17 Avon Street

Architectural Description: 

Queen Anne/Shingle

Historical Narrative: 

Owners:
Martin & Claudia Heller (1985)
Avon Street was laid out by Nathan F. Abbott and a plan of house lots was drawn up by A. B. Wiggins on Nov. 7, 1891. George F. Swift purchased several lots on the new street then sold this lot and the lot at the corner of Avon & Chestnut Streets to Mary F. O'Connell, wife of Arthur F. O'Connell on May 6, 1895.
The home may have been built by Arthur O'Connell. The lot with the home was sold the following year on Aug. 20, 1896 to Isabella W. May.

The 1906 Atlas: owner Mrs Isabella W. May, who also owned 90 Chestnut St. Mrs. May owned the property for eleven years then selling to Charles E. Donovan on Sept. 27, 1907. The 1920 Real Estate valuation schedule lists Mrs. Sarah Donovan house & land at 26 Avon St. valued at $1,300 and $400 respectively. The deed search revealed that the property was once numbered #29, then changed to #17. All street names in Andover were finally settled in 1904. Some renumbering was done in the late 1930's and again in 1958 to accommodate housing developments in West Andover and outlining areas in town.

There was an error the property deed boundaries when Mrs. May sold to the Donovan family. At the time of sale to Josephine R. & Thomas M. O'Riordan on Aug. 17, 1949 both the May and Donovan families heirs had to sign corrected deed releases to the O'Riordans. Thomas O'Riordan was a station agent with the Boston & Maine Railroad.

The O'Riordans owned for 20 years. Thomas died on Sept. 17, 1968 and Josephine R. sold the home the following year on Mar. 22, 1969 to Joseph E> & Mary Ann Jurek.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Maps & Directories,
Andover Valuation Schedules

Owners:
George F. Swift - land
Mary F. O'Connell, wife of Arthur F. - Mar. 6, 1895 - b. 138 p. 282 - lot of land
Isabella W. May - Aug. 20, 1896 - b. 149 p. 543 - land & house
Charles E. Donovan - Sept. 27, 1908 - b. 252 p. 599
Sarah J. Donovan - July 17, 1917 - b. 378 p. 155
Sarah J. Donovan estate, Donovan family heirs - 1949 - Probate #185373
Josephine R. O'Riordan and Thomas M. O'Riordan - Aug. 17, 730 p. 459
Anna M. Greeley - Dec. 18, 1959 - b. 907 p. 290 - deed change
Thomas M. & Josephine R. O'Riordan - Dec. 18, 1959 - b. 907 p. 291
Thomas M. O"Riordan estate, Josephine R. O'Riordan - Sept. 17, 1968 - probate
Joseph E. & Mary Ann Jurek - Mar. 22, 1969 - b. 1130 p. 47
Donald M. & Linda C. Parker - Apr. 6, 1973 - b. 1215 p. 408
Martin E. & Claudia H. Heller - Dec. 16, 1977 - b. 1327 p. 742
LuAnn M. Green - Oct. 11, 1995 - b. 4357 p. 307
Richard & Jane Twombly - Oct. 28, 1998 - b. 5225 p. 26
William M. & Lydia L. (Beall) Moriarty III - Oct. 25, 1999 - b. 5626 p. 226
Ruby M. Schroers & John J. Hanrahan - Aug. 4, 2003 - b. 8816 p. 164
Ruby M. Schroers - Nov. 19, 2012 - b. 13234 p. 18

Inventory Data:

StreetAvon St
PlaceAndover Center District
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Historic NameMay - Donovan House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1895 - 1896
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleQueen Anne
Foundationstone
Wall/Trimcedar shingles/clapboard/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Major Alterationswindow replacements
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.098 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel22-5
Recorded byStack/Mofford, James S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975-77, Nov. 8, 2015

Map: