Name:

 Address: 1 Pine Street

 Date: built (c. 1870s - after 1872)

 History: The Methuen Company (see 47 Osgood St.) was purchased in 1864 by David Nevins, a prominent Boston investor who subsequently settled in Methuen. Under his leadership, it quadrupled in size in the years between 1870 and 1881, creating a need for mill operatives' housing. By the 1870s, double houses, which can be seen on the 1884 map, lined Pine Street on both side. The earliest ones, which appear before 1872, remain on the left side, outside of the historic district. With the exception of the house at 1 Pine Street, houses from the right side have all been demolished or moved (see forms for 96-98, 100-102, 104-106 Railroad Street and 10-12, 14-16, 18-20 Lowell Street). The store front on 1 Pine Street was added between 1919 and 1927.

 Address: 5 Pleasant Street

 Date: 1900

 History: In 1897, Edward F. Searles acquired the property of S. Q. Hersey including the Exchange Hotel on Broadway, the adjoining hotel livery stable, and a house facing on Pleasant Street. In 1900 he created a private guest house called the Red Tavern, which is said to have been made up out of several earlier houses. This reworking and moving of existing buildings was a common practice of Searles and his architect, Henry Vaughan who was responsible for the renovations. In 1909 the Methuen Transcript reported that the Red Tavern had recently been opened to the public, providing English style accommodations. It was run for Searles by Carrie Barnes, his house keeper for many years. According to Smith B. Williams, Searles left the Red Tavern to Mrs. Barnes in his will.

The Red Tavern was purchased by Howard Freedman in 1946, who made several additions. According to advertising material from that period, the Red Tavern had 21 rooms, many of which were panelled in oak or walnut. Several rooms had large fire places and the decor continued to reflect an English theme.

 Address: 9 Pleasant Street

 Date: 1924

 History: The present house at 9 Pleasant Street replaces a nineteenth century dwelling which was torn down before 1906, possibly in conjunction with Edward F. Searles manipulation of buildings in the area and construction of the adjacent Red Tavern.

The house was built in 1924, by Rolf C. Norris, on land bought the previous year from Helen K. McLanathan. Norris, a physician, and his wife Margaret, had previously lived at 247 Broadway. He kept his office on Broadway after moving to Pleasant Street.

 Address: 13 Pleasant Street

 Date: c. 1845

 History: This house was part of the early residential expansion of Methuen center. Assessors' records and town directories indicate that it was constructed c1845 by Branch G. Gutterson, a local grocer. Gutterson is indicated as the owner on the 1872 and 1884 atlases, while the estate of A.K. Gile is the owner by the time the 1896 atlas was published. Assessors' records indicate that the property was sold to Ella A. Peirce in 1888, along with the adjacent (E) Merrill lot (see 15 Pleasant Street). It appears likely that either Peirce or Gile added the verandah and new window sash.

 Address: 15 Pleasant Street

 Date: 1889-90

 History: This house was built in 1889-90 by Dr. James and Ella Peirce, who previously lived at 7 Pleasant Street (no longer extant; site of Red Tavern). The architect was George G. Adams of Lawrence and Danvers, and the original drawings are preserved at the SPNEA archives. James Peirce was a local physician who maintained an office in his home; Dr. Peirce is indicated as the owner on the 1896 atlas. The house was inherited by James and Ella's son Albion G. Peirce who lived in the house until he died in the 1960s. Albion was a substantial citizen who was noted as a trial justice and lawyer in the 1925 town directory, and as the president of the Methuen National Bank in 1950.

 Address: 26 Pleasant Street

 Date: September 1881

 History: In 1880, the Methuen Transcript reported that architect C. W. Damon of Haverhill completed plans for the Congregational Vestry (Phillips Chapel), which was to be built of stone, 30 x 73 feet. While the new building was under construction, the old one was to remain in use. It was moved to a vacant site in front and later to a site on Railroad Street owned by David Nevins. The old vestry was used for a few years as a Mission School.

C. Willis Damon, was born in Pawtucket, R.I. and died in Haverhill in 1916. He was a graduate of M.I. T. and taught drawing in the Boston Public Schools before joining his brother Charles Page Damon to form the firm of Damon Brothers. C. Wills Damon seems to be the better known of the two and is credited with design of the Haverhill City Hall, Portsmouth Court House and Tilton Seminary in New Hampshire. Locally he was responsible for the Phillips Vestry of the First Congregational Church, a house for Daniel W. Tenney at the corner of Broadway and Pleasant Street, the Tenney Stock Stable and renovations to the Tenney Gate House

Local carpenter, Jesse A. Towne did the carpentry work and a new Sanborn furnace, made locally was installed to heat the building.

The cornerstone was laid in September 1881 without ceremony. In May 13, 1882 the Rev. J. H. Selden was ordained in the church. The Transcript story of the ordination was accompanied by a cut of the church which showed the old vestry.

Name: Charles H Tenney Estate

 Address: Pleasant Street

 Date: 1830-1892

 History: Charles H. Tenney, son of John Ferguson Tenney and Hannah Woodbury, was born in 1842 in Salem, New Hampshire. He was the youngest of four sons, the others being J. Milton, Daniel, and George. The family later came to Methuen where John F. Tenney had a grocery and hardware store on Hampshire Street, as advertised in the 1860 Directory. Sons George and Daniel opened Tenney & Company shoe manufacturers at 2 Charles Street (see form) in 1865, and in 1868 Charles, with his brother J. Milton, opened C. H. Tenney & Company hat factory on Broadway on the site of the Selden Worsted Mills (225 Broadway). In 1883 Charles sold his interest in the local hat company to J. Milton and went to New York. According to the Methuen Transcript, Tenney opened offices in New York and established himself as a wholesale commission agent, handling a very large part of the hat production in the U.S., and selling more than any similar concern in the world.

Even after moving to New York, Mr. and Mrs. Tenney retained their ties with Methuen, returning to build a magnificent summer home, "Grey Court" on the top of what had previously been known as Jones Hill. Tenney hired landscape architect Ernest W. Bowditch, who was responsible for the layout of Tuxedo Park in New York, to develop a plan for the estate. He also employed a Mr. Gall as gardener (2 Highland Ave). In 1882, Tenney began surveying the hill lot, building walls, and opening roads. In April 1882 he purchased the Whittier house which was remodeled by Haverhill architect, Mr. Damon, as a gate house (37 Pleasant St). In the next several years, the roads were macadamized, ponds built, and ornamental trees planted. Additional property was acquired for the estate, which eventually totaled 75 acres, and on completion there were two miles of avenues. The name Fair View Park was chosen for the Tenney property in 1887. One of only two extant buildings on the Tenney estate is the stock stable, built in 1884 and shown in the Methuen Transcript January 3, 1885. An extensive description of the layout of the building, its fine interior finish, and the "tally-ho" drive up to the front entrance can be found in this article. The building was designed by the Damon Brothers, architects of Haverhill. C. Willis Damon, was born in Pawtucket, R.I. and died in Haverhill in 1916. He was a graduate of M.I. T. and taught drawing in the Boston Public Schools before joining his brother Charles Page Damon to form the firm of Damon Brothers. C. Wills Damon seems to be the better known of the two and is credited with design of the Haverhill City Hall, Portsmouth Court House and Tilton Seminary in New Hampshire. Locally he was responsible for the Phillips Vestry of the First Congregational Church and a house for Daniel W. Tenney at the corner of Broadway and Pleasant Street. Damon also remodeled the Whittier House, a handsome granite farmhouse, for reuse as the estate gate house. This building is in the process of restoration, and remains as the only intact building on the estate.

