Fourth Norwood Historic Home Tour is a success!

The weather was beautiful for the Fourth Annual Norwood Historic Home Tour and Fall Festival and Off Pike Market at Victory Park. The day showcased not only Norwood’s gorgeous old homes, but also new developments and businesses, and our talented community, with performances from Norwood Orchestra, W Monty’s, and the Cable Guys; a storytime with the Norwood Library; and family games and crafts.

Norwood Together coordinated the event with a collection of partners: the Norwood Historical Society, Off Pike Market and the City of Norwood. The event also was sponsored by Jennifer McGillis Realtor, Duke Energy, Huber Lumber Co., Perry Contracting, Inc., Naegele, Kleb & Ihlendorf Funeral Home, and the Acanthus Group LLC. Special thanks to Northwood Cider Co. and The Valley Church, and the dozens of volunteers who kept the day running smoothly.

The tour began with the Norwood Historical Society and the Cincinnati Type & Print Museum before riding to Park Avenue to discover the neighborhood’s history and architecture. We had the unprecedented opportunity to tour an exquisite Queen Anne Victorian home thanks to Linda Prues. Her iconic Norwood was once the Y.W.C.A. 

The walking tour included the history and architecture of Immaculate Conception Church, corner stores, and Dorl Field, originally built for printing employees and families and named for Theodore C. Dorl. “Teddy” was a general superintendent of U.S. Printing & Lithograph Company and president of the Craftsman Club.

We visited the site of the former U.S. Printing & Lithograph Company and the U.S. Playing Card Company, including the Samuel Hannaford and Sons designed brick facility at Park Avenue. The companies shared a restaurant, the land which became Dorl Field, and multi-family units for employees. 

The tour included the police training facility and canine officer, as well as the Happy Hollow Inn, featured in the Bruce Willis movie, Hard Kill, which was mostly shot at the U.S. Playing Card buildings before being demolished.   

Finally, Salvation Army, originally Kemper-Thomas, known for their advertisements, colorized calendars, Vienna art plates, thermometers, and brewery products. The company could arrange room and board for employees at the aforementioned Queen Anne Victorian Y.W.C.A nearby. 

Continue ReadingFourth Norwood Historic Home Tour is a success!

Strongest Town Contest Sister Cities Come Together

By Alisha Loch & Mary C Miller (published on Strong Towns, August 18, 2022)

Representatives of both Norwood, OH, and Jasper, IN, meet up in person after facing off in the finals of this year’s Strongest Town Contest.

Dozens of aspiring towns entered the competition to be named 2022’s Strongest Town. The two finalists—Norwood, Ohio, and Jasper, Indiana—are both midwestern towns of similar population, the former an urban place surrounded by the metropolis of Cincinnati, and the latter a rural county seat in the farmlands of Indiana. Both towns are moving in a similar trajectory, revitalizing their downtown areas, creating events that bring residents together, building collaboration between city entities, and being mindful of their financial futures.

Those of us in Norwood, Ohio, gathered on the steps of our historic middle school with music, our local coffee trailer, balloons, and face painting in April to celebrate the results of the Strongest Town competition, regardless of the outcome. 

Our advancement round after round had us elated to be able to come together and celebrate the resilience of our community, and it was clear that our co-finalist, Jasper, Indiana, was a worthy contender. Before the results were in, a connection had already been formed in the interest of the two towns moving forward together, learning from each other, and celebrating the good things happening in both communities.

READ MORE ON STRONG TOWNS

Continue ReadingStrongest Town Contest Sister Cities Come Together

Summer fun in Norwood

There are so many opportunities for spending time with your family and fellow Norwood neighbors this summer. If you would like to get outside, get involved, or hangout, Norwood Parks are where all the action is this year! 

Find out more about the events listed below and other Norwood happenings at your Ward Community Council meeting. Each Ward Community Council meets on the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. The next meeting is May 27. Location information is on the Norwood Together Facebook page.

June 

6:30 pm June 4: Fridays on the Lawn: Food Trucks, Victory Park
8:30 pm June 11: Fridays on the Lawn: Movie Night, Victory Park
9 am June 19: Off Pike Market, Victory Park
9:45 am June 19: Lindner Park Volunteer Day
7 pm June 24: Ward Community Councils
5:45 pm June 25: Lindner Park Volunteer Day
6:30 pm June 25: Fridays on the Lawn: Concert, Victory Park
7 pm June 25: Shakespeare in the Park, Northwoods
9 am June 26: Lower Millcrest Park Clean-Up

July

6:30 pm July 2: Fridays on the Lawn: Concert, Victory Park
8:30 pm July 9: Fridays on the Lawn: Movie Night, Victory Park
6:30 pm July 16: Fridays on the Lawn: Concert, Victory Park
9 am July 17: Off Pike Market, Victory Park
7 pm July 22: Ward Community Councils
6:30 pm July 23: Fridays on the Lawn: Food trucks, Victory Park
6:30 pm July 27: Norwood Day Parade, Montgomery Road
10 am-7pm July 28: Norwood Day at Coney Island
6:30 pm July 30: Fridays on the Lawn, Victory Park
7pm July 31: Shakespeare in the Park, Dorl Field

August

6:30 pm August 6: Fridays on the Lawn: Food trucks, Victory Park
7pm August 13: Shakespeare in the Park: Romeo & Juliet, Upper Millcrest Park
8:30 pm August 13: Fridays on the Lawn: Movie Night, Victory Park
6:30 pm August 20: Fridays on the Lawn: Concert, Victory Park
9 am August 21: Off Pike Market, Victory Park
7 pm August 26: Ward Community Councils

Continue ReadingSummer fun in Norwood

Review the draft Montgomery Road Plan

Norwood residents helped “relaunch the Pike” when they attended a November 19 open house to review the first draft of a new vision for Montgomery Road.

Because of covid restrictions, Norwood Together and the City of Norwood had to limit the number of people at the open house. But residents still have time to review the draft plan and share their ideas for the Pike.

See the plan highlights here, and the open house presentation here.

Then email your feedback and questions to Norwood Together: norwoodtogether@gmail.com.

The Montgomery Road Plan is the result of a $30,000 planning grant secured earlier this year by Norwood Together and the City of Norwood. A steering committee of residents, city officials, and business leaders have been helping Hamilton County planners create a vision for Montgomery Road, a blueprint to “relaunch the Pike,” as Mayor Schneider says. The plan is for Montgomery Road from Dana Avenue to the Norwood Lateral.

What planners will share at the open house is just the first draft. Hamilton County planners will incorporate residents’ ideas into the plan before submitting it to city officials for adoption.

Continue ReadingReview the draft Montgomery Road Plan

Montgomery Road needs your ideas!

At a November 19 open house, Norwood will have the chance to help “relaunch the Pike” and review the first draft of a new vision for Montgomery Road. The open house is 7 to 9 p.m. November 19 at the Community Center, 1810 Courtland Ave.

Covid restrictions mean limited attendance, so Norwood Together is asking everyone to  register here to reserve their seat for either the 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. hour of the open house. Attendees also must wear a mask.

Earlier this year,Norwood Together and the City of Norwood secured a $30,000 planning grant to create a redevelopment plan for Montgomery Road from Dana Avenue to the Norwood Lateral. A steering committee of residents, city officials, and business leaders have been helping county planners create a vision for Montgomery Road, a blueprint to “relaunch the Pike,” as Mayor Schneider says.

What planners will share at the open house is just the first draft. A final vision will take your ideas. 

In each half of the event, planners will give a short presentation on the process and the draft plan, and people will have the opportunity to review maps and recommendations and share their thoughts. The open house will be filmed by Norwood TV, and people also can submit their ideas by emailing Norwood Together here. 

Continue ReadingMontgomery Road needs your ideas!