Themes: Architectural, Community development

This house appears on an 1848 Map of Ballard Vale Machine Shop land lots by Franklin Darracott, and was known as the John Frye house. John Marland was the founder of the Ballard Vale Mill Company in 1838. In March of 1848 John took a loan of $20,000 from his father Abraham Marland and deeded three parcels of land to him. The John Frye house is mentioned in the first parcels of land. Abraham Marland was the founder and owner of the Marland Mills on Stevens St. in Andover.

John Marland became insolvent in 1848 and the deeds then became part of Abraham Marland's estate who died on Feb. 20, 1849 at age 77. His son-in-law Francis Cogswell, the last surviving Trustee of his estate sold the property to Josiah Putnam Bradlee on Oct. 1, 1963. Bradleee, of Boston was the Treasurer of the Ballard Vale Co. and later Purchased the company and re-named it the J. P. Bradlee Manufacturing Co. With the death of Bradlee on Feb. 28, 1887, his estate held the property with William H. Hodgkins, Trustee. Hodgkins also became president of the company. Hodgkins sold Bradlee holdingson Feb. 6, 1905 to the Ballard Vale Mills Co., with Phillip R. French the company president. The home was used throughout this period as company tenement housing until 1926.

The Ballardvale Mill Co. began to sell off company holdings in 1926 and this home was sold on June 15, 1926 to William A. & Elizabeth M. Davis. The property remained in the Davis family for 27 years. William & Elizabeth's daughter was Ruth Sharpe, the Ballardvale librarian and local historian. In the early 20th century Mrs. Sharpe operated a bakery from the ground level. At certain times the house was divided into 3 units apartments.