Why are there two Norwood MBTA stops literally a couple blocks away?

Is Norwood Depot just extra parking for Norwood Central?

It's been that way since long before autos: Norwood Depot (then called South Dedham) opened with the line in 1849, and Norwood Central (Dedham Middle) was added in 1852. (There used to be a third stop, Willows, at Washington Street south of downtown as well.)

Norwood Depot (287 daily boardings) outslugs Readville (224), Endicott (256), Islington (128), Windsor Gardens (257), and Plimptonville (12) on ridership - Norwood Central (1,041) is the only station east of Walpole with higher ridership. While the close station spacing is not ideal, it doesn't seem to be a big problem.

You forgot Dedham Corp which is higher than all of those except Norwood Central, and Readville you need to add the Fairmount side for total ridership catchment.

There are several lines with multiple stations in close proximity. Some if it just goes back to when trains were the only way to get around well, and they survived the various closures throughout history. As EGE says it's not ideal but it isn't necessarily a problem either. If the MBTA was interested in streamlining station stops it wouldn't be that high on the list. Better off having the folks at Islington and Plimptonville go elsewhere first.

...as I remember, Willows was on the Wrentham Branch getting close to South Norwood...on the Plimptonville stop, there’s is real history with the legacy of this stop and it revolves around Attorney Joseph Welch famous among other things for being the attorney for the US Army in the Army-McCarthy hearings back during the McCarthy era...and a patient of my father’s...on the Foxboro branch, has service here been resumed? And how is ridership? Had an affect on the parking problem in Norwood...