233 Andover Street

Architectural Description: 

Dutch Colonial/Shingle style

Historical Narrative: 

This attractive home was built for Mr. and Mrs.(Molly) Amos Loomer in 1909. Miss Loomer designed and planned the house herself. (Her father was an architect from Malden, Mass.) The contractor was Phillip Hardy.

Amos Brantz Loomer was born on May 1, 1873 in Weston, Kings County, Nova Scotia, son of Reubin & Mary (Chase) Loomer. Amos immigrated in 1894 to Andover and was employed by John Stark of Ballardvale in his Provisions store. Amos married in Malden, MA on Sept. 4, 1901, to Mollie Ryder Rogers b. 1880 in Washington D.C., dau. of Louis & Maria (Dolliver) Rogers. They first lived on Tewksbury St. prior to building the house on Andover St. They had two daughters: Alice E. b. 1905 and Barbara A. born 1907 in Andover. Amos was a Provision and meat dealer for 40 years. He was a member of the Mason's and a Deacon of the Union Congregational Church in Ballardvale. Amos died on March 22, 1943. Daughter Alice married F. Tyler Carlton and lived on Central St. Barbara became a teacher.

The house was sold to Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Ryder in 1923. Mr. Ryder owned a drug store and business block in Lawrence, MA. The Loomers moved to 235 Andover St.

In the 1930s Mr. and Mrs. Howard Coon and family lived at this address also. Howard Coon was a well known Andover artist. Mrs. Coon was the daughter of the Ryders. The next owners were John & Amy Ramsay and David and Amy Robinson (1948), followed by Arthur and Mildred McGovern in 1955 - A Lawrence business man (Drug store). -

John and Nancy Eaton purchased the property on July 30, 1968, who were active in the community. The next owners were Robert Stier -a Psychologist and his wife Barbara Siegal on Aug. 8, 1988. The property was deeded to Barbara Siegal in July 2003.

Christopher J. & Cheryl A. Murphy purchased the home on Nov. 7, 2011 and are the owners of record in 2016.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Map plan land court #27053-A - May 11, 1956 - Charles E. Cyr, CE
John W. Morrison plan of lots - Sept. 1, 1890 & Apr. 2, 1891
Josiah B. & Ella R. Anderson - Plan of lots - 1874
Interview of daughter of original owner, Barbara Loomer

Owners;
Josiah B. & Ella R. Anderson -
Harriet B. & Horatius L. Hastings - Nov. 12, 1881 - b. 66 p. 115 - (lots 215, 216, 273)
Harriet B. & Horatius L. Hastings - Apr. 11, 1882 - b. 67 p. 533 - (lots 258, 259, 287)
Harriet B. & Horatius L. Hastings - Apr. 14, 1882 - b. 67 p. 534 - (lots 221 & 289)
Horatius B. Hastings - Oct. 18, 1887 - b. 92 p. 381 - seven parcels
Emiline B. Brown - Jan. 18, 1900 - b. 190 p. 333
Emiline B. Brown estate, Brown heirs - died. Sept. 2, 1901 -
Amos Loomer - Dec. 10, 1907 - b. 256 p. 171 - (lot 214)
Amos Loomer - Feb. 28, 1908 - b. 258 p. 566 - (lots 215, 216, 221)
Amos Loomer - Apr. 24, 1909 - b. 272 p. 377 - (lot 220)
Amos & Mollie Loomer - Dec. 18, 1909 - b.284 p. 236 - lots 218, 219)
Elizabeth F. Donahue - Oct. 1, 1907 - b. 253 p. 15 - (lots 215, 216, 221) transfer
Molly Loomer, wife of Amos - Oct. 1, 1907 - b. 253 p. 16 - (lots 215, 216, 221)
Molly Loomer, Sept. 10, 1920 - b. 431 p. 441
Arthur F. Ryder - Sept. 10, 1920 - b. 431 p. 442 - (lots 214, 215, 216, 221)
Arthur F. Ryder, wife Ella F. - Sept. 10, 1920 - b. 431 p. 442
Arthur F. Ryder, wife Ella F. - Sept. 21, 1925 - b. 517 p. 195
Arthur F. Ryder estate, wife Ella F. - life estate - Probate #203157
Ella F. Ryder estate died Apr. 8, 1946, Helen R. Coon hier
John & Amy Ramsay, David D. & Amy R. Robinson - Oct. 30, 1948 - b. 717 p. 447
Sylvester Arthur & Mildred W. McGovern - Sept. 16, 1955 - b. 820 p. 234
Sylvester Arthur & Mildred W. McGovern - May 2, 1961 - Ctf. #5058 - parcel 1
Sylvester Arthur & Mildred W. McGovern - July 30, 1968 - b. 1111 p. 54 - (lot 2 - 242, 249, 251 252)
John S. & Martha P. Eaton - July 30, 1968 - Ctf. #6237
Robert Stier & Barbara Siegal - Aug. 8, 1988 - b. #2786 p. 36
Barbara Siegal - July 1, 2003 - Ctf. #14275
Christopher J. & Cheryl A. Murphy - Nov. 7, 2011 - Ctf. #16607

Inventory Data:

StreetAndover St
PlaceBallardvale
Historic DistrictBallardvale Local Historic District
Historic NameLoomer - Ryder House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence and business
Construction Date1909
SourceECRDS, ENRDL
Architectural StyleOther
Architect/BuilderMrs. Molly Loomer/Phillip Hardy
Foundationstone
Wall/Trimwooden shingles
Roofasphalt - gambrel
Outbuildings / Secondary Structuresgarage
Major Alterationssun porch added on rear (date unknown), recent smaller renovations
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.539 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel139-44
Recorded byBernice Haggerty (Ballardvale Historic District Commission), James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Historical Society, Andover Preservation Commission
Date enteredJan 1996, 11/18/2016

Map: