128 Vernon Street – The Augusts P Stockbridge House

Augustus P. Stockbridge bought a quarter of an acre house lot from Joseph Day, Joel M. Baker and Lyman Smith and built his Greek Revival style house built around 1861.

Augustus Porter Stockbridge was born in 1825 in Randolph, MA. He was the son of Nehemiah Stockbridge and Ruth Thayer Porter. He married April of 1849 Maria Baker (1826-1912) in Dedham. She was the daughter of Obed Baker and Betsey Metcalf. Stockbridge worked as a moulder at the foundry on Railroad Avenue. Before her marriage, Maria had been a school teacher in West Dedham. She attended the Female Seminary in Charlestown, MA. The Stockbridges had two children, Emma (1851-1864) and Arthur W (1853-1920). Arthur never married. He was a recluse, known as the “Hermit of Norwood.” In 1905 a Boston Newspaper ran a story about him, saying it had been over 29 years since he had stepped out of the house. He worked for a few years as a moulder, but then his fear took over. He did not attend his father’s funeral. Augustus died 1902 and Maria in 1912. Maria was living in the house at the time of her death. Arthur lived in the home for a few more years, but he died in a state hospital in 1920. The family is buried in the Old Westwood Cemetery.

  Elements of the Stockbridge Greek Revival Style house:

• “L” shaped plan
  • cottage style Greek Revival
  • modest home, similar to #49 and #54 Maple Street

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