3 - 5 Ayer Street

Historical Narrative: 

This home was built as part of the Shawsheen Village development 1918 – 1924 by William M. Wood, President of the American Woolen Company. Wood hired about eight different architects to design the homes and structures for the village. Homes were sold or rented through the Homestead Association who had offices in the Post Office building on the corner of North Main & Poor Streets.

After the death of William M. Wood in Feb. 1926 most of the residential and commercial buildings were then sold. Some were held by the Wood family in the "Arden Trust" and others with the American Woolen Company, which had been deeded the property in December 1920. The A.W.Co. Board of Directors authorized its President, Lionel J. Noah, to deliver all deeds, as deemed necessary to the Textile Realty for sale on Dec. 29, 1931.

The Textile Realty then transferred ownership to the Andover Shawsheen Realty Company on June 30, 1932, holding the mortgage on the properties. T. Edwin Andrew, treasurer, was authorized to sell or rent the properties. With the Great Depression sales were sluggish and many homes were rented until the economy rebounded.

The first occupants of record to lease the home in 1926 were James H. & Elizabeth Merrick in Unit #3. James was an electrician. In Unit #5 was Charles R. & Helen B. Buckley. Charles lists his occupation as clerk.

This house was sold to Carl A. & Gladys I. Schulze on Dec. 4, 1934. Six years later Schulze sold to John W. & Cecile McCarthy, Jr. on July 11, 1940. McCarhty held the property for five years then selling to Bernard V. Nangle & James M. Nangle on July 2, 1945.

The Nangle family were long term owners of 41 years. In 1961 George & Rita Nangle occupy #3 and rent #5 to James K. & Audrey T. Sparks.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Maps, 1852, 1872, 1888, 1906, 1926
Andover Street Directories
See Map plan #704 - American Woolen Company - Sept. 1927
#879 - June 1932 - Textile Realty Company - lot #32

Owners;
Henry P. Binney - Apr. 24, 1919 - b. 398 p. 52
American Woolen Company - Dec. 30, 1920 - b. 435 p. 215
Textile Realty Company - Dec. 30, 1931 - b. 563 p. 351
Andover Shawsheen Realty Co. - June. 30, 1932 - b. 565 p. 87 - parcel 26
Carl A. & Gladys I. Schulze - Dec. 4, 1934 - b. 583 p. 360
John W. & Cecile McCarthy, Jr. - July 11, 1940 - b. 632 p. 263
Bernard V. Nangle & James M. Nangle - July 2, 1945 - b. 674 p. 452
Augustine D. Riley - Sept. 21, 1948 - b. 716 p. 12
James M. Nangle & George J. Nangle - Sept. 21, 1948 - b. 716 p. 13
Robert E. Morgan - Mar. 11, 1953 - b. 773 p. 269
George J. & Rita R. Nangle - Mar. 11, 1953 - b. 773 p. 370
Ronald R. Nelson - Sept. 12, 1986 - b. 2302 p. 201
John & Patricia Dambrosio - June 27, 1998 - b. 2756 p. 246

Inventory Data:

StreetAyer St
PlaceShawsheen Village - Frye Village
Historic DistrictShawsheen Village NRH District
Present Useresidence - 2 family
Original Useresidence - 2 family
Construction Date1922 - 1923
SourceERDS, ENRDL
Architectural StyleOther
Foundationstone & granite
Wall/Trimclapboards & shigle/vinyl covered
Roofasphalt - gable
Major AlterationsUpper front porch enclosed, eave brackets removed, vinyl siding and replacement windows. Original stain glass windows removed
Conditiongood
Acreage0.289 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel51-208
Recorded byJames S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1980 - 6/30/2015

Images: 

Map: