A Historical Look at the Westwood Town Pound

Each Wednesday at 3 p.m., Vintage Westwood will profile a new site in town with some historical significance, a spot that has endured generation after generation, with a short bit of information as well as an old photograph. 

If you're driving on High Street/Rte. 109 into Westwood from Dedham, and you look to your left shortly after passing the Rte. 128 overpass, you may notice a brick wall foundation laid out. 

That is the site of the old Westwood Town Pound, built in 1700 by Lieutenant Joseph Colburn, who paid forty schillings for its construction. 

When it was first built, the pound was surrounded by a wooden wall that was later replaced by a stone fence. The fence is one of many historical stone fences in Westwood. 

We're highlighting the site of the old pound this week as part of a new feature that looks through a historical lens at the town of Westwood. 

But did you know that the pound wasn't only used for animals? It was, in a way, a sort of lost-and-found site for the town of Westwood . . . if you lost a pet or other animal or belonging, there was a possibility that it would end up at the town pound. 

Do you know where the site of the Westwood Town Pound sits? Do you have any special thoughts or memories of this spot? What do you think it would be like if the pound existed today? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!