Norton High School - Sojourn Yearbook (Norton, MA)

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CHURCHES The Congregational Parish (Unitarian) was the first church within the limits of Norton. Its first meeting house was built in 1710 on the Common in the center of town. The house of the first minister, the Reverend Joseph Avery, was built in 1711. This first parsonage is pic- tured on the town seal. The bell in the church was bought from Paul Revere and Son in 1810. The present church building was constructed in 1835. Today, the minister of the Unitarian Church is the Reverend James Z. Hanner. Congregational Unitarian Church The Chartley Methodist Church, for- merly the Methodist Episcopal Church, had its beginnings in 1873 when the Reverend E. D. Hall from Attleboro held meetings in private homes. The chapel was erected in 1875 and dedicated in 1876. The first resident minister was the Reverend James Biram, who resided in the Judge Leonard House at Chartley Corner. The present minister of the Chartley Methodist Church is the Reverend Levy Robinson. The Chartley Methodist Church 10

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of Norton varies slightly from one hundred and seventy-six feet to sixty feet above sea level. In its formative years, Norton was primarily a farming community, with farmers doubling as weavers, millers, sawyers, and iron mongers. The first saw mill was started in 1710; a grist mill, in 1714; and thirty years later, a fulling mill. Norton ' s pioneer industry was the manufac- ture of nails from iron; this iron works remained in Norton for ap- proximately one hundred years. After the nineteenth century, many industries, such as the copper works, the straw hat factory, and the friction match factory, sprang up, flourished for a short time, and then moved elsewhere. In 1810 there was established a cotton mill for making cloth; in 1870, a wool combing mill. Jewelry manufacture began in 1871 when the Sturdy Jewelry Shop was built on the site of the old iron works. In this present day and age, Norton still has its important in- dustries; but the general character The Old Saw Mill in East Norton Railroad Station, Chartley, Mass. of the town remains residential. The majority of the homes in Norton are single family homes owned by the occupants. The town, today, also contains farming areas — there is one particular dairy farm with over one hundred milking cows. Today, Norton ' s population is spread throughout the town and divided into six districts: Chartley. Barrowsville, Winnecunnet, Norton Grove, Norton Center, and East Nor- ton. Two of the sections have their own post offices. Norton also has a large natural pond, Winnecunnet; and an artificial body of water, the Reservoir. Much of the town is woodland and Cedar swamps, and today Norton can boast of one of the finest Town Forests in the state. Thus, the people of Norton are proud of their town which offers a convenient location, delightful sur- roundings, and attractive opportuni- ties. 9

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IN NORTON A portion of the parish of the Uni- tarian Congregational Church dissented and formed its own religious organization. This new religious organization became known as the Trinitarian Congregational Church, and was organized in 1832. The church building was completed on January 1, 1834. Today, the minister of the Trini- tarian Church is the Reverend J. Stanley Dahlman. The Trinitarian Congregational Church St. Mary ' s Church was built in 1865 by Father Shahan who was at that time pastor of St. Mary ' s in Taunton. Before that time, services were held in private homes and business enterprises. The Rev- erend John L. McNamara was named first pastor. The cornerstone of the present church building was laid in 1924, and the first services were held later that year. The present pastor of St. Mary ' s Parish is the Reverend William D. Thompson, and the curate is the Reverend Bernard F. Sullivan. St. Mary ' s Catholic Church I I