The land was the property of the Trustees of Phillips Academy prior to the Civil War and was sold to Aaron Cummings on April 1, 1865. The “Greek Revival” farmhouse was built by Cummings about 1865 and included 21 acres of farmland on the south side of Phillips Street. The trustees voted to sell the lot on October 14, 1864, for $2200 but it came with deed restrictions. Only a dwelling house was allowed to be built on the site, must be 30 ft. from the boundary line of the street. Only necessary outbuildings could be erected. “No building shall be occupied or improved as an Inn, Tavern, Hotel, store, shop, or livery stable or restaurant. No mechanical or manufacturing trade or business shall be carried on upon the premises.” Aaron had a farm, and the family would own the property for 75 years.

Aaron was born Sept. 11, 1819, in Albany, Oxford Co. Maine, son of Francis P. & Lois Barrett (Chamberlain) Cummings. Aaron’s obituary states, “When eighteen he walked from home to North Andover to work for his uncle, Isaac Stevens. Later he entered Phillips Academy, working his way, and graduating in 1846. He taught school several winters; and for many years worked for the trustees of the Academy. Honest and upright, he did all his work faithfully and with care, as in the sight of his Maker. He joined the South church late in life, being distrustful of himself, but when he saw it a duty, he came forward.” The 1850 Census lists Aaron age 30 a farmer living with Charles Foster age 83.
1870 Andover Valuation; House $1200, Barn $500, 22½ acres $1400 = $3100 Farm stock $137

Aaron married on March 1, 1866 at the Universalist Church in Lawrence to Lydia Augusta Sawyer, born Sept. 16, 1840, in Methuen, MA, dau. of Asa & Lydia Sawyer. Asa & Lydia had three children: Lois Marcella b. June 30, 1869, Arthur Gray b. Feb. 12, 1872, and Florence Lavinia b. Oct. 9, 1894. The daughters did not marry and lived on the homestead. Son Arthur graduated was in the Punchard High Class of 1889, graduated from Harvard in 1894 and the Andover Theological Seminary in 1904. He served as minister of the First Congregational Church in Middleborough, MA for 47 years.

Aaron sold off 14 acres of land to Susan C. Dove in 1895 for a house lot at #24 Phillips Street and later another lot was sold to the rear of their property creating #26 Phillips St. Both have a deeded right of way just south of the Cummings lot.

Aaron died on March 11, 1909 and is interred at Spring Grove Cemetery. Widow Lydia died on September 28, 1912. The children inherited the homestead and Lois and Florence remained in the home. Florence was a stenographer at a school. Lois attended Abbot Academy for two years and became a member of South Church in 1888. She died May 24, 1927. Florence and her brother were sole heirs of the property and sold to John W. & Anna M. Bond on May 9, 1940. Florence moved to Morton St., then went to live with Arthur in Middleborough. Florence died on April 1, 1965. The Cummings are interred at Spring Grove Cemetery.

John William Bond was born in Rockville, CT in 1872, son of John & Sarah (Hadfield) Bond. John was a textile designer and married on Jan. 16, 1909, in Lowell, MA to Anna M. Jackson b. March 5, 1885, in Philadelphia, PA dau. of John & Margaret (Templeton) Jackson. John was superintendent of the cloth dept. at Arlington Mills, in Lawrence and later proprietor of Essex Textile Mending Co. in Lawrence. They led iniv Methuen in 1918 prior to coming to Andover in 1940. John & Anna had three children: Donald J. b. 1911, Margaret S. b. 1913 and Edward Everett b. Aug. 16, 1919. John died on Sept. 26, 1942, age 70 and is interred at Spring Grove Cemetery. Anna and son Edward remained in the home and sold on August 18, 1950, to Everett L. Elizabeth Hull. John Bond was a Textile Worker in Lawrence, his son Edward the proprietor of the company. John died at age 70 just two years later in Sept. 27, 1942. Anna remained eight more years selling on July 14, 1950 to Elizabeth B & Everett Hull.

Everett was an accountant with M. T. Stevens Co. The Hull family remained here for a decade then selling to Ruth Hayes on Sept. 6, 1960.

Ruth Hayes was born on Dec. 11, 1909, in Andover, daughter of Bartlett H. & Marjorie (Scull) Hayes, one of four children. Ruth’s siblings were Bartlett H. Hayes Jr. b. Aug. 5, 1904, Dorothy b. 1907, and Guy S. born 1912. Their parents owned the former George & Susanna Dove house at 24 Phillips St.
Ruth died on Nov. 13, 1976, age 66 and is interred at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in the Hayes family lot.
Her obituary in the Boston Globe - Nov. 17, 1976 – Ruth Hayes, civic leader in Andover. Andover - Services for Miss Ruth Hayes, 66, a civic leader and Red Cross worker in Europe during World War II, will be held Friday at 3p.m. in Christ Episcopal Church.

She served in Iceland, Britain, France and with Gen. George Patton’s Third Army in Germany. She returned to head the Andover Red Cross chapter which was established by her mother during World War I.
A native of Andover, she was a graduate of Miss Porter’s school in Farmington, Conn. Miss Hays was an active volunteer at Lawrence General Hospital and the American Cancer Society. She was awarded the Woman of the Year award from the Andover Chamber of Commerce two years ago. She leaves tow brothers, Bartlett Hayes Jr. of Andover, and Guy Scull Hayes of NYC, and a sister Dorothy Byers of Andover.