By Geri Tasker

Norfolk Historical Commission Chairman

The Tramp House, Norfolk’s little red building on Town Hill, has a new roof thanks to Robert Roofing and Gutters, a local business in Norfolk.  

About a year ago, Kelli Spadea-Greene contacted the Norfolk Historical Commission stating that she and her husband, Robert, love the little red building. As they were driving by the Tramp House one day, they noticed that the building needed a new roof. They own Robert Roofing and Gutters and offered to replace the Tramp House roof as a gift to the town. After obtaining official approval from the Town, the work was completed on Friday, July 18, 2025. They did a fabulous job as the new roof looks great. The Select Board and the Historical Commission honored Robert Roofing and Gutters at a recent Select Board Meeting and presented the business owner, Robert Greene, with a Certificate of Recognition to show the town’s appreciation for their generous donation and willingness to preserve a little bit of history for generations to come.

Donating a new roof to the Tramp House was also a way for Kelli and Robert to honor the memory of their dear friend, Thelma Ravinski, the lady responsible for saving the Tramp House from demolition.  Thelma was a long-time resident of Norfolk and an active member of the community.  If something needed doing, Thelma stepped up to the plate. She was an assistant Town Clerk and Tax Collector, a member of the Council on Aging and a valued member of NHC serving as secretary and chairman. She used to visit Norfolk classrooms talking to the children about Norfolk’s history. One of Thelma’s pet projects was interviewing and recording the memories of longtime local residents. These recorded interviews were published into two books, “Norfolk Stories, Volumes I & II.”  

In 1984, the Tramp House was in danger of being demolished, gone forever. Thelma convinced town officials and the community that the little red building was historically significant and worth saving.  After her success to save the Tramp House from its demise, the Select Board entrusted its care to the Norfolk Historical Commission. On June 25, 2025, NHC paid tribute to Thelma by remembering her at a special ceremony held at the Tramp House attended by her family and friends. A canvas photo of Thelma was unveiled as well as a laminated copy of The Boston Globe article from June 5, 2014.  The article was about Tramp Houses in Massachusetts and featured a photo of Thelma in front of Norfolk’s Tramp House. These two precious items were gifts to the Historical Commission from members of the Ravinski Family. 

The Norfolk Historical Commission is proud of the little red building that sits on Town Hill; our Tramp House, built in 1886, is one of only five Tramp Houses remaining in Massachusetts; the others are in Rockland, Kingston, Middleton and Weston. During the 1800s, Tramp Houses were built near train stations to offer temporary housing for iterant travelers or “tramps” as they were called. When times were tough, men would travel from town to town looking for work. Before the Norfolk Tramp House was built, the town would pay residents to offer housing to the itinerants. The Tramp House offered them a place to stay overnight. This one room building was furnished with mattresses and blankets and heated by a wood stove.

The building was taken over by the School Department in 1918 to teach “sloyds” or carpentry skills; it was later used to teach classes in sewing and cooking. Police Department materials were stored there, and it was used for a time as a “Lock Up” or little prison. The American Legion used it as a meeting place, and it was even used as a barber shop. Currently, it serves the community as a little museum of sorts housing artifacts and historical materials related to the town. The little building is occasionally open to the public and is one of the site visits during the Third Grade Walking Tour of the Town Center in the spring. 

The Norfolk Historical Commission is always looking for residents interested in local history to join a group of dedicated volunteers.  For more information, contact [email protected].