98-100 Vernon Street – The Tyler Thayer House

Tyler Thayer bought this large lot of land in 1855 from Joseph Day and built his Greek Revival/Italianate house. Originally, this lot was encircled by Vernon, Maple, Bullard & Day Streets. Had a large carriage house on property. The house is shown on 1858, 1876 & 1888 maps of South Dedham/Norwood. By 1900 the house and all its additions and out buildings stretched the length of Maple Street. In 1883 Thayer sold a corner of his property to his son-in-law James A. Hartshorn and in 1904 he sold another corner of his property to his son-in-law Donald Smith.

            Elements of the Thayer Greek Revival/Italianate Style house:

• Fluted Tuscan columns
  • 5 bay x 2 bay plan-Tuscan columns
  • Original double door
  • Corner boards
  • Lintel over windows
  • Greek Key casing at lower windows
  • Tripartite façade
  • Granite foundation
  • Granite fence posts and steps
  • Large ancient beech tree in front

Tyler Thayer was born in 1822 in Mendon. He was the son of Otis W. Thayer and Sena Thayer. After learning to be a carpenter in Medfield and Boston, Thayer went into business with his future brother-in-law, William Shattuck in West Dedham. In a few short years, he bought out Shattuck and began working for himself. Arriving in South Dedham by 1855, and becoming a master carpenter, who is responsible for the development of Christian Hill. In 1848, Thayer married Nancy L Shattuck (1825-1851) in West Dedham. She was the daughter of Ebenezer Shattuck and Achsah Sherwin. Thayer did not have any children with Nancy. In 1854 he married for a second time to Lucy E. Adams. (1825-1910) Lucy was the daughter of John Adams and Chloe Field of Andover, VT. Tyler and Lucy had six children, but only three grew to adulthood. They had Alla Cora (1856-1935), Jennie Adna (1857-1859), Addie Corine (1860-1862), Norris Adney (1862-1864), Norman Alfer (1862-1932), and Nettie Elizabeth (1868-1948). Tyler and Lucy’s daughter Nettie (Thayer) Smith was still living in the house in 1940. She and niece, Maude P Hartshorn sold the Thayer house in 1944 to John Chester Bowers.

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