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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One might expect to find a large variety style of homes in any neighborhood in a New England town. After all the area was settled in the 1600s. At one time Christian Hill had a couple of early federal style…
The Italianate style was prevalent from 1840 to 1880, and like the Greek Revival, frequently has pedimented gables on columns at the front entry and is defined by simple but bold mouldings and decorative pilasters. However their low-pitched roofs could…
James A. Hartshorn house circa 1990 (Source: MACRIS database.) This house Italianate style with stick style elements was built by merchant, James A. Hartshorn around 1881. Originally this house lot was part of Tyler Thayer house lot. Thayer’s lot was…
The Joseph Day house, circa 1990 (Source: MACRIS database) Joseph Day had Tyler Thayer build this Italianate style house in 1855 for him and his family. The house can be seen in 1858, 1876 & 1888 maps. The house originally…
Joel Baker house, circa 1900, when it was still situated on Washington Street (Norwood Historical Society collection) Joel M. Baker bought this house lot in 1854 from Joseph Day. It contained about a third of an acre and ran from…
The Daniel P. Pond house circa 1990 (Source: MACRIS database) Daniel P Pond bought this empty house lot in 1861 from Joseph Day, Lyman Smith and Joel M Baker, and he built his Italianate house in 1861. The builder is…