19 Summer Street

Historical Narrative: 

The property at 19 Summer St. was purchased from the Trustees of Phillips Academy on June 5, 1851 by Daniel Shannon. Daniel, a House-joiner, paid $305 dollars for the 1.535 acre lot. In May 1853 Daniel adds and additional 3 sq. rods & 17.08 adjoining his lot. Daniel Shannon was a carpenter, born about 1819 in New Hampshire. Most likely Daniel built or had an active part in the construction of his home. Daniel also acquired most of the land on the east side of Whittier Street from Chestnut to Summer Street and built several homes in this neighborhood.
In the 1855 Mass. State census Daniel is listed as 36, with wife Emily 32, and three children Everett age 6, Emma J. age 4 and Alma P. age 1. There is also an Emeline Brown age 13 and Stephen Abbott 63 & Phebe Abbott 60 residing with Shannon.
The Federal census of 1860 lists another daughter Fannie age 1 but no Alma. Emeline Brown, now 17, is a servant. Shannon owned the property for 44 years. On August 16, 1894 the property was sold for $3000 to Edgecomb J. Rowe, wife Margaret

Edgecomb Jesse Rowe was born Mar. 1, 1859 in Stafford, Devonshire, England and came to the US in 1872. He married in 1888 to Margaret J. Meldrum b. March 1864 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Edgecomb was a house painter and decorator. The property included the corner of Summer & Whittier and the lot at 53-55 Whittier St. Edgecomb & Margaret had three children; Margurite E. b. Mar. 1889 in Illinois, Frances S. b. Oct. 1891 and Phillip N. b. Jan. 1894 in Andover. Rowe took a mortgage through the Trustees of Phillips Academy and a second loan assigned to George H. Poor on the lot on Whittier St. That lot was later sold at auction at auction to Margaret Rowe who purchased the note in 1895. The lots were sub-divided and the lot at 53-55 Whittier St. was sold for $750 to John Henry & Margaret J. Clinton on July 9, 1901. Edgecomb Rowe owned #19 eight years when the Trustees took possession of the property in 1902. The property was auctioned off and purchased for $2725 by James C. Sawyer on Aug. 5, 1902. James C. Sawyer was the Treasurer of Phillips Academy and lived at 210 Main St. Sawyer then then subdivided the lot a sold #19 to Walter E. Buxton on June 4, 1902. The empty corner lot at 17 Summer St. was sold to John H. Clinton, wife Margaret J., on Apr. 21, 1903 who lived at 53 Whittier Street.

Walter Erving Buxton was b. Oct. 9, 1876 in Andover, son of Elijah & Lucy M. (Burton) Buxton. Walter was a Painter, had his own company Buxton Painting Contracting and also did papering. Walter married on Oct. 24, 1900 to Eva Ann Berry b. Apr. 28, 1875 in Wellington, Onterio, Canada, dau. of David & Sarah (Reed) Berry. They had one daughter Beatrice Eizabeth b. May 18, 1904. Buxton family would be connected with the home for the next seventy years. They were members of the Christ Episcopal Church, Walter was a Mason, & I.O.O.F lodge and active in the Service Club. Wife Eva died on Dec. 6, 1949 and Walter died Feb. 26, 1972 at age 95 at the Hughes House Nursing Home on Burnham Road.

Present owners Wes & Kay Grace bought the property from Beatrice E. Roper, daughter of Walter & Eva Buxton on Nov. 1, 1972 and remain the owners of record in 2022.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA

Owners;
Trustees of Phillips Academy - 1851 - land
Daniel F. Shannon - June 5, 1851 - b. 520 leaf 109 - 1.535 acres - $305.
Daniel F. Shannon - May 4, 1853 - b. 520 leaf 110 - 3 rods 17.0 - $171.36
Edgecomb J. Rowe, wife Margaret - Aug. 16, 1894 - b. 134 p. 273
Edgecomb J. Rowe - Aug. 24, 1894 - b. 134 p. 274 - mortgage $3000.
Trustees of Phillips Academy - Aug. 5, 1902 - b. 193 p. 597 - possession
James C. Sawyer - Apr. 5, 1902 - b. 193 p. 572 - mtg. sale - $2725. (Treasurer of PA)
Walter E. Buxton, wife Eva A. - June 4, 1902 - b. 195 p. 322 -
Walter E. Buxton & dau. Beatrice E. Roper - Feb. 18, 1943 - b. 656 p. 126
Walter E. Buxton estate, heir Beatrice E. Roper - Feb. 28, 1972 -
Wesley R. & Kay H. Grace - Nov. 1, 1972 - b. 1205 p. 438

Inventory Data:

StreetSummer St
PlaceAndover Center District
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Historic NameDaniel F. Shannon House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1852 - 1860
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleOther
Architect/BuilderDaneil F. Shannon builder
Foundationstone/granite
Wall/Trimclapboards/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.232 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel39-152
Recorded byBarbra Thibault, James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Historical Society, Andover Preservation Commission
Date enteredMar 1990, 5/20/2016

Map: