Newspaper Articles

(From The Potsdam Courier & Freeman, dated December 11, 1861)

Accident.
An accident which it is a wonder did not result fatally, occurred at the railroad crossing between this village and Potsdam Junction, on the evening of the 3d inst. Mr. W. B. Whitney and a young lady from the Junction were returning home from the rehearsal of the Philharmonic Society, and as they were driving over the crossing the train came in collision with the team, nearly cutting off the foot of one horse, carrying the other some distance on the cow catcher, smashing the sleigh, and throwing the passengers violently to the ground. The lady sustained quite a serious injury on the head, but Mr. Whitney escaped with some slight bruises. It was quite a cold night, and being closely muffled, neither heard the train until it was upon them. They were taken on board and carried to the Junction.

Aug. 8, 1875

A special telegram to the Times from Potsdam Junction says: "Messrs. Reynolds & Bowhall's flouring mills, containing 200 bushels of wheat, situated on Raquette River one mile north of Potsdam Junction, was consumed by fire between the hours of 8 and 9 last evening. The mill and machinery had just been repaired and put in operation. It is supposed that the fire caught from friction of machinery. Loss, $7,500; said to be insured for $5,000.

Nov. 5, 1875: The two-story brick store in Norwood, occupied by Messrs. Leonard & Valley, grocer dealers, and E. Leonard & Son, butter depot, was, with entire contents, burned about 1 a.m., Oct. 28. It was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. The value of building is estimated at $2,000, insured for $1,200. Insurance on goods, $1,800, which will probably cover loss.

March 20, 1878: The other day at Potsdam Junction a man who had heard that one of the druggists was selling liquor thought it would be a good plan to catch that druggist and make an example of him. He accordingly sent a loose character in after the stuff, for which he paid a quarter. The two men then went around to the back of the hub factory to see what they had got, and to their surprise found it was water.

Oct. 19, 1898: Col. Roosevelt arrived in Norwood at 5:45 p.m. today and was met by a crowd of about 500 people, who heartily cheered him. The town was decorated with flags and banners and the Potsdam band was there.

Aug. 20, 1902: A gentle hailstorm passed over Norwood Saturday afternoon, lasting about 10 minutes. It came up very suddenly and almost in an instant the hail began to fall thick and fast. Hailstones the size of peas lay 1 to 3 inches deep in places. Old residents say they never witnessed anything like it before. After the storm had passed several took advantage of the opportunity of snowballing in summer and pelted each other with hailstone snowballs.

June 28, 1925: The mishap of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus train at Norwood Sunday recalls the famous wreck of the Barnum & Bailey circus train only a few miles from that spot Aug. 22, 1889. By a coincidence the circus in each case was bound for Montreal. The accident in 1889 occurred at Clark's crossing between Potsdam and Norwood. Although no human lives were lost, the pileup was the worst in the history of what is now the St. Lawrence division.

July 31, 1925: While the majority of residents of that community are probably unaware of the fact, the present year marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption by the corporation of the name Norwood, and the passage of the necessary legislation to make legal the change of the place from Potsdam Junction.

The name of Baldwin was first suggested, that name being chosen to honor one of the pioneer residents of the community who did much for its development. A resolution was adopted that the name of the railroad depot and post office be changed to Baldwin. The necessary papers were drawn and forwarded to Albany. It was found, however, that there was already one post office of Baldwin in New York state, and the papers were returned.

Jan. 7, 1926: The Norwood Volunteer Fire Department on Thursday evening, Jan. 14, at 7 will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the department. The department is proud of the fact that it has as an active member, one of the oldest firemen in the state, Rollin D. Reed, who joined as a charter member, the Defiance Fire Company on Jan. 8, 1876, and he has continued as an active fireman ever since. At the time Mr. Reed joined, there were two departments in Norwood. One was called The Defiance Fire Company No. 1, which was organized Jan. 8, 1876, and the other was called the Rescue Fire Company No. 2, organized Jan. 6, 1876.

Jan. 28, 1953: The new $1,400,000 Norwood-Norfolk Central School will be opened the latter part of February, it was learned yesterday from Kinsman Wright of Norwood, president of the board of education. The central school will have an attendance of between 600 and 620 students. The Norwood and Norfolk schools will be used as grade schools. There are at least three rural schools in the district still in operation.

Jan. 2, 1975: Before leaving office Tuesday, Gov. Malcolm Wilson announced approval of an $83,000 grant-in-aid to the village of Norwood to assist in the development of a village park. Park development will include construction of picnic facilities, an access road and parking lot, comfort station and a bathing beach on an eight-acre site owned by the town on the Raquette River.