16 Morton Street
Site of History 🛈The Site of History tag is given to properties that were lost before this building survey was undertaken.

Architectural Description: 

This former two story single family residence was constructed about 1858-1863. Extensive alterations occurred in July 1891 when Mrs. Christianna Odlin had the house raised and inserted and new first floor addition creating the three story building and apartments. An 1872 Map of Andover Village shows this home with a rear ell. The bay windows were a popular addition after the Civil War and through the Queen Anne period. Decorative shingles on the upper floor suggest
Queen Anne style.

Historical Narrative: 

16 Morton Street 40-45 – 0.227 acre 6 units 21 rooms
Samuel & William Abbott were both Andover natives who owned a substantial amount of vacant land along Main and Bartlet Streets. They sold off parcels for development in this area and also in Ballardvale. Willard Pike, a soap manufacturer purchased 2 ¾ acres of land from the Abbotts for $600 on Aug. 21, 1845. The “said lot in the form of a parallelogram, 4 rods by 12 rods…. together with all erections there on and all easement and benefits to the same belonging.” It appears that Pike built a house on about a half acre then sold for $1100 to John W. Howe on Sept. 18, 1863.

John W. Howe was born in 1834, son of Nicholas & Wealthy Howe. John was a shoemaker, and most likely learned the trade from his father who was also a shoemaker. John married on Oct. 11, 1857 in Andover to Sarah A. Upton, age 17, born in Haverhill, daughter of Abiel & Mary Upton. The 1865 Mass. census lists John W. 31, Sarah A. 22, daughters Abby A. 8, Mary 6 months and in-laws Abiel Upton 73 and Mary Upton 52 The 1870 Valuation lists John Howe House $750 ½ acre $150 = $900. The Census also lists a son Willie H. 11 months old. They would have one more son Charles Merrill Howe born Jan. 1871 prior to a move to Dracut and sale of the property to Alfred Putnam on May 27, 1871.

Alfred Putman was born Jan. 10, 1801 in Hopkinton, NH son of Amos & Desire (Felton) Putnam. Alfred was a Baker, married Nov. 17, 1825 in Andover to Mary O. Merrill bb. 1806. They had 4 sons and one daughter. Alfred b. 1826, Mary Louisa b. 1828, Charles E. b. 1830, Timothy F. b. 1832 and Alfred b. 1835. Mary O. died on Oct. 23, 1840 age 34. Alfred remarried Dec. 13, 1843 to Mrs. Harriet (Shattuck) Bradley.
The 1850 Census lists Alfred, wife Harriet, and son s Charles & Alfred and four male boarders, all employed as bakers. His son Timothy was also a baker. Putman was also listed in the Manufacturing Schedule. By 1870 Alfred is running a boarding house and boards include two teachers at Abbot Academy and two students. Putman owned this home at 16 Morton for nine years.
Alfred died on May 4, 1880 at age 79 years of consumption and is interred at South Parish Cemetery. Harriet inherits the property and makes a Will in July 1880 giving her brothers Charles and Leonard Shattuck the property. Harriet died Sept. 16, 1880.

The property was sold to Peter Dushame in Nov. 26, 1880. Peter and wife Harriet held for two years when the property was sold to Leonard F. Cutter in 1882. Cutter lived at 126 Main St. in the French Empire home he had built. He owned a hardware business in Boston. This house was most likely income property which he transferred to his wife Emma.

