Norton High School - Sojourn Yearbook (Norton, MA)

Page 9 text:

ISTORY OF NORTON . kl711-1961 The Town Library 5

Page 8 text:

ft iiin iiiiiiii.MiL nam AS WE KNOW MRS. PAUL WESTLUND Because of her clear insight, her integrity, and her sincere interest in us, which bring in response our highest ef- forts to develop those inner qualities we may have; because thus she brings to us the true meaning of friend and teacher, we, the Class of Nineteen Hundred Sixty- one, dedicate our yearbook to Mrs. West- lund. 4

Page 10 text:

HISTORY OF 1711 . . . The Town Seal divided into a number of small tribes. The tribe which made its home at Norton was the Cohannett tribe. Relics found around the Winnecun- net area indicate that a sizeable Indian town once existed t here. The Indian village was probably de- stroyed by the great plague, a few years prior to 1620. Those who sur- vived the plague and remained in this area seemed to have been on neigh- borly terms with the colonists. Following the settlement of the Winnecunnet area, other parts of Norton were settled. In 1695, a grant was given to the Leonard family to set up a forge at Stony Brook to work the bog iron which seemed to be abundant. This industry lured settlers to seek employment. A few years later, Judge Leonard built the first frame house in Norton, which still stands at Chartley Corner. The last known Indian in the town, called Dick Quock, was a slave in the Leonard family. Norton and Taunton, Massachusetts, have had a synony- mous beginning, with their founding in the year 1637. Co- hannett, now the City of Taunton, was one of the original settlements of the Plymouth Colony and covered a great area including parts of what is now Easton, Mansfield, Norton, Raynham, and Berkley. Norton was still a part of Taunton when the first settler, William Wetherell, took holdings on the east side of Win- necunnet Lake in 1669. Later, Wetherell set up an ordinary or victualling house for travellers; thus, he kept the first public house within the limits of Norton. In a few years, Wetherell was joined by other families who settled near the lake in order to grow corn and to fish as the Indians had done before them. The principal Indian nation, which had jurisdiction over Norton and other towns in Southeastern Massachusetts, was the Wampanoag Tribe. King Philip, the chief of the Warn- panoag Tribe, had a cave situated in East Norton; it was his headquarters for fishing and hunting. The Indian nation was Judge Leonard Homestead . . . the first frame house in Norton 6