Furlong’s Cottage Candies and Ice Cream, Norwood MA – A Sweet Route 1 Stop

One thing I love about heading back home to Massachusetts and doing Retro Roadmap is that it’s a perfect excuse to stop into roadside candy houses like Furlong’s Cottage Candies and Ice Cream, on Route 1 in Norwood.

(Photo courtesy of the Furlong’s Facebook Page – “Like” them, today!)

In business for more than 80 years and family owned and operated, I popped in here on one of my last visits up north to pick up a box of chocolates for my mum.

Boy was it hard to choose from all the hand dipped confections in the glass cases.

I so love the wood paneling and 1970s style wallpaper! Don’t change it, Furlong’s folks, please!

I keep on wanting to call it “Holly Hobby” wallpaper but it’s not quite that. But definitely that Little House on The Prairie / Bicentennial / Farmer / Grandma / Ric Rac / Gingham style that was so popular when I was just a little girl.

(Love their mantra!)

Now, where was I?
Oh yes! I had a very nice chat with Nancy Thrasher, whose mom co-owns Furlong’s – it was great to see multiple generations working in the same business.Nancy tells me that besides their much loved hand dipped chocolates Furlong’s is also famous for their hand pulled candy canes! I’ll be reminding Retro Roadmap readers of this when it gets closer to the holiday season.

I was also glad to see they carry Barley sugar lolly pops, as this is one of those “Auntie Beth” items that Mod Betty likes to get for the RetroRoadkids. And speaking of the RetroRoadkids…

The ice cream window is open during the summer months for cones and cups and sundaes with real home made hot fudge. I need to send my Retro RoadSisters over there with the Retro Roadkids before the season is over!

Here’s something you non-Mass people might get a kick out of – see this item below? What do YOU call it? A water fountain? Drinking fountain?

Well in Mass, many folks call it…

A Bubbler! Or phonetically in the Mass dialect – “bub-lah”.

I was interested to learn that Bubbler is actually a trademarked name from the Kohler company, but as it says on the Bubbler Wikipedia Page “It is also commonly used in New England, especially in the state of Rhode Island and in the cities of Worcester, MA and Lowell, MA.” I can’t help but think of my pal Suzanne, who grew up in Westwood MA, and still uses the term. Love those regionalisms, they’re totally Retro Roadmap worthy!

OK, now where was I – again? Oh yeah-

I always look for these distinctive giant candy canes outside of Furlong’s when I’m zipping down Route One, and every time I see them I’m glad they’re still there. Stop on by Furlong’s for a sweet treat when you’re in the Norwood area and help this place stick around for another 80 years!

Furlong’s Cottage Candies & Ice Cream
1355 Boston Providence Turnpike
Norwood, MA 02062-5055
(781) 762-4124

View MA – Massachusetts Retro RoadMAP in a larger map