2 Harding Street

Architectural Description: 

Late Greek Vernacular

May have been an early shop building (unusual form)-to serve Marland Village-well located for such.

Historical Narrative: 

Themes: Architectural, Commerce, Community development
This property is listed as 183 North Main Street and 2 Harding St.

Historical significance: Street named for John Harding, a successful merchant with store in basement of Baptist Church. His father, an earlier John Harding, was loyalist and emigrant, who quartered British soldiers in 1812.

John Harding, son of John, was born in 1769 and died on Dec. 28, 1827. John married Sarah Houghton b. 1769, daughter of Thomas Houghton (1730-1797) and Elizabeth Taylor (1737-1800). John and Sarah Harding had eight children; Thomas Houghton b. Feb. 13, 1797, Mary Ann b. Dec. 25, 1798, Sarah Hickson b. Mar. 16, 1800 - d. 1869, Charlotte Stroud b. June 16, 1802, John Jr. b. June 27, 1804 - d. 1893, Catherine b. June 20, 1807- d. 1821 James Friend b. Aug. 12, 1810 and Samuel Houghton b. May 10, 1814 - d. May 31, 1814.

Widow Sarah Harding sold her portion of the estate to her daughter Sarah H. for $1070.33 on Dec. 16, 1842. John's children would later inherit his estate. Thomas Harding and sister Sarah H. Harding owned the property at 6-8 Harding St. the double house. Thomas owned #6 and Sarah owned #8. Sarah was an Abolitionists and a charter member of the Free Christina Church in 1845. The 1850 Valuation Schedule lists Sarah H.: 1/2 Dwelling house $800, 1/4 Old house $700 = $1500 assessment. The 1850 Census; Sarah now 49, lists her real estate value at $1000.

Her niece Josephine Harding age 17, born about 1833 in Conn. is living with her aunt Sarah and attending school. On April 15, 1858 Josephine married Curtis M. Baldwin, age 30 a shoe maker, (cordwainer) at the Free Church. Josephine lists her parents as Thomas & Eliza Harding. Curtis was born in Greenfield, NH, son of Ziba & Chloe Eliza (Morse) Curtis. In 1860 Sarah Harding is living with the Baldwins. In 1865 Mass. Census Sarah had moved in with the Clarks. Sarah died in 1867 and is interred at South Church Cemetery with her parents, two siblings, and the Houghton family.

Bibliography/References: 

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

Owners:
Theophilus Frye & John Poor
John Harding - Mar. 15, 1808 - b. 186 leaf 297 - $70 - 1 acre 30 poles
John Harding estate died Dec. 28, 1827, Adm. Timothy Foster
Wid. Sarah Harding - Sept. 18, 1828 - b. 251 leaf 260
Sarah H. Harding - Dec. 16, 1842 - b. 336 leaf 7
Phineas Buckley, wife Hannah - Nov. 11, 1854 - b. 503 leaf 285
William H. Jewett - May 20, 1884 - b. 76 p. 562
Robert E. Franz & George E. Boddy - Jan. 2, 1919 - b. 394 p. 211
Robert E. Franz - Aug. 28, 1919 - b. 406 p. 306
Walter T. Rochefort - Sept. 30, 1925 - b. 519 p. 465
Bessie R. Franz - Sept. 30, 1925 - b. 519 p. 466
Bessie R. & Robert E. Franz - Apr. 26, 1926 - b. 521 p. 301
Robert E. Franz estate, Bessie R. Franz heir - July 13, 1951 - b. 646 p. 359
Constance M. Bonofiglio - July 13, 1951 - b. 646 p. 360
Bessie R. Franz - July 13, 1951 - b. 646 p. 361
Bessie R. Franz - b. 752 p. 184
Schlott Realty Co. - Mar. 27, 1962 - b. 955 p. 50
Thomas H. & Violet A. Curtin - June 23, 1967 - b. 1084 p. 404
Curtin Family Trust - Violet A. Curtin Tr.- Apr. 11, 1989 - b. 2914 p. 351
Curtain Family Realty Trust, Michael D. Curtain Tr. - May 26, 2006 - b. 10217 p. 8
Curtain Family Realty Trust, Michael D. Curtain Tr. -May 9, 2008 - b. 11174 p. 134

Inventory Data:

StreetHarding St
PlaceMarland Village
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Present Useresidence and store
Original Useresidence
Construction Dateearly 19th century?
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleOther
Foundationstone/granite
Wall/Trimclapboards/wood/vinyl siding
Roofasphalt - gable
Major Alterationsvinyl siding, replacement windows and doors
Conditiongood
Acreage0.133 acre
Settingresidential/business
Map and parcel37-16
Recorded byStack/Mofford, James S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975-1977, 12/15/2015

Map: