1973

POPULATION:  18,363

HOUSES:  4,483

Walpole street map, 1973
(click to enlarge)

Eleanor N. Johnson

• Energy crisis hits U.S.; Walpole drivers experience long lines at the gasoline pumps
• North Street and High Street designated as scenic roads
• Echo Inn (location of current Rafael's) burns
• Ed Delaney appointed as chairman of Walpole 250th Anniversary Committee
• Eleanor N. Johnson serves her final term as Selectman, marking the end of decades of service on the School Committee and Board of Selectmen, serving as chair person to both boards
  
  
  

BUSINESS  

• Construction of Walpole Mall begins
• Damon Corporation agrees to purchase 62 acres of land at corner of Coney Street and Route 95 for construction of a 60,000 square-foot  medical instrumentation division (later Siemens)

Walpole Mall site construction begins on Route 1
(Note lack of area code on phone number, which was not required to dial in 1973 as all of Eastern Mass was 617.)

SCHOOLS

• School enrollment reaches what is to be its ultimate historical peak of 5,073 students
• Walpole High School celebrates commencement of its 100th graduating class
• Kindergarten becomes mandatory
• John T. McDonald appointed Superintendent of Schools following retirement of John Powers.
• New high school teachers include George Watson (Spanish) and Bill Tompkins (physical education)
• Walpole agrees to join seven other towns in proposal to build and participate in Tri-County Regional Vocational High School:  Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, and Sherborn.  (Seekonk would be added as the ninth town in 1974.) Site committee begins investigating potential locations in Norfolk.