About Us:

The Norcross House was built in the 1880's as a summer home for the family of J. Franklin Norcross. He was sent by his father and uncle, the Norcross Brothers of Worcester, to operate the brownstone querries they had purcheased in 1876.

The architectural style is a late Victorian version of the Greek Revival period. With its three gabled wings, scrolled posts and bay window, the house reflects gracious family living of the Victorian age. A carriage house, one of the few remaining in town, stands northeast of the house.

The Norcross family owned the property until 1949, when it began a lenghty transition through other uses. The East Longmeadow Tea Room occupied the first floor until 1953, when the property was converted into the Busy Bee Pre-School.

In 1961, it became a short-lived studio for artists. The carriage house was a gallery.

Podiatrist Dr. Leon Feffer, bought the house in 1961. It served as his residence and office until his death. When his wife subsequently died, the Springfield Day Nursery purchased the property from her estate in 1999. Their plans for demolishing the house and erecting a new day-care center were ultimately unsuccessful, setting the stage for our preservation effort today.