215 Andover Street

Architectural Description: 

NRDIS NRMRA LHD

Other features: probably tenement; forced hot air furnace and automatic Heating
fist floor basement is brick, below ground is stone

Historical Narrative: 

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.

Bibliography/References: 

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

Owners;
John Marland - 1848
Abraham Marland - Mar. 18, 1848 - b. 395 leaf 52 parcel 1 - John Frye house
Abraham Marland estate, Francis Cogswell Trustee - Feb. 1849
Josiah Putnam Bradlee -Oct. 1, 1863 - b. 658 leaf 41 - $800. Frye house & lot
J. P. Bradlee estate, William H. Higgins, Trustee - 1889
Ballard Vale Mills Co. - Feb. 6, 1905 - b. 218 p. 238 (p.241)
William A. & Elizabeth M. Davis - June 15, 1926 - b. 523 p. 525
William A. Davis estate, Elizabeth M. Davis heir
Nellie S. Sakalauskas - Aug. 3, 1951 - b. 753 p. 60
Elizabeth M. Davis & Ruth A. (Davis) Sharpe - Aug. 3, 1951 - b. 753 p. 60-61
Tennyson & Priscilla Hood - June 6, 1953 - b. 776 p. 587
Harry J. & Annie T. Blake - Aug. 29, 1967 - b. 1089 p. 363
John A. & Cheryl Campbell - Jan. 21, 1977 - b. 1300 p. 702

Inventory Data:

StreetAndover St
PlaceBallardvale
Historic DistrictBallardvale Local Historic District
Historic DistrictBallardvale National Register District
Historic NameJohn Frye House - Ballard Vale Mill housing
Present Useresidence
Original Use3 unit residence
Construction Date1840 - 1845
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleGreek Revival
Foundationstone/granite/brick
Wall/Trimbrick, Asbestos shingles, Vinyl siding (1996)
Roofasphalt - gable
Major AlterationsAlterations have been going on over several recent years (1996) once converted to 3 apartments Asbestos and vinyl siding cover original wood clapboard. Replacement windows
ConditionExcellent (1996)
Acreage0.582 acre; Lot size: 25,332 sq. ft.; Approx. frontage: 490'
Settinghouse set very close to road on a hill, next to a steep embankment. Overlooks historic mill complex and mill pond.
Map and parcel139-56
MHC NumberANV.36
Recorded byStack/Mofford; Bernice Haggerty (Ballardvale Historic District Comission) James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Historical Society, Andover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975 - 1977; Jan 1996, 11/15/2016

Images: 

Map: