil- ity of any community, who will deny the advisability of considering new and better roads, park improvements, civic accommodations and prosperous business centers? The following words bear repeating, if only to assert
one manner in which Canton's full resources can thrive. "Other com- munities have made large expendi- tures to create civic improvements no finer than those which can be realized here by merely redeeming the natural beauty of this water-course (River Valley) and making it accessible for public use and enjoyment. Bolivar Pond and Forge Pond both have fine scenic qualities which as yet are little marred by the encroachment of un- sightly surroundings. We believe that the town should, by outright purchase or by the buying of view easements, gain control of the land immediately around these ponds and hold it for public park uses, making it accessible by roads such as the Parkway suggested on our plan, and
y:
Last One In is a Sissy
Canton is sprinkled with pictur- esque lakes and ponds. Over five ponds appear on the cover. Over 470 acres of the Blue Hill Reservation and 264 acres of the Neponset River Reservation rest within the town borders. There are playgrounds and parkways still in the planning stage.
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developing limited areas for more in- tensive use. We recommend especi- ally that all of the privately owned land east of Washington Street be- tween the Post Office and the present school be taken by the town and developed as a park. By the removal of the present buildings, by the con- solidation of the present outlets of Forge Pond into one scenic spillway, and by the provision of paths and appropriate planting to supplement the existing growth, this land could be made an interesting and beautiful park, easily accessible from the sur- rounding areas and open pleasantly
to the view of traffic on Washington Street if the profile is raised as sug- gested .. . the land already has an unusually fine park-like quality of landscape-an asset which should be used to distinguish this important area of the town."
On these pages are excerpts from maps prepared from the Olmstead Report. Widening of present streets and opening of new streets have re- ceived full attention in projecting the town's affairs into the future. It is characteristic of the community to concern itself more with the years that lie ahead than those that have
Going My Way
Transportation has never been much of a problem for Canton resi- dents. Train travel to Boston is con- venient and inexpensive, as well as bus travel to surrounding towns. The town has exceptional facilities at its own airport where feeder lines are in operation to connect with routes to all parts of the globe.
PARK
-WIDENING PLANNED BY
N.Y
-
-:
PRO
C
U
D
/
A
V
WALPO
NEPONSET
NEPONSET
T
NORFOLK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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passed. Words and pictures can tell the story of the town's proud history but it remains for the finishing of the first major reconstruction to give dramatic credence to the faith we have in the future. Canton's activ- ities in the past war attest to the flaming energy that has contributed to its prosperity. Outstanding is the spirit of her citizens as reported in the Poston Sunday Herald for August 31, 1947, in speaking of the special veterans' fund established during the war: "Victory workers contributed overtime pay to the fund. Business
men took part-time jobs in mills, both to alleviate the man-power shortage and help swell the fund. Many exec- utives spent one night a week as fac- tory workers for the fund." Even one golf course actually closed for the duration in the hope of devoting their energies to an activity productive of victory.
Canton's past is buried treasure, its future is a challenge. Picture Canton facing the coming years garbed in the finery that the Planning Board's im- provements would entail.
LL
ews
BRANCH
LOTS
WIDEN
60
POLICE
0
C
R
EVERE m L
PLYMOUTH
WIDEN IF
NECESSARY
A Little Place in the Country
Of a total of 1800 residences in the town of Canton, over 1500 are single homes. These have an average of more than one radio per home and the unusual distinction of more than one car to each home. Certain sections have had rapid growth in new homes, with Ponkapoag an outstanding example.
PARK
28
PARK
NEPONSET
PROPOSED
RIVER
c O.
VALLEY
HIGH LEDGE
PARK
ROAD
PLYMOUTH
RUBBER
LOTS
CO.
A Golf Course In Every Back Yard!
Canton is probably the only town its size with four golf courses. The oldest, Hoosic-Whisic, operating over fifty years, is now the Milton Hoosic Club, one of the five first courses in the commonwealth. Wampatuck and Ponkapoag bear proud Indian names. Blue Hill Country Club is of Cham- pionship calibre, 6348 yards, half again as long as most golf courses. It was laid out by Eugene "Skip" Wogan, one-time assistant to Donald Ross, con- sidered among the greatest golf club architects of all time.
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-OVER PASS
ARKWAY
BOLIVAI
TOWN
Good to the Last Drop .. . .
The town is well provided with excellent drinking water from three sources, at Springdale, Henry Springs and Ward Well. The two stand- pipes at opposite high points of town deliver their supply through 43 miles of main and distributing pipe. There are over five hundred hydrants throughout the town.
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Canton's Life Blood is Her Industry
These are the names of the firms, mills, and capital enterprises that keep Canton's men and women busy and prosperous.
Boston Edison Co.
Boston Sand and Gravel Co.
Brockton Gas Light Co.
Canton Processing Co.
Canton and Blue Hill Trans.
Canton Bronze and Aluminum Co.
Canton Co-operative Bank
Canton Publishing Co.
Canton Institution for Savings
Canton Machine Works
Chase and Sons
Dardano Patent Leather Co.
