76 Center Street

Architectural Description: 

NRDIS NRMRA LHD
Style: Modest Queen Anne style home
Other features:
carved barge board, decorative shingle work in gable end and bracketed door hood, 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 1 3/4 stories; 1 chimney; front bay with three windows

Historical Narrative: 

Present owner (1977): Bird, Robert & Gail (11 Mar 1968)
Present owner (1998): James Sheldon

Themes: Architectural, Community development
This home was first occupied by Edwin and Prudence Brown. Edwin was b. in Oct. 1856 in Wilmington, MA son of Walter & Caroline (Wilson) Brown. At the time of his marriage he was a fish dealer. Edwin married on Nov. 29, 1883 in Ballardvale to Prudence Fellows, b. Nov. 1860 in Middleton, Lancanshire, England, daughter of John & Sarah Ann (Barrett) Fellows. Her parents came to America in 1864.

The property was purchased on November 10, 1896 by Prudence from Herbert A. Moody. Edwin, became a switchman for the railroad. Edwin & Prudence had three sons; Edwin W. b. Apr. 1888, John F. b. Nov. 1894 and George W. b. Sept. 1898. Edwin died in March 1904 at age 47 years. Prudence was then left to care for her family. In the 1910 census she is listed on Marland St. and her widowed father John age 75 and a niece Viola Fellows are living with them. In 1920 only son George is with his mother. He now 21 is a buyer for a junk dealer. By 1930 Prudence is in her home by herself. Prudence sells the home to her grandson son and wife Edwin R. & Stella A. Brown on July 11, 1944. She keep a life tenancy for herself. Prudence died on Dec. 20, 1945 and is interred in the family lot at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Edwin R. Brown b. 1917 is listed as Superintendent in 1962 Andover Directory Stella b. 1918 a housewife. The Browns later sold to Robert W. & Gail J. Bird on Mar. 13, 1968.
Howard R. & Emily D. Perkins, Jr. purchased the home on Jan. 25, 1979 and they owned for eight years.

James L. Sheldon & Shirley A. Veenema purchased the property on June 1, 1987. Jim is an artist and Shirley a teacher. They owned for 25 years then selling to Edward & Karen E. English on Aug. 17, 2012.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
National Register of Historic Places
Assessor's Records
Land Court map #42698-A

Owners:
Alfred Kittridge - 1863
George Foster - Feb. 25, 1864 - b. 664 leaf 94
Sylvanus Perry - Feb. 10, 1872 - b. 13 p. 4
Herbert A. Moody - Sept. 24, 1896 - b. 151 p. 152
Prudence Brown, wife of Edwin Brown - Nov. 10, 1896 - b. 151 p. 149
Edwin R. & Stella A. Brown - July 11, 1944 - b. 665 p. 104
Robert W. & Gail J. Bird - Mar. 13, 1968 - b. 1102 p. 153
Howard R. & Emily D. Perkins, Jr. - Jan. 25, 1979 - b. 1362 p. 143
Stephen Defusco - May 25, 1984 - b. 1816 p. 290
Howard R. & Emily Dufusco Perkins, Jr. - May 25, 1984 - b. 1816 p. 291
James L. Sheldon & Shirley A. Veenema - June 1, 1987 - b. 2509 p. 167
James L. Sheldon & Shirley A. Veenema - Aug. 23, 1994 - Ctf. #12014
Edward & Karen E. English - Aug. 17, 2012 - Ctf. #16782

Inventory Data:

StreetCenter St
PlaceBallardvale
Historic DistrictBallardvale Local Historic District
Historic DistrictBallardvale National Register District
Historic NamePrudence & Edwin Brown House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1887
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleQueen Anne
Foundationstone/granite/brick
Wall/Trimclapboards/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Outbuildings / Secondary Structuressmall barn to rear
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.183 acre; Lot size: 7,980 sq. ft.; Approx. frontage: 60'
Settingresidential
Map and parcel157-65
MHC NumberANV.103
Recorded byStack/Mofford; Ruth A. Sharpe Ballardvale Historical District, James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Historical Commission
Date entered1975 - 1977, Aug 1998, 9/22/2016

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