Grey Court, begun in 1890 and completed three years later, was designed by the well-known New York firm of Carrere and Hastings. It overlooked the town of Methuen until it was destroyed by arson in 1978. Although the burned out shell was for the most part demolished in 1985, its few remaining ruins are indicative of the elegance and fine material of the original house. In 1951, the Tenney family gave 26 acres of the estate to the town for the Tenney High School and sold the rest of the site to the Basilican Salvatorian Order of the Melkite Rite, putting the money in trust for Tenney High School graduates. St. Basil's Seminary and Chapel was built in 1960 at a cost of $275,000 and the Tenney stable was remodeled beginning in 1966.

 Address: 37 Pleasant Street

 Date: 1830/1883

 History: According to Ernest Mack, of the Methuen Historical Commission, the house at 37 Pleasant Street was built by Richard Whittier (brother of Ebenezer Whittier) between August and November of 1830. Originally a rough stone farm house, the building was purchased in April 1882 by Charles H. Tenney, who converted it to the elegant gate house which is presently being restored by the Tenney Gate House Assoc.

The Methuen Transcript reported on September 1, 1883 that the veneer of cut stone, a tower, and other Queen Anne style features were being added. Architect C. Willis Damon, who also designed the Stock Stable for Charles Tenney, was born in Pawtucket, R.I. and died in Haverhill in 1916. He was a graduate of M.I. T. and taught drawing in the Boston Public Schools before joining his brother Charles Page Damon to form the firm of Damon Brothers. C. Wills Damon seems to be the better known of the two. Locally he was also responsible for the Phillips Vestry of the First Congregational Church and a house for Daniel W. Tenney at the corner of Broadway and Pleasant Street.

Tenney had begun developing his estate, building walls and opening roads in 1882. In the next several years, the roads were macadamized, ponds built, ornamental trees planted. Additional property was acquired for the estate, which eventually totaled 75 acres. The name Fair View Park and Grey Court, begun in 1890 was completed three years later. The gate house is the only structure of the extensive estate to survive intact and can be seen in many of the historic photographs of Grey Court.

This building possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

Name: Searles High School

 Address: 41 Pleasant Street

 Date: 1904

 History: The Searles High School was built in 1904 for the Town of Methuen by local millionaire and community benefactor Edward F. Searles. It was designed by Henry Vaughan who also responsible for other Searles commissions such as the Serlo Organ Hall (1899-1909), the Central School (1904), All Saints Episcopal Church (1904), and the Railroad Station (1908). The building remained a High School until it was replaced by the new Tenney High School in 1952. It became an elementary school until 1975 and school department offices until 1983. The building was then sold to the Bergmeyer Development Company. They developed the building for office space, opening in 1986. In 1992, the building was repurchased by the town for possible use as a town hall.

This building possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

Name: Tenney Middle School

 Address: 75 Pleasant Street

 Date: 1951

 History: The 75 acre Tenney estate remained in the family from the early 1880s to 1951. In 1951, the estate of Daniel G. Tenney gave 26 acres to the town for the Tenney High School, and later sold the remainder of the site to the Basilican Salvatorian Order of the Melkite Rite, putting the money in trust for Tenney High School graduates. St. Basil's Seminary and Chapel was built near the old Tenney stable in 1960 and Grey Court, which burned in 1978 was demolished in 1985. A few ruins mark the site of Grey court, but the Tenney legacy of commitment to the community had remained. Tenney's was one of three great turn-of-the-century estates in Methuen, along with those of Edward F. Searles, and David Nevins.

Ground breaking for the new school took place on March 26, 1952, with the contract given to Bossi Construction, Inc. of Boston. The corner stone was laid on July 20, 1950 in a ceremony with Judge Louis S. Cox as the speaker. Dedication of the school, which cost $1,552,955 to build, took place on December 15, 1953. The Tenney High School as it was first known is now the Tenney Middle School.

Name:

 Address: 172 Pleasant Street

 Date: c. 1872

 History: The earliest documentation of a house in the approximate location of 172 Pleasant appears on the 1872 atlas owned by Parry. A subsequent owner may have been C. Whiteley. By 1885, the owner was John H. George, a farmer, who in 1901 was also a selectman. At that time, the house was numbered 98 Pleasant (changed to 172 in the 1930s). George died October 28, 1903. Subsequent occupants of the house included George H. Richardson (1914), an insurance agent; John Hunarian (1920s and 30s), an operative and later a chauffeur; Rafael Hunarian (1935), a chauffeur; and George Bateman (1938), employed at Lawrence Gas &Electric Co.

 Address: 22 Plymouth Street

 Date: 1935/36

 History: St. Theresa's Church was built in 1935/36 as an offshoot of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Lawrence. Shortly before St. Theresa's was constructed, St. Ann's had built a large orphanage nearby on Haverhill Street. This precipitated the need for a local Catholic church in this section of Methuen. In addition, the number of families belonging to St. Ann's had risen to 3,000 and as many of the families moved out of Lawrence and into nearby Methuen where they required a place to worship. St. Theresa's is one of three churches associated with St. Ann's; the others are Mt. Carmel Church (1913) on Union Street in Methuen and Sacred Heart (1906) in Lawrence. All these churches were known as "national" churches because they served a particular ethnic group. In this case, the French Canadians. The churches are staffed by the Marist Priests who, until the mid-twentieth century, said masses in French. The church was designed by architect J.G. Morisette, about whom little is known.

 Address: 22 Plymouth Street

 Date: 1935/36

 History: This is the parish house for the adjacent St. Theresa's Catholic Church which was built in 1936 to serve the growing French Canadian community in the west end of Methuen. The land, formerly called Glen Forest Park, was purchased in 1922, and the corner stone for the church was laid June 2, 1935. The parish house was built shortly after to house the Marist priests who staff the church. It is still in use today.

 Address: 478 Prospect Street

 Date: c. 1900

 History: Adjacent to the Fair Oaks Addition, this Georgian Revival residence reflects the styles and materials of many houses built in the Fair Oaks area, one of many turn-of-the-century Methuen subdivisions, but distinguished by large, high-styled houses. Terence Dolan, the original owner, was a mason. Characteristically, houses in the Fair Oaks subdivision appealed to Lawrence "commuters" as well as merchants and professionals in Methuen. It possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

 Address: 491 Prospect Street

 Date: c. 1900

 History: 491 Prospect Street is significant as a fine example of the Shingle Style, and as representative of houses built for Lawrence and Methuen businessmen in Methuen subdivisions after the turn of the century. Fair Oaks, in which this residence is located, was developed by members of the J. D. McAllister family of Methuen.

It possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

 Address: 526 Prospect Street

 Date: c. 1840

 History: This building is significant as a well preserved example of a Greek Revival dwelling in one of the earlier settled areas of Methuen, Near the site of the first meeting house. Once in agricultural use, the first residents here likely were farmers who supplied produce to Lowell and Lawrence.

It possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

 Address: 535-537 Prospect Street

 Date: c. 1875

 History: This building is significant as a well preserved businessman's and state representative's residence, and characteristic of the Prospect/Brook Street residential are. Additionally, it is the finest example of Second Empire design remaining in the town.

It possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

 Address: 606 Prospect Street

 Date: c. 1920

 History: This building is significant as a well preserved Craftsman Style bungalow associated historically with the development of single-family subdivision in the first decades of the 20th century. Subdivision of surrounding farmland along Prospect Street did not occur until after the introduction of streetcars at the turn of the century. The 1725 town pound originally stood on the corner of this property and the 1726 first meeting house was located across the street.

It possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

 Address: 669 Prospect Street

 Date: c. 1720

 History: Prior to the construction of a meeting house on "Meeting House Hill" in 1727, the Asie Swan House was used for Methuen's first town meetings, commencing in 1726. The house was moved to its present location from its original site near Prospect Hill, now part of Lawrence. It is significant for its association with Methuen's early period of settlement, when there was no nucleated town center, and for its association with Methuen's early town meeting history.

A second story was added in the 1980's.

Last Updated 9/4/07

 

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