Themes: architectural & community development
Building marker (1997)

This Greek Revival house was once owned by the Josiah Putnam Bradlee Manufacturing Co. from 1866 to 1905. William H. Hodgkins, Trustee of the J. P. Bradee estate in 1889 sold the company to the Ballard Vale Mills, Co. Philip R. French President. This property was the eighth parcel sold to the BV Mills Co. The house was used a rental property for Operatives of the companies.

James E. Bell purchased the house on May 1, 1926. James Bell was born in England in 1880, son of Joseph & Mary (Burfitt) Bell. He immigrated to America in 1882. Bell was a weaver in the woolen mills in Lawrence, MA. He married on Feb. 4, 1903 in Lawrence to Margaret Boles, born 1874 in Cork, Ireland, daughter of Stephen & Margaret (Singleton) Boles. James & Margaret had three daughters all born in Lawrence; Mary b. Oct. 1, 1903, Rita b. June 5, 1906 and Margaret Ann b. Dec. 29, 1910. His wife Margaret died and in 1920, James and his daughters are living on Dale St. in Ballardvale. James, a widower lists his job as loom fixer in the Federal census. Mary was working for a Rubber Company.

James remarried to Anne, b.1870 in England and they lived in this home on Andover St. James worked at the American Woolen Company. His daughter remained until their marriages. Anne died on Nov. 17, 1938 in Andover and James on June 27, 1952. Both are interred at Spring Grove Cemetery, Andover, MA. Daughter Margaret Bell would purchase the home from the estate on July 25, 1952.

Margaret married Preston Steele in 1942 and they moved into the home and raised their children. Preston died on Oct. 1, 1969. Margaret would continue ownership of her home until April 1998. Her daughter Deborah A. (Steele) Rillahan, her P.O.A. in 1997 would sell the family home to Michael L. & Elizabeth P. Freidberg on April 3, 1998.

Current owners of record are Richard N. & Gina M. Mazzaese who purchased the home on Sept. 2, 2005.