Travel Back in Time: The F. Holland Day House-This Day in Norwood History-August 1, 2010

Norwood wasn’t exactly what it is today more than 150 years ago. 

Way back when, Town Hall didn’t stand next to the Common, and carriages, rather than automobiles, might have traversed any roadway. In fact, Norwood didn’t exist decades ago — it occupied Dedham’s south.

With the many changes since then, one structure has stood the test of time — the F. Holland Day House.

Built in 1859, the house has stood at 93 Day St. ever since. The structure was home to Fred Holland Day, son of Lewis and Anna Smith Day, said Heather Cole, president of the Norwood Historical Society. The house itself never left the family.

F. Holland Day would go on to become an internationally known photographer and historian who kept a focus on where he came from, Cole said.

“He was very interested in the community,” she said. “Fred was very supportive of the historical society and was interested in what he’d like it to do.”

When the Norwood Historical Society came into existence in 1907, Fred wished to find a permanent home for its activities and research rather than having records scattered about — not centralized in Norwood, Cole said.

The home became available for purchase after his death in 1933 and became the home of Norwood’s history.

At that time, the house mostly was empty, Cole said. But through efforts to collect local artifacts, including furniture and clothing, the house collection since has grown. The house is now a forum for educating citizens and talking about Fred’s work.

If anybody alive remembered the home’s original look, they would have seen a Second Empire style containing some French architecture. It received a Victorian facelift in the 1890s after Fred returned from a trip to Europe, Cole said.

Unfortunately, she said, houses are not immune to the effects of aging, either. The old, wrap-around porch requires work, and the historical society is about to start a project to raise several thousand dollars.