Westwood in History: The Colburn School

Editor's Note: The following information was obtained from the .

At the moment, The Colburn School sits in the backdrop behind what will soon be the newly-completed Westwood Public Library.

But , the aged building was used as an actual school building in Westwood. 

Built in 1874, the building was named after local residents Warren and Dana Colburn, who were known to residents for their educational theories, according to the Westwood Historical Society. 

The design of the school in itself is unique. The Victorian-style building has a granite foundation and originally roofed with slate shingles, and was designed by Stebbins and Watkins. 

When it actuall functioned as a school, the building had four classrooms and a large room for meetings and exhibits. Grades 1 through 9 were taught there, and the town census of 1899 indicates that there were three classrooms in the building serving a school population of 89 boys and 98 girls aged 5 through 15, according to WHS. 

By 1908, the population grew to 124 boys and 106 girls in elementary and middle school; students at the high school level attended Dedham or Norwood High. 

In the 1950s, the Colburn School became Westwood's school administration building, and in June 2000, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Do you have any special memories or photos of the Colburn School you'd like to share? Is there another place in Westwood you'd like to see historical photos of? Let us know in the comments section below!