13 Canterbury Street

Architectural Description: 

Colonial Revival - Shingle Style - unusual design with gable end to street, front entrance balanced by porch on opposite side.

Historical Narrative: 

Shawsheen Village was named after the Native American name for the river Shawshin, which means Great Spring. Prior to Shawsheen Village this area was known as Frye Village. Most of the streets in the new Village were named for Castles & Cathedrals in Great Britain Canterbury Street takes its name from Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, England is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt from 1070 to 1077. Seat of the Church of England. Canterbury Street was one of the first roads to be laid out in Shawsheen Village.

This home was built as part of the Shawsheen Village development from 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. This house plan design was used four times, two on Canterbury St. and one at 13 York and 4 Carisbrooke Streets. Homes were leased through the Homestead Association with offices in the Post Office building in Shawsheen Square, later moved into the Administration Building.

Each home incorporated a different look, style and design modifications, most noticeable with the front door entrances. Decorative details on the corner boards and a variety of ornamental trellises, window boxes all added the “icing on the cake, of the original designs. Most of the homes now sport a variety of different colors, no longer all white with green shutters as dictated in the original deeds. Many of the original screen porches have been enclosed for an additional room. Wood also incorporated two family duplexes in every section of the new Village.

After the death of William M. Wood on Feb. 2, 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. The A.W.Co. Board of Directors authorized its President, Lionel J. Noah, to deliver all deeds, as deemed necessary to the Textile Realty Co. for sale on Dec. 29, 1931. The properties held in the Arden Trust were deeded to the Phillips Corporation of Portland Maine for liquidation.

One of the first occupants of record to lease the home in 1923 were Garfield S. & Harriet S. Chase. Garfield b. 1880 was the manager of the Eastern Mass Street Railway co. in Lawrence, MA. Garfield purchased the property form the Phillips Corp. on May 27, 1926. In 1943 a son Garfield S. Case Jr. is also listed as a student. In 1961 Garfield Sr. is retired and a Philip J. Baun b. 1937 of Bell Labs is residing with Garfield Chase. Chase owned the home for 37 years. After his death the property was sold to Walter L. & Henrietta Taft on Mar. 15, 1963.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Maps, 1852, 1872, 1888, 1906, 1926
Andover Street Directories
Andover Townsman
Mills, Mergers and Mansions, by Edward Roddy 1982
See Map plan 638 – April 1926 Phillips Corporation --Lot #30
Parcel #9 east side of Canterbury St. b. 520 p. 465
Parcel #10 west side of Canterbury St. b. 520 p. 466

Owners;
William M. & Ellen Ayer Wood – Feb. 9, 1921 – b. 447 p. 306
Arden Trust – Feb. 9, 1921 – b. 447 p. 330
Arden Trust; Trustees: Cornelius A. Wood, Frederick R. Edington
Phillips Corporation of Portland, ME – Mar. 13, 1926 – b. 520 p. 462
Garfield S. Chase, wife Harriet S. - May 27, 1926 - b. 522 p. 104
Garfield S. Chase estate, Lester M. Thompson, Extr. - 1963 - Probate
Walter L. & Henrietta Taft - Mar. 15, 1963 - b. 982 p. 60
George P. & Theda Triantafel - July 15, 1968 - b. 1110 p. 127

Inventory Data:

StreetCanterbury St
PlaceShawsheen Village - Frye Village
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Historic NameGarfield S. & Harriet S. Chase House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence - AWCo. housing
Construction Date1920 - 1921
SourceECRDS, ENRDL
Architectural StyleColonial Revival
Architect/BuilderAdden & Parker
Foundationstone
Wall/Trimcedar shingles/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.273 acres
Settingresidential
Map and parcel69-31
Recorded byJames S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date enteredOct. 19, 2015

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