dfjd's definitions
I am referring to Norwood, Massachusetts, a middle-class suburb 15 miles south-west of Boston.
Norwood is located near the geographic center of Norfolk County.
The town's population has remained relatively steady at around 30,000, although the demographics have changed somewhat over the last couple of decades.
Approximately 80% of the population is white, most of whom are Catholic (predominantly Irish, with smaller groups of Italian, Polish, and Lithuanian).
15% of the population is Asian, with an almost equal number of Middle Easteners and Indians.
The remaining population is mainly Brazilian and African-American.
Norwood is located near the geographic center of Norfolk County.
The town's population has remained relatively steady at around 30,000, although the demographics have changed somewhat over the last couple of decades.
Approximately 80% of the population is white, most of whom are Catholic (predominantly Irish, with smaller groups of Italian, Polish, and Lithuanian).
15% of the population is Asian, with an almost equal number of Middle Easteners and Indians.
The remaining population is mainly Brazilian and African-American.
Along with Marshfield, Braintree, and Stoneham, Norwood has traditionally been a bastion of Irish-American residents, many of whom are justifiably proud of their heritage.
There is a fairly large, and active, Middle Eastern community in Norwood. Iranians, Syrians, and Lebanese are the predominant groups. Norwood is one of the largest towns in Massachusetts with a sizeable Muslim population not to have a Mosque.
Norwood does have a Synagogue, although Muslims easily outnumber Jewish residents at least 10-1.
There is convenient mass transit to Boston. There are three Commuter Rail stops, Norwood Depot, Norwood Central, and Windsor Gardens.
In addition, the Forest Hills to Walpole bus traverses Washington Street.
Most Norwood neighborhoods are solidly middle-class with relatively little turnover.
Norwood has one of the highest concentrations of apartment and condominium complexes in the area. Windsor Gardens is noted not only for its train station, but also a large transient population, many of whom are Indian or Pakistani.
South Norwood, aka "The Flats," is a working-class neighborhood centered around the corner of Washington and Dean Streets. Some areas are somewhat seedy; many of the two-decker and three-decker homes look as if they came straight out of Jamaica Plain or Dorchester. I would hardly classify the area as "ghetto," though.
If there is a truly "posh" section of Norwood, it would be the area adjacent to Willett Pond/New Pond near St. Timothy's Church, plus the southern part of Nichols Street (and adjacent side streets). This area abuts the more-affluent town of Westwood.
Norwood is most famous to outsiders for the "Automile," along Route 1/Providence Highway. Although most Automile dealerships are indeed in Norwood, some dealerships are just across the town line in Dedham, Westwood, or Walpole.
The late Ernie Boch, Sr. is famous for spearheading the Automile. His strong accent was a staple in Boston media for years. Example: "Boch Toyota*, Route One Nah-wood, my name is Ernie Boch, come on down!"
* If I recall, he pronounced Toyota as "Tie-oda"
There is a fairly large, and active, Middle Eastern community in Norwood. Iranians, Syrians, and Lebanese are the predominant groups. Norwood is one of the largest towns in Massachusetts with a sizeable Muslim population not to have a Mosque.
Norwood does have a Synagogue, although Muslims easily outnumber Jewish residents at least 10-1.
There is convenient mass transit to Boston. There are three Commuter Rail stops, Norwood Depot, Norwood Central, and Windsor Gardens.
In addition, the Forest Hills to Walpole bus traverses Washington Street.
Most Norwood neighborhoods are solidly middle-class with relatively little turnover.
Norwood has one of the highest concentrations of apartment and condominium complexes in the area. Windsor Gardens is noted not only for its train station, but also a large transient population, many of whom are Indian or Pakistani.
South Norwood, aka "The Flats," is a working-class neighborhood centered around the corner of Washington and Dean Streets. Some areas are somewhat seedy; many of the two-decker and three-decker homes look as if they came straight out of Jamaica Plain or Dorchester. I would hardly classify the area as "ghetto," though.
If there is a truly "posh" section of Norwood, it would be the area adjacent to Willett Pond/New Pond near St. Timothy's Church, plus the southern part of Nichols Street (and adjacent side streets). This area abuts the more-affluent town of Westwood.
Norwood is most famous to outsiders for the "Automile," along Route 1/Providence Highway. Although most Automile dealerships are indeed in Norwood, some dealerships are just across the town line in Dedham, Westwood, or Walpole.
The late Ernie Boch, Sr. is famous for spearheading the Automile. His strong accent was a staple in Boston media for years. Example: "Boch Toyota*, Route One Nah-wood, my name is Ernie Boch, come on down!"