Dexter Club Beverage Co.
Draper Bros. Co.
A. Emerson Co.
Furman & Co., Inc.
Dr. Parker Holt Baby Wear Kessler Machine Works
Lyons & Franke Machine Co. Knitted Padding Co.
Mu-Switch Corp. Neponset Woolen Mills Inc.
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co.
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
Norfolk County Trust Co.
Plymouth Rubber Co.
Porter Patent Leather Co.
Rain Beau Products Co.
Springdale Finishing Co. Sweetland Waste Co.
Tobe Deutschmann Corp.
L. R. Wattles & Co. Wiggins Airways
Will-Bell Beverage
J. J. White Paper Co.
MILL POND
0
Canton's Finest
The Canton Fire Department is housed in two stations strategically located. It boasts two complete sets of the latest in modern fire-fighting equipment and a competent, well trained group. The Police Department has an efficient record and is presently deep in the task of maintaining unin- terrupted protection during the large scale construction work in the heart of the town.
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COMMITTEES for the 150TH ANNIVERSARY
GENERAL COMMITTEE
JOHN J. LYNCH, Chairman MRS. RUSSELL W. LOWRY, Secretary JOSEPH W. WATTLES, 3RD, Treasurer
FLOAT COMMITTEE MR. JOSEPH W. WATTLES 3RD, Chairman Mrs. Albion D. Wilde W. Lester Howard
John D. Coughlan, Jr.
MUSIC COMMITTEE PAUL ROGERS, Chairman Albert W. Bryan, Jr. Richard McLeod
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE FRANK T. GIFFORD, Chairman
Mrs. Henry E. Seavey John D. Coughlan, Jr. J. Theron Briggs Margaret McDonough
DOLL CARRIAGE PARADE AND PET SHOW COMMITTEE
MRS. LEO COOPER, Chairman Mrs. Lester Kooken Mrs. Albert Bryan
PARADE COMMITTEE
CARLTON B. TABER, Chairman
John J. O'Connell Charles K. Endicott
W. James Calhoun Joseph Galligan, Jr.
Roscoe J. Langill John J. Lynch (ex-officio)
WILLIAM CASH Publicity Chairman
John F. Crowley J. Elmer Farrington Paul Rogers JOHN F. WAGNER Photography
REGATTA COMMITTEE JAMES CALHOUN, Chairman Sumner Bullock
WILLIAM F. WARD, Official Greeter
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Acknowledgments
The constant assistance of William F. Ward, Carl- ton B. Taber, John J. Lynch and W. James Calhoun are gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Ward is responsible for much of the church history and considerable valuable data. The History of Canton, published in 1893, from the private works of Daniel T. V. Huntoon was the source of much of the material in this book as well as the Canton Number of a series published by the Boston Edison Co., in 1909. Lester Leonard of the Les-Ann Studios, West- wood, is to be thanked for his excellent aerial views of the town. We are also indebted to the Boston Globe for the use of their photo of the Curra Children in the Canton's Future section, and Mrs. Wadsworth Winslow for her photo of her father E. C. Britton at the head of the first trolley car from Mattapan Square in 1903. William Cash did the research on the Canton Library and made much other material available. The Canton Publishing Co. pro- vided many of the engravings from their collection with the exceptions from other sources noted above. The cover map which is suitable for framing is an original by Joseph Gallo. Kind assistance on layout and composition is acknowledged to Owen Stoner and Lee W. Court.
GERARD F. BURKE
September 14, 1947
1797 CANTON
1947
This little book can be complete only with a grateful salute to the men and women who have died in the service of our country, in order that this future may be secure. May we ever strive to redeem their sac- rifice.
Great
Fowl Me
CENTE
15 MILLI MINUTES
TO DOSTON
Dedham Ro.
5
9
4
VOSE Y TAVERN
16
14
13
15
MAY'S TAVERN
CANTON
12
CEMETERY
IST.
MARY'S
ST. MARK'S &
Road
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Stoughton,
Reservoir Pond
18
WAMPATUCK CC.
-Legend
1. Neponset Woolen Mills. 2. Congregational Orthodox Church. 3. Paul Revere House and Plymouth Rubber Co. 4. Crane School. 5. U. S. Post Office. 6. Canton High School, 7. St. John's Church and St. Clement's. 8. Canton Library. 9. Trinity Episcopal Church, 10. Site of new high school. 11. Congregation Beth Abraham. 12. Memorial Town Hall. 13. Tobe Deutschman Corp. 14. Draper Brothers Co. 15. Canton Historical Society. 16. Unitarian Church. 17, Canton Airport and Wiggins Airways. 18. Mass. Hospital School for crippled children. 19. Carroll's Tavern - scene of first murder trial in Norfolk County. 20. Blue Hill Country Club - "one of best in U. S." 21. Old Redman farm, now Ponkapoag Country Club. 22: Stand-pipe. 23. Ponkapoag. Union Chapel, 24, Doty's Tavern. 25. Fenno House. 26. Springdale Finishing Co. 27. Universalist Church.
10
8
Forge Pond
Pond
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