The property was then sold to Christianna Odlin on April 1, 1887. Odlin transformed the house into a three story tenement in 1891. Christianna (Farrar) Odlin was born Dec. 2, 1831 in Gilmanton, NH, dau. of Perley & Eliza Farrar. Christianna married about 1855 to Joseph Edwin Odlin b. June 10, 1825 in Exeter, NH son of James & Martha Hale (Osborne) Odlin. Joseph grew up in Laconia, NH, was a successful farmer and Post Master of Gilford, NH in 1870. Joseph died on Nov. 17, 1874 leaving Christianna with two sons James Edwin b. April 9, 1857 and William b. 1865. She moved to Andover so her sons could get a good education.
The 1885 Directory has them on Pike St. (Morton) James E. is a student at Andover Theological Seminary and William is at Phillips Academy. It appears Mrs. Odlin rented the home from Cutter prior to its purchase and lived here until 1895.
Andover Townsman July 10, 1891 – Mrs. C. Odlin’s house on Morton St. has been raised by Wilson of
Methuen and Hardy and Cole are building another story.
At this time Christianna purchase the SE corner lot at 109 Main & Locke St. and later built a handsome residence there in 1894. Son William became a lawyer, married on Dec. 30, 1897 to Dora Ashley Clark and purchased a home that once stood and 90 Main St. William and Dora would later move to 109 Main St. Christianna held three properties, (16 Morton, 109 Main and 4 Locke St.) until her death on July 28, 1921 at 4 Locke St.

16 Morton St was then sold to Harry F. Schofield on July 15, 1921 and used as income property.
The 1926 Street directory lists five families at 16 Morton St.: Herbert & Mary Allicon, Arthur & Isabel Fenner, Thomas & Loretta R. Flynn, Elizabeth R. Henderson widow of John and Sarah McMahon Widow of William and Nan McMahon.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Townsman July 1891
Andover Directories 1885, 1897, 1904, 1908,
Census Records 1865, 1870, 1880, 1900
Ancestry.com. Howe, Putnam and Odlin families.

Owners:
Samuel Abbott & William Abbott of Charlestown
Willard Pike, Aug. 21, 1845 – b. 358 leaf 178 - $600 2 ¾ acres
John W. Howe – Sept. 18, 1863 – b. 656 leaf 114 - $1100 w.blds
Alfred Putnam – May 27, 1871 – b. 9 p. 205 - $1550
Alfred Putnam estate, Charles Shattuck, Extr. - June 14, 1880 – Probate
Peter Dushame, wife Harriet Nov. 26, 1880 – b. 62 p. 278 - $600 w/bdls
Leonard F. Cutter – July 29, 1882 – b. 68 p. 452
Emma J. Cutter, wife of Leonard – Aug. 24, 1882 – b. 90 p. 19
Christianna Odlin, - Apr. 1, 1887 – b. 90 p. 21
William Odlin, guardian of Chritianna Odlin – by Probate
Harry F. Schofield – July 15, 1921 – b. 443 p. 348
Annie Z. Schofield – Aug. 24, 1922 – b. 463 p. 314
Harry F. Schofield – Aug. 24, 1950 – b. 741 p. 139
Harry F. Schofield estate, heirs Annies Z. and Julia C. Schofield -Probate #236657
Antonia and Palma Abate – June 29, 1953 – b. 777 p. 332
Palma Abate – May 31, 1963 – b. 986 p. 182
Felicia Sholik – Feb. 14, 1971 – b. 1166 p. 146
Antonia and Palma Abate - Feb. 14, 1971 – b. 1166 p. 147
Abate Realty Trust – Feb. 10, 1971 –Certificate #6608 – five parcels
Abate Realty Trust –Feb. 24, 1984 – Ctf. #9381
Abate Realty Trust –July 3, 1996 – Ctf. #12461
Abate Realty Trust – Mar. 6, 2018 – Ctf. #17917

Inventory Data:

StreetMorton St
PlaceAndover Center
Historic DistrictAndover Historic Building Survey
Historic NameHowe - Oldin House
Present UseSix Unit apartment house
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1860 - 1865
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architect/BuilderWillard Pike/builder
Foundationstone & granite
Wall/TrimClapboard/wood
Roofasphalt/gable
Major AlterationsHouse raised up and third story added July 1891
Conditionexcellent
Moved?Yes
Move DetailsJuly 1891 - house lift off foundation and new first floor inserted
Acreage0.227 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel40-45
Recorded byStack & Mofford/Herman, James S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered8/4/2021

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Map: