Westwood
In 2005, Westwood, a town in Norfolk County was ranked 13th on a list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States by CNN/ Money and Money Magazine. The town has come a long way to reach this ranking since its initial settlement in 1640 and later incorporation in 1897. Over the years, Westwood has been home to a number of notable figures such as former CEO of the Boston Red Sox John Harrington, American trial lawyer and author Barry Reed, and is also the final resting place of the drummer boy from the Battle of Bunker Hill Robert Steele. Surrounding Westwood today are the residential communities of Needham, Dedham, Canton, Norwood, Walpole, and Dover.
In Westwood’s early years the town was originally a part of Dedham but later split to form its own town. At this point in time, Westwood was referred to as Nahatan, yet this name was later rejected due to objections by the nearby community of Nahant. The latter said that that Nahatan’s name was too close to its own and so the title of Westwood was give to the town instead. Today’s residents of Westwood can enjoy a slew of outdoor activities on sites such as Buckmaster Pond, Crouse Pond, Rice Reservation, Lakeshore Memorial Park, Hale Reservation and the Fay Conservation Area. Westwood also serves its residents’ spiritual needs with a wide variety of houses of worship, which includes the First Baptist Church of Westwood, Temple Beth David, St. Denis Parish, St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Timothy Catholic Church, First Parish of Westwood United Church, and an Interfaith Council. The town is also served by the Westwood Lodge Hospital. In terms of education, Westwood has a number of school centers with its five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and a private Catholic prep school for boys. In terms of reaching Westwood, the town can be accessed by the MBTA Commuter Rail, Amtrak, routes 108 and 128, and as well as by I-95.
