18 Salem Street – Blanchard – Clough House
Themes: Architectural, Community development, Education
Historical significance: Was the oldest building on the Academy campus - used as a dormitory for Academy's boys as early as 1802.

The Blanchard – Clough House was built about 1785-89 on the north side of Salem St. closer to the corner of Main Street at about 10 Salem St. The house was moved from its original location inside the Theological Seminary enclosure about 100 yards to 18 Salem Street in August 1858. In September 1928, it was again moved across Main Street behind the West Quad to #6 Hidden Field Rd. In 2016 an extensive renovation was begun on the interior of the house. After exposing ceiling joists it was determined the structural integrity of the building had been seriously compromised over the years. Cost to repair the structure was too high and the Trustees of the Academy applied for a demolition permit. The Preservation Commission reviewed the documents and toured the site and building. Regrettably the historically significant building was approved for demolition and came down in November 2016. The house was oldest building on the Academy campus used as a dormitory for Academy's boys as early as 1802 and continued in use for 214 years until 2016. The house was approximately 230 years old.

John Blanchard was licensed to take Phillips Academy boys as boarders in 1789 and we we know from 1787 and 1788, his nephew, Amos Blanchard from Wilton, N.H. lived there while attending Phillips Academy. At that time Uncle John was permitting 7 boys as boarders. Amos Blanchard stayed there again in 1817 while his own house was being built at 97 Main St. in 1819. “Amos later worked as an assistant to Samuel Farrar, and negotiated the sale of the first academy in 1802. In 1804 he created what was probably to first map of the academy grounds. Amos Blanchard was a trusted colleague of Samuel Phillips, Mark Newman, Samuel Farrer and many of the seminary professors. Amos was one of the founding directors of Abbot Academy in 1828.”

The John Blanchard ownership has yet to be found in the Salem Registry of Deeds records. A John Blanchard married Dorcas Osgood of Tewksbury, intention filed April 27, 1789. They had a son John b. May 2, 1790. No other information recorded in the Andover Vital Statistics. It is possible that John rented the house from the Phillips family and did not own as earlier stated.

Madame Phoebe (Foxcroft) Phillips briefly stayed here after the death of her husband Samuel Phillips Jr. on Feb. 10, 1802 age 50. They married in June 1772 and lived in the Mansion House formerly at 197 Main St. Phebe then lived with Squire Samuel Farrar at 179 Main St. Phillips Academy bought the house from Phebe together with all her property in 1812 for $3000. Phebe died Oct. 31, 1812 at age 70ys.

The Academy rented to "eccentric" Josiah Clough, typesetter at Flagg & Gould. Josiah Bradbury Clough was born in Boston in 1804, the son of Ebenezer & Catherine Clough. Josiah married in Andover on July 29, 1833 to Dorcas Butterfield b. 1802 in Nashua, NH. Josiah and Dorcas had five children; Dorcas B. b. 1834 - Dec. 26, 1869, Josiah M. b. 1835 - d. Sec. 7, 1856,Elizabeth b. Oct. 10, 1837, William Ebenezer b. Dec. 27, 1840, Catherine Ruth b. Mar. 15, 1843.

Josiah came to work for Flagg & Gould in 1832, the publishing company founded in 1809. In 1833 it became Gould & Newman and after three ownership changes it was purchased by Warren F. Draper in 1849 and later known as the Andover Press. Josiah worked as a printer and type setter at their new Brick shop located on Main Street opposite the Bell tower in the West Quad area. The 1850 Census lists Clough and family and also Ruth Butterfield age 48 sister of his wife, Eliza Williamson age 18 Ire., Mr. Flagg age 25 printer, 25 Academy students and Betty Butterfield age 66 b. NH, (mother-in law?) In 1855 State census – Clough shares the house with Elijah Barrows, a professor at the Seminary and his family of eight children. Josiah also has two sisters Julia & Ellen Donovan from Ire.
His son Josiah M. followed in his father’s trade as a printer but sadly died of consumption on Dec. 7, 1856 at age 21.

The Academy sold the house to Clough in 1858; AA – July 24, 1858 “Josiah B. Clough, has purchased the buildings occupied by him for several years, with-in the enclosure in front of the Seminary, and is removing them to a lot of land just west of the house of Ezra Holt (#20 Salem St.). We understand the sum of $1000 was paid Mr. Holt for about half an acre.” The deed was however in his wife Dorcas B. Clough’s name dated May 22, 1858. They did take a $1200 loan from the Academy.

Josiah Clough died on Oct. 11, 1865 at age 61. His obituary in the Andover Advertiser on Oct. 14, 1865 states…”Mr. Clough has been employed as a compositor in this office for about 33 years, his moral and religious character was unexceptionable through all this period, and although his habit in daily life were somewhat peculiar, and occasionally eccentric, yet he was companionable and interesting in conversation. His reading was well chosen and his mind well store with information, on both civil and ecclesiastical matters….For many years he was active and consistent member of the Baptist Church, and in 1861 was chosen deacon….His memory will long be cherished by those who have been associated with him, as a kindhearted and benevolent acquaintance and friend.”
Their daughter Dorcas B. died on Dec. 26, 1869 also of consumption. In 1880 census Dorcas age 79 and Eliza age 42 are listed with two students Alfred DuPont age 16 from Delaware and N. Albert Ely agge 20 from Ohio. The Widow Dorcas Clough died on Feb. 15, 1887.

Daughter, Lizzie inherits the house and continues the boarding students on a modest scale. By 1910 Lizzie now 72, is the only one listed and she died on June 30, 1910. The Andover Townsman July 8, 1910 obit… with the decease of Miss Elizabeth Clough on June 30th, one of the characters of Andover passed away…. to a nimble mind and quiet speech, she joined a warm heart and childlike faith. … Class of 1854 Abbot Academy, Comrades and pupils admired her judgement and her energy; no less than her jocose spirit… a companion of righteousness in the day of Harriet Beecher Stowe, she was an upright and downright worker for soldier and freedom. Parents and guardians marveled at her wit and wisdom of oversite. Charity to the needy was her breath of life. It found its climax in her beautiful bequest of her home, once on the Seminary grounds, to the American Missionary Association and the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society.” The Clough family resided in the home for over 75 years. They are interred in South Parish Cemetery.

Henry L. Lulband was the Executor of the estate and the property was sold to Annie Jane Peet on May 17, 1911. Annie (Collins) Peet was born in Andover in 1873 dau. of Mauriv J. & Mary (Schofield) Collins. Annie was a bookkeeper when she married on Aug. 12, 1908 to Sidney C. Peet the Academy Athletic Trainor. Sidney was born in 1863 in Liberty, NY son of Isaac W. & Catherine (Rawsom) Peet. Sid was an outstanding runner and athlete in his youth. Sid was the Track Coach and Football trainer at the Academy for 15 years, then went to St. John’s Prep then Bates College in 1918. Sidney died on March 11, 1920 after a brief illness. His widow Annie later remarried to John F. Casey and sold the property to John H. Morse of North Andover on March 22, 1922. Morse sold the property the following year to the Trustees of Phillips Academy on Dec. 20, 1923 and the house was used as a dormitory and faculty housing..

Herbert F. & Mabel H. Fraser occupied the house in 1923, Herbert an instructor at PA. In 1926 Herbert 36 & Mabel Fraser 36, also have Hazel Batron 25, maid and Helen Batchelder 31 housewife listed as residents. In 1928 Scott H. & Alma E. Paradise are the house patrons. Scott Paradise was an English teacher & local historian and wrote a history of the house. In 1928 the Blanchard house was moved at a cost of $10,000 to 6 Hiddenfield Rd. behind the West Quadrangle to make room for the construction of the new “Commons” building. By the opening of the fall term the house was once again open and occupied by and faculty advisors. Paradise was resident in 1930's & 1940's. In 1965 Walter Gireasch was occupant.