Historic Sites Annis- 219 Broadway

Name:

Address: 13 Annis Street

Date: c. 1880

History: Annis Street was one of the first streets in the western section of the Arlington District to experience development. This residence is representative of the 1 1/2-story gable-roofed worker's cottage seen throughout the western and eastern section of the area. The primary impetus for development of the area was the expansion of the Arlington Mills, immediately to the west along Stevens Pond of the Spicket River. the mills employed thousands of Lawrence and Methuen workers, and owned little operative housing. 13 Annis Street is representative of the inexpensive dwellings built by speculators for sale to woolen mill workers. It is significant as a well preserved example, in an area where there has been considerable demolition and alteration. It possesses integrety of location, setting, design, and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

Name:

Address: 58 Arnold Street

Date:ca. 1880

History: Built about 1880, this was one of the first houses constructed on Arnold Street. The first houses on Arnold Street were a group of about 6, built between 1872 and 1884. As early as 1884 this house was owned by William G. Fairbanks, a shoemaker. By 1901 the house was occupied by Henry Short, a baker. The property was occupied by a number of people between about 1910 into the 1950s, including Wilfred Nutton (milkman), John F. Harty (second hand), Thomas and William Lancaster (mill workers), Albert Thompson (tinsmith), John Desmond (chauffeur), and Leo W. Croteau (salesman).

Name:

Address: 45-92 Ashland Avenue

Date: c. 1911

History: Most of Ashland Avenue was developed between 1906 and 1911. In 1906, the land had been subdivided and was owned by Alfred Newsholme. Newsholme is listed in the 1896 directory as a wool buyer but clearly he was involved in a considerable amount of real estate speculation as well. In the early 20th century he owned tracts of land in various locations throughout town. By 1911 seven two-family houses (61-87) had been erected on the odd side of Ashland Street and five (74-92) had been built on the even side. By 1919, only 89-91 Ashland had been added. By 1927, two more houses had been built on the odd side (45-51) and one on the even side (66-68). By 1949, development was complete with the building of 53-55, 57 (a single) and 70-74. While the latter was built on what had previously been vacant land, it is confusing in that it encompasses four addresses. In addition, what had been 74-76 Ashland Avenue had disappeared from the maps.

Name:

Address: 58 Ayers Village Road

Date: c. 1750

History: 58 Ayers Village Road is significant as a well preserved 18th century dwelling in the northeast corner of Methuen, near the Haverhill line. The building is associated with the 18th and `19th century agricultural history of Methuen, and conserves a portion of the original rural landscape. It possesses integrety of location, setting, design, and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

Name:

Address:47 Baremeadow Street

Date: c. 1890

History: The history of this barn on Baremeadow Road is not clear but it appears that there was a house on the site that was built about the same time as the barn (ca. 1890). The house remained until after 1955. It was apparently removed or destroyed between 1955 and about 1970. The earliest known owner of the property is John Emenegger, a farmer, who lived here as early as 1901 and may have been the original owner. From the 1930s to the 1950s it was occupied by Frank Gibaldo. The barn remains in use for storage. It is an excellent example of a late 19th century barn and sits on one of the only remaining agricultural meadows in central Methuen.

Name: Serlo Hall outbuilding

Address:175 Berkeley Street

Date: c. 1900

History: Symmetrical in design, 175 Berkeley appears to have been built c.1900 for John P. Sweeney, a lawyer. An unnumbered house on Berkeley Street (the only house in the area) appears on the 1906 atlas owned by J.P. Sweeney, who is listed in the city directory as living on Berkeley Street beginning in 1901. By 1904, the house was numbered 115 Berkeley, but the address had changed to 175 by 1929. The house remained in the Sweeney family at least until 1938 when it was the residence of Anna M. Sweeney. In 1948, it was the residence of William J.H. Buscom, who was retired at the time. At present the house is a residence for retired persons who maintain private rooms and receive meals in a communal dining room.

Name:

Address: 4 Birch Avenue

Date: c. 1910

History: 4 Birch Avenue is significant as a well conserved building from Methuen's last major period of residential development. Such comfortable dwellings were usually crafted by local carpenters and purchased by Methuen's middle class. It possesses integrety of location, setting, design, and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

Name: Broadway Bridge

Address: Broadway

Date: c. 1830/1886-90

History: Most of the early wooden bridges over the Spicket River were replaced in the 1830s by stone arch bridges. This important turnpike crossing probably dates to that period. Between 1886 and 1890, Broadway was widened and macadamized. The bridge was widened at that time.

Name: All Saints Church

Address: 90 Broadway

Date: 1904

History: All Saints Episcopal Church was one of a several major buildings constructed in Methuen through the generosity of Edward F. Searles. Its corner stone was laid in 1904. The church was designed by the well-known architect Henry Vaughn whose many other works in Methuen (including the Searles High School done in the same year) were also commissioned by Searles. In an article describing the dedication, the Methuen Transcript stated that Vaughn was "probably the best Gothic architect in this country." According to the article, all interior furnishings were designed by Vaughn and the fine carved wood work was furnished by Irving and Casson, a well-known Boston/Cambridge firm. Two hundred and fifty individual "cathedral chairs," made in England replaced conventional pews and handsome wrought iron pendants chandeliers provided light.

The organ, "one of the finest...of its kind in the country" was built by Jesse Woodbury and Son of Boston.

When it was begun in 1904, All Saints had 164 communicants, many of them former members of the Saint Thomas Church of Methuen which had closed its doors in 1901. All Saints remained strong until after World War II when the mill industry declined. In 1950 All Saints merged with Saint John's of Lawrence and was renamed Saint Andrew's, and in 1960 there were 500 parishioners. A new parish hall was constructed and dedicated in 1954, in 1968 a memorial parlor was added, and in 1982 a memorial carillon was dedicated. In the 1980s, efforts were directed to the preservation and restoration of the church, evidence of the vitality of the organization.

Name: Nevins Home

Address:100 -110 Broadway

Date:1906

History: The Nevins Home was built on the site of the home of Charles Ingalls, one of Methuen's early hat manufacturers. Ingalls was born in Methuen in 1808, married Mary Kimball in 1832, and had several children including a son James born in 1839. Charles began in the hat business with Matthew Messer, and later worked with George Wilson, and Deacon Jonathan Merrill. About 1834,

he took over Merrill's business and in 1864 took his son James into partnership. Ingalls' hat factory in shown on the 1846 map and a new, larger factory (built in 1877) can be seen on the 1884 map. The buildings were located west of Broadway on the south side of the Spicket, behind All Saints' Church (82 Broadway). Charles died in 1882 and James continued in the business for many years. Daniel W. Tenney, in a paper on early manufacturing given at the Methuen Historical Society, mentions Charles Ingalls, Mr. Wilson, and Ingalls' neighbor Asa Simonds.

In 1905 the Ingalls property on Broadway was acquired by the executors for the estate of Julie F. H. Nevins who died in 1904. Mrs. Nevins left $100,000, plus an endowment, for construction of the Henry C. Nevins Home for Aged and Incurables, a memorial to her late husband. Ground breaking began in June 1905. and dedication of the new facility took place in July of the following year. The architect was Harris M. Stephenson of Boston and the contract for construction went to R. L. Fosberg and Son of Boston. Construction was supervised by the building committee consisting of Dr. George E. Woodbury and Lewis E. Barnes, superintendent of The Methuen Company. The Nevins Home remained in operation from 1906 until 1982. A modern nursing care facility was later constructed behind the original structure. Unable to develop an appropriate re-use plan, the Nevins Board of Directors contemplated demolition of the old building. Recent preservation efforts, undertaken jointly by the Nevins Home and the Town of Methuen, Tenney Preservation and the Massachusetts Historical Commission have resulted in the selection of a non-profit community development company to work in partnership with them to secure a HUD grant for supportive living. The proposal is still pending in the spring of 1992.

Name: Charles Ingalls’ Worker's House #1

Address:163 Broadway

Date:c1840

History:Charles Ingalls, one of Methuen's early hat manufacturers began paying real estate taxes to the town in 1835 and by 1846 was taxed for four and a half houses. On the 1846 map, he is shown owning three buildings on the west side of Broadway, including his own residence, and one on the east side, approximately on the site of 163 and 165-167 Broadway. His hat factory was located west of Broadway on the south side of the Spicket, behind All Saints Church (82 Broadway).

By 1872, there were two houses on the Ingalls' property on the east side of Broadway, presumably 163 and 165-167 Broadway. After the death of Charles in 1882, the property passed to his son James. In 1890, Broadway between Union and Brown Streets was widened and macadamized, and two houses belonging to James Ingalls were moved out of theroad. This would account for the fact that the foundations for the two houses appear to be late 19th-century. Based on exterior visual examination, it appears that 163 is the earlier house.

Originally used as a rental for worker housing, in 1902, 163 Broadway was sold to Alice Winn of Goshen, New Hampshire. The Winn family remained there for many years.

Name: Ingalls Worker's Hse #2;

Address:165-167 Broadway

Date:c1870

History: Charles Ingalls, one of Methuen's early hat manufacturers began paying real estate taxes to the town in 1835 and by 1846 was taxed for four and a half houses. On the 1846 map, he is shown owning three buildings on the west side of Broadway, including his own residence, and one on the east side, approximately on the site of 163 and 165-167 Broadway. His hat factory was located west of Broadway on the south side of the Spicket, behind All Saint's Church (82 Broadway).

By 1872, there were two houses on the Ingalls' property on the east side of Broadway, presumably 163 and 165-167 Broadway. After the death of Charles in 1882, the property passed to his son James. In 1890, Broadway between Union and Brown Streets was widened and macadamized, and two houses belonging to James Ingalls were moved out of the road. This would account for the fact that the foundations for the two houses appear to be late 19th-century. Based on exterior visual examination, it appears that 163 is the earlier house.

Originally used as a rental for worker housing, in 1901, this house was sold to T. A. Rowell.

Name: James Ingalls Block

Address:169-175 Broadway

Date:1899

History:According to the assessor's records, hat manufacturer James Ingalls, whose father Charles developed the adjacent properties (163, 165-167 Broadway), built this block in 1899. In 1903 the building was valued at $2000 and sold to David F. Doyle of Lawrence. It was one of several buildings in the area sold to out of town, non-resident owners after the turn-of-the-century.

Name: Parsons/Coleman House

Address:183-185 Broadway

Date:c1854

History:In 1854 T. A. Parsons of Lawrence, was paying taxes on one house in Methuen. In 1861 Parson's property was identified as a house on the turnpike lot, however Parsons was not listed in the 1860 Directory and his occupation is unknown. In the 1860 Directory, Andrew Coleman, hatter, was listed as living on Park Street and in 1864, the Parson's property was taxed to Andrew Coleman. In 1872 and 1884, 183-185 Broadway was shown as being owned by A. Coleman, and in 1896 by C. W. Coleman. The 1885 Directory listed Charles Coleman as a hatter living on Broadway near Union. Charles Coleman built the house at 191 Broadway in 1904.

Although T. A. Parsons occupation was unknown, the Colemans were hatters like many of their neighbors, including Charles Ingalls whose hat factory was nearby on the south side of the Spicket behind All Saints Church (82 Broadway).

Name: Apartment Building

Address:183-185 Broadway rear

Date:1970

History: In 1968 a permit was issued for construction of an 18 unit apartment building which cost $100,000 to build. The project was completed in 1970.

Name: Charles W. Coleman House

Address:191 Broadway

Date:1904

History:According to the assessor's records, the house at 191 Broadway was built in by Charles W. Coleman in 1904. The new house, built on a one acre lot, was then valued at $2500. Mr. Coleman had lived for many years at 183-185 Broadway before building the new house. He remained there, owning both houses at least until 1915.

Name: Serlo Organ Hall

Address:192 Broadway

Date:1899

History:Edward F. Searles acquired the old Methuen Woolen Mill near the Broadway bridge in late 1889, and established the Methuen Organ Company there in 1892. Pipe organs were a major interest for Searles, an interest which culminated in construction of the adjacent Serlo Organ Hall (192 Broadway) between 1899 and 1909. The hall, dedicated on December 9, 1909, was built to house the great Boston Music Hall organ. The Serlo outbuilding was used to store the great organ during construction of the hall. Henry Vaughan helped Searles to renovate the mill, and designed the Serlo Hall. Considering his close association with Searles, it is very likely that he designed the outbuilding as well.

Searles established the Methuen Organ Company to develop new construction techniques, to improve the standards of organ building, and to build the best organs in the United States. He worked in close cooperation with friend and colleague, organ builder James E. Treat, who for a few years controlled the company. Two other companies, the Tubular Bell Works, manufacturers of harmonic bells, and the D. M. Bruce Company, suppliers of metal pipes for organs, were also located in the old mill building under Searles aegis. Searles had two sets of harmonic bells at his estate, Pine Lodge on East Street. The organ factory was abandoned in 1942 and destroyed by fire the following year.

The Serlo Hall was rescued by Alfred C. Gaunt, who formed a non-profit corporation, the Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Inc. in 1946.

Name: Walgreen's

Address:201-203 Broadway

Date:1986

History:For most of the 19th-century this was area was known as the Bodwell/ Simonds property, all of which was acquired by Edward F. Searles in 1907. Three old houses were gone from site by 1927. Two were demolished and one was moved to what is now 213 Broadway.

The 1927/1949 Sanborn map shows a large building marked Essex Casket Company on the Walgreen's site. Between 1984 and 1986 the building valuation jumped from $3,000 to $15,600. Presumably a new structure, now housing the Walgreen's Store, was built at that time.

Name: general office

Address:209-211 Broadway (attached to 213 Broadway)

Date:c. 1910

History:The 1911 Sanborn map shows a two-family house numbered 209-207 Broadway and a single family numbered 205 Broadway, both of which were gone on the 1927/1949 Sanborn map. By that time, the two family had been replaced by a single family house marked dwelling/undertaker. That house, previously # 201 Broadway, is now 213 Broadway (#246). The single family house was replaced by a larger dwelling numbered 209-211 Broadway, which is now attached to 213 Broadway. Its original use and location is unknown. Its simple form suggests that it may have originated as a barn.

The property was later purchased by Edward E. Searles, who owned the nearby Tenney Hat factory site and other adjacent pieces of property. Although Searles moved many houses, whether or not he moved this one is unknown.

Name: Asa Simonds House

Address:213 Broadway

Date:1881

History:The 1911 Sanborn map shows a two-family house numbered 209-207 Broadway and a single family numbered 205 Broadway, both of which were gone on 1927/1949 Sanborn map. By that time, the two family was replaced by a single family house marked dwelling/undertaker. That house, previously # 201 Broadway, is now 213 Broadway. (The single family house was replaced by a larger dwelling numbered 209-211. Its original use and location is unknown.)

The house now called 213 Broadway was moved from the adjacent (S; now Walgreens), Asa Simonds estate, where there were two older houses plus the present 213. The older houses had belonged to the Simonds and Bodwell families. Simonds, listed in the 1860 Directory as a hat manufactory, married Elizabeth H. Bodwell in 1837. Daniel W. Tenney, in a paper on early manufacturing given at the Methuen Historical Society, mentions Asa Simonds and his neighbor Charles Ingalls.

In 1881, Asa Simonds built 213 Broadway, which was designed by Lawrence architect George Adams (who also designed the James Pierce House at 15 Pleasant Street). Helen Elizabeth Simonds, a bookkeeper and music teacher, inherited all three houses with her fathers estate. The property was later purchased by Edward E. Searles, who owned the nearby Tenney Hat factory site and other large chunks of property in the area. The old houses were eventually torn down and the 1881 house moved to the present site at 213 Broadway. Although, Searles moved many houses, whether or not he moved this one in unknown.

Name: house

Address:215-217 Broadway

Date:c1890

History:In 1893, Helen E. Simonds, daughter of Asa Simonds, sold 2 1/4 acres of undeveloped land belonging to her father's estate to builder Frank Buckminster. Buckminster built a new house at 219 Broadway which he sold with 2 acres of land in 1895 to Peter Hey of Lawrence. At the same time he sold the house at 215-217 Broadway with 7000 square feet of land to Jesse B. Shirley, a mill operator. When and whether or not 215-217 was built by Buckminster is unknown. Its exterior appearance suggests an earlier construction date in the 1870s or 1880s; it may be one of the many buildings that were moved in central Methuen at the turn-of-the-century.

Frank Buckminster, listed in the 1896 Directory as a carpenter and builder, was also a dealer in lumber, with yards off Union Street near the Railroad (55 Union Street). According to the Methuen Transcript he began his business in 1893-1894, and by 1896 had built over forty houses.

Name: house

Address:219 Broadway

Date:1895

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