15 Vernon Street- The Lyman Smith House

Lyman Smith bought this piece of property from Joseph Day and Joel M. Baker in April of 1854. Originally the lot ran from Washington Street to Bullard Street and contained an acre of land Smith built this Greek Revival/Italianate house in 1853/54. This house originally sat on the corner of Vernon & Washington. When the center was re-done, the house was moved to the back of it’s original lot. The house appears in 1856, 1876 & 1888 maps of South Dedham/Norwood. In the 1883 inventory of Smith’s estate the house lot had a stable on it, the 1888 map shows the stable being attached to the house. When the house was moved before 1909 (per Sanborn Map), it appears the barn was razed.

            Elements of the Lyman Smith Greek Revival/Italianate Style house:

• Large windows (5 x 4 bays vs. 5 x 2 bays)
  • Curved double door entry
  • No brackets at eave or rake
  • Lintel, not cornice at windows
  • detailing

Lyman Smith was born 1808 in South Dedham and was the son of John Smith and Anna Rhodes. As a young man, he joined his father in the family business, tanning. About the same time that Lyman joined the company, John Smith took on a new apprentice, George Winslow, who eventually became John Smith’s son-on-law. John Smith only had two children, so when he retired he handed over the business to his son Lyman and son-in-law George Winslow. By 1853, this partnership had grown sour, and Lyman and George Winslow went their separate ways. Winslow kept the original tannery near the Walpole town line and Smith built a new tannery on Railroad Avenue. At that time, Lyman’s sons, John E and Charles L joined him in business. In 1856, the company adopted a new name, becoming Lyman Smith & Sons Company.

Lyman Smith married in December of 1829 to Melinda E. Guild (1810-1845) in South Dedham. She was the daughter of James Guild and Sarah Walker. Lyman and Melinda became the parents of three children; John Everett (1830-1910), Charles Lyman (1833-1913) and Anna Maria Rhodes (1836-1922). After the death of Melinda, Lyman married a second time to Anna Maria Joy (1826-1899), this couple did not have any children. It is probable that Anna remained living in the house until she died. In 1930 the property was owned by Henry & Kate Letts who rented out rooms. The Letts family owned the property until 1979 when Kate Letts died. Over the years, this house was a gift shop, an upscale rooming house and a bed and breakfast. In the 1990s a teahouse operated out of this house. Reservations were hard to get, and one had to plan for a trip here in way in advance.

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