Norwood Historical Society Kicks Off "Wonderful Women of Norwood"

NORWOOD, MA - The Norwood Historical Society is recognizing the contributions of women to the town's history with a yearlong monthly series of articles called "The Wonderful Women of Norwood."

"The Wonderful Women of Norwood series seeks to expand on the stories and histories we tell about the town," said Cashman Kerr Prince, the president of the board of directors of the Norwood Historical Society. "We at the Norwood Historical Society are trying to expand the history of the town to include the full breadth and depth of the entire community and their individual contributions to our town.

"In celebration of Norwood’s 150th anniversary, the Norwood Historical Society would like to pay homage to the 'wonderful women' of our town’s history," he continued. "These women contributed to the building and formation of Norwood in less visible ways than those of their male counterparts; but their contributions were invaluable. They are the quiet heroes of our town."

The January installment featured Anna Smith Day and is featured below. February's profile can be read here.

Anna Day

By Norwood Historical Society Board Members Laurie Kearney, Linda Rau and Karen DeNapoli

Anna Day was born in 1836 in South Dedham to Lyman Smith and Melinda (Guild) Smith. She was educated in local schools along with her brothers Charles and John.

Her father, Lyman, and Joseph Day learned and worked in the leather trade in Norwood. Joseph’s son, Lewis, and Anna attended the same church and knew each other their entire lives. In 1856 they married, and in 1864, their son Fred was born.

In 1859, they moved into their new home — a mansion that Tyler Thayer had built at 93 Day Street called “Bullard Farm.” This is the present-day site of the Norwood Historical Society. By this time, Lewis was running the Day family business and was one of the wealthiest men in South Dedham.

Anna was known as a generous and kind person. She was liberal-minded and unprejudiced and had a philanthropic philosophy. She worked at the North End Union and was a trustee of the Westborough Insane Hospital. She also supported many other charitable organizations.

Because of their standing in the community and their civic mindedness, the Day family was at the forefront of significant town events. The 1872 reception commemorating Norwood’s founding was held at the Day House.

In 1903, the Day Family donated the chapel of St. Gabriel the Archangel in Highland Cemetery as a tomb for their family and as a chapel for the town. The last wishes of Anna were that all of her remaining assets would be used to fund a home for the aged.

Although this never came to be, the remaining money was donated to local institutions for the care of the elderly.

Anna died in 1922 and is entombed in St. Gabriel's, alongside Lewis, in the chapel they dedicated to their parents.