* If I recall, he pronounced Toyota as "Tie-oda"
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Norwoodmug. A popular term for Acetylsalicylic Acid. In Canada and Germany, among other countries, Aspirin is a patented trademark of the local Bayer subsidiaries. Therefore, any non-Bayer products are labelled as ASA (Canadian English), AAS (Canadian French), and ASS (German). I am not making the last one up!
by DFJD May 17, 2006
Get the Aspirinmug. I'll be the only 17 year old at Higgim High to have a TWO-YEAR-OLD Acura. Boo-hoo; life's so un-fee-yah!
by DFJD May 18, 2006
Get the Higgimmug. The way many people in areas as geographically disparate as Newfoundland, Canada and the white (whoite) population of western Alabama pronounce the world "white." It is said to be of Scottish-Irish origin.
People in Toronto think we Newfies are the whoite trash of Canada, but we really don't care.
Starving, poor white kid in western Alabama swatting flies off his arms and belly: "I'm hungry and them flies are everywhere!" "Shut up, son, at least you are whoite!"
Ol Alabama diddy from the 1940s: "Oh I may have a tumuh on me belly, at least I am whoite, I'm proud to be whoite!" (Saying "me belly" for "my belly" as recently as the 1940s leads credence to the belief that the 'whoite accent' of western Alabama is definitely British influenced (say, from 4-6 generations earlier).
Starving, poor white kid in western Alabama swatting flies off his arms and belly: "I'm hungry and them flies are everywhere!" "Shut up, son, at least you are whoite!"
Ol Alabama diddy from the 1940s: "Oh I may have a tumuh on me belly, at least I am whoite, I'm proud to be whoite!" (Saying "me belly" for "my belly" as recently as the 1940s leads credence to the belief that the 'whoite accent' of western Alabama is definitely British influenced (say, from 4-6 generations earlier).
by DFJD June 24, 2011
Get the Whoitemug. "The Lake" is a nickname (and in popular usage) for the relatively working-class section of the otherwise upper-middle-class and outright affluent City of Newton.
This area is, arguably, the most "Christian," notably Catholic, in Newton (I am not being Anti-Semitic; much of Newton, especially the southern and western parts, are predominantly Jewish). Residents are also, generally, more conservative than those in other parts of 'liberal' Newton.
The Lake gets its name from a now dredged Silver Lake and a popular ballroom which had the same name. Most residents are Italian-American and, to a lesser degree, Irish-American, though "yuppies" are starting to move in for its relatively (for Newton) inexpensive home prices.
Known for a type of slang called "Lake Speak," spoken by some older residents. Please refer to the "Boston Globe" archives for more information. Last, but not least, one of the few sections of Newton where genuine Boston accents ('dropped R's, words such as cahn't, bahthroom, etc.) can be commonly heard.
This area is, arguably, the most "Christian," notably Catholic, in Newton (I am not being Anti-Semitic; much of Newton, especially the southern and western parts, are predominantly Jewish). Residents are also, generally, more conservative than those in other parts of 'liberal' Newton.
The Lake gets its name from a now dredged Silver Lake and a popular ballroom which had the same name. Most residents are Italian-American and, to a lesser degree, Irish-American, though "yuppies" are starting to move in for its relatively (for Newton) inexpensive home prices.
Known for a type of slang called "Lake Speak," spoken by some older residents. Please refer to the "Boston Globe" archives for more information. Last, but not least, one of the few sections of Newton where genuine Boston accents ('dropped R's, words such as cahn't, bahthroom, etc.) can be commonly heard.
He lives in Newton and drives a Ford Taurus and speaks with a Boston accent. Must be from The Lake (Newton, MA).
One will see many bumper stickers, usually on Buicks, Chryslers, Dodges, and Mercurys (and usually driven by older people) commemorating "The Lake (ballroom)," with the colors of the Italian Flag on it.
People who think of Newton as an affluent, predominantly Jewish city where most adults hold graduate degrees are surprised to hear of a neighborhood (The Lake) that has more in common, socio-economically, with Malden or Quincy than with areas of Newton south of the Mass Pike.
One will see many bumper stickers, usually on Buicks, Chryslers, Dodges, and Mercurys (and usually driven by older people) commemorating "The Lake (ballroom)," with the colors of the Italian Flag on it.
People who think of Newton as an affluent, predominantly Jewish city where most adults hold graduate degrees are surprised to hear of a neighborhood (The Lake) that has more in common, socio-economically, with Malden or Quincy than with areas of Newton south of the Mass Pike.
by DFJD May 26, 2011
Get the The Lake (Newton, MA)mug.