Norfolk County Registry of Deeds Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary

Michael LePage portraying John Adams calls for a cheer in celebration of independence as Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell joins the cheering crowd, during an Open House at the Norfolk County Registry of deeds to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

Dedham, MA — The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds hosted an Open House on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, to celebrate both the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and the release of its newest publication, “We Remember America’s 250th Anniversary,” the fifth volume in its Notable Land Records series. The event also featured a special live reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Good Deeds: A Taste of History

A look at the rich history of ice cream in Norfolk County from Howard Johnson’s to establishments throughout the county that have stood the test of time. A journey that explores how these properties have become deeply rooted in our communities.

First Deeds: 1793-1798

Register O'Donnell stands in a narrow archival records room with tall shelving units on both sides filled with tightly packed, uniformly labeled paper file folders. The person is holding and reviewing a manila folder pulled from the shelves. A long wooden worktable runs down the center of the room, and bright overhead lighting highlights the orderly rows and structured layout of the file storage space.

In the spirit of exploring Norfolk County’s rich history, Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell has set out to discover some of the earliest deeds recorded from various communities throughout Norfolk County.

First Deeds: Fall of 1793

Dedham, MA – In the spirit of exploring Norfolk County’s rich history, Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell has set out to discover some of its earliest deeds recorded from various communities throughout Norfolk County. This second of a four-part series focuses on real estate transfers that occurred in the Fall of 1793.

First Deeds: September – October 1793

Dedham, MA – In the spirit of exploring Norfolk County’s rich history, Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell has set out to discover some of its earliest deeds recorded from various communities throughout the County.

Register O’Donnell Announces Finding Your Roots Program

Dedham, MA – Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell today announced that under the Registry of Deeds’ History Comes Alive program, a new service has been recently created where a dedicated bank of computers is available for free genealogical use to the public. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is pleased to announce the opening of its Genealogy Research and Resource Center.

GOOD DEEDS: “We Remember Our Veterans”

On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds will celebrate the veterans of Norfolk County with an open house and the release of our third volume of Notable Lands Records titled “We Remember Our Veterans.” The open house will run from 4:30-6:30 in the evening at the Registry of Deeds building in downtown Dedham at 649 High Street.

GOOD DEEDS: Honoring the Brave Men and Women of Norfolk County

This month, we observe Memorial Day to honor and remember the brave men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is a day to pay tribute to their sacrifice and express gratitude for their service. I want to take a moment to talk about the history of Memorial Day and to share some ways we can all show our respect on this day.

Good Deeds: History Comes Alive

Dedham- Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell, in collaboration with QATV, announced the debut of the “History Comes Alive” project. The first historic building to be featured as part of the project is Norwood Town Hall.

Register O’Donnell’s “Norwood Notable Land Records” Program

Norwood – Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell helped bring to life the rich history of Norwood as part of a yearlong celebration marking the town’s 150th anniversary with his presentation entitled “Norwood Notable Land Records: People, Places & Properties” on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at Morrill Memorial Library.