Themes - Agricultural, Community Development and Industry.

This property was once thought to be mill housing for the Marland Manufacturing Co. but a recent deed search has revealed a different ownership lineage. The property was once a portion of the Joseph L. Low estate who built his home at 70 North Main St. at the corner of Lewis. His farm estate included all the land now occupied by the Town Yard, Lewis St. & Buxton Ct., and this parcel down to Harding St. Joseph Low sold off this lot to Erastus Gile on Oct. 30, 1850.
Gile was a brick mason. Gile and B. F. Thompson a house-wright are attributed in the deeds as the builders of the duplex home.

Erastus Gile sells the north side of the house and lot to Thompson for $1000. on May 1, 1851 and retains the south side for his family home. Erastus Gile was born on Jan. 29, 1818 in Lee, NH, son of George & Clarissa (Durgin) Gile. Erastus married in Andover on Aug. 27, 1842 to Amanda G. b. 1814. The Giles had six children, Amanda G. b. 1844, Mary E. b. 1845, Sarah M. b. 1847, Clara b. 1849, Edward E. b. 1851 and Sylvia Annie b. 1854. Prior to moving into this side of the home Gile rented half the house at 53 Red Spring Rd. Erastus Gile was also hired by the Town of Andover as one of the masons for the Old Town Hall on Main Street. Gile died on April 23, 1893 at age 75 years. His estate went to his wife Amanda and the children were named as the Executors of his estate. Daughter Amanda was a seamstress, Mary & Sarah became teachers, and son Edward followed his father's occupation as a mason. The Giles continued ownership until Apr. 29, 1930 when the entire duplex was acquired by Cornelius F. Howe.

North side; #163
B. F. Thompson owned this side of the house for seven years. It appears that Thompson did not live here but used it and income property. The 1855 Mass. State census lists Rev. Caleb E. Fisher age 40 as living here. Fisher was the 4th pastor of the new Free Church, then located on Railroad St., Fisher was the pastor from June 1, 1855 - May 4, 1859. Rev. Fisher, wife Mary, and children, Francis E., John M., Mary E. and Catherine, most likely lived here until the Free Church Parsonage was built next to the church.

B. F. Thompson sold to James S. Dodge for $550 on Jan. 28, 1858. Dodge was a Trader or merchant in Andover. His store was located on Red Spring Rd. near Essex St. Mar. 10, 1855 Andover Advertiser – “New firm of Dodge & Beard – purchased C. G. NcNeil’s stock of Goods, consisting of Dry Goods, Groceries, Farming tools, Grass & Garden Seeds, Bondi Common & Fancy Crackers. James S. Dodge & Horace P. Beard.” Mr. Beard had worked for McNeil before his business failed. Dodge & Beard did a good business at this location and their partnership continued for ten years until dissolved on July 31, 1865.

The next owner was Hannah Graham on July 14, 1884. Hannah Graham was born in England in May 1823, immigrated in 1848. She was the widow of John Graham and first lived in Ballardvale at 12 Oak St. They had 9 children, 7 survived. John died in 1882. Hannah owned until her death on Aug. 29, 1902 at which time the property was inherited by her daughter, Emily E. (Graham) Barton. Emily wed William Barton on Nov. 3, 1902. William was employed at Tyer Rubber Co. Emily held the property then sold to Cornelius F. Howe on April 29, 1930. With the purchase by Howe the entire house and property was united under one owner.

The home is similar in design to the Harding House at 6-8 Harding St. which is listed individually on the National Register. This home may have originally had the same front façade with tongue and groove boarding with clapboards on the sides and rear. The front entrance is slightly modified but retains that classic Greek Revival styling.