3 William Street

Architectural Description: 

Colonial Revival

Historical Narrative: 

William Street was originally named Warwick Street when Shawsheen Village was laid out. The name was changed by a vote at a special Town Meeting on November 13, 1922 in memory of William M. Wood Jr., son of William M. & Ellen (Ayer) Wood, who died in an automobile accident on Aug. 15, 1922.

This home was built as part of the Shawsheen Village development 1918 – 1924 by William M. Wood, President of the American Woolen Company Wood hired about eight different architects to design the homes and structures for the village. Homes were sold or rented through the Homestead Association who had offices in the Post Office building on the corner of North Main & Poor Streets.

After the death of William M. Wood in Feb. 1926 most of the residential and commercial buildings were then sold. Some were held by the Wood family in the "Arden Trust" and others with the American Woolen Company, which had been deeded the property in December 1920. The AWCo Board of Directors authorized its President, Lionel J. Noah, to deliver all deeds, as deemed necessary to the Textile Realty for sale on Dec. 29, 1931.

The Textile Realty then transferred ownership to the Andover Shawsheen Realty Company on June 30, 1932, holding the mortgage on the properties. T. Edwin Andrew, treasurer, was authorized to sell or rent the properties. With the Great Depression sales were sluggish and many homes were rented until the economy rebounded.

The first occupants of record to lease the home were Charles H. & Harriet Littlefield in 1923. Littlefield was the treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce in Lawrence. Mrs. Harriet Littlefield is listed in 1928.

This house was sold to Harry C. & Ella M. North on Dec. 28, 1933. The Norths are listed at 72 Poor Street in 1926. Harry was a department chief clerk for the A. W. Co. Ella M. North died on Sept. 30, 1936. Harry C. North sadly died the just seven months later on April 14, 1937. Clifford M. North was the Administrator of the estate via probate on May 12, 1937. As the deed restrictions included a clause option for the Andover Shawsheen Realty Company of, first refusal to buy back the the property they took the option and Andover Shawsheen Realty Co. purchased on June 3, 1937. The company in turn then sold to Edward A. Anderson on June 3, 1937.

Edward A. Anderson b. 1885 was the assistant cashier of the Andover National Bank In 1943. Rhoda C. Anderson, Ruth A. Anderson, a clerk at Tyer Rubber CO., and J. Harry Anderson, retired all live with Edward.
Edward A. Anderson estate, Doris W. Clark, Extrx; Probate in 1967 and the property was sold to Dennis S. & Melita Riley on Dec. 9, 1967

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Maps, 1852, 1872, 1888, 1906, 1926
Andover Street Directories
See Map plan #704 - American Woolen Company - Sept. 1927
#879 - June 1932 - Textile Realty Company - lot 18

Owners;
Henry P. Binney - Apr. 24, 1919 - b. 398 p. 52 - 9.86 acres
American Woolen Company - Dec. 30, 1920 - b. 435 p. 215
Textile Realty Company - Dec. 30, 1931 - b. 563 p. 351 - parcel 21st
Andover Shawsheen Realty Co. - June. 30, 1932 - b. 565 p. 87 - parcel 21st
Harry C. & Ella M. North - Dec. 28, 1933 - b. 574 p. 497
Ella M. North estate, Harry C. North heir, Sept. 30, 1936
Harry C. North estate, Clifford M. North Anmis. - May 12, 1937 Probate
Andover Shawsheen Realty Co. - June 3, 1937 - b. 607 p. 17
Edward A. Anderson - June 3, 1937 - b. 607 p. 174
Edward A. Anderson estate, Doris W. Clark, Extrx; Probate
Dennis S. & Melita Riley - Dec. 9, 1967 p. 1097 p. 204
Raymond E. & Anne V. Wilkins - Jan. 27, 1969 - b. 1123 p. 455
Alexander J. & Constance A. Bridges - Oct. 16, 1989 - b. 3012 p. 290
John A. & Jillian J. Davidson - May 13, 1992 - b. 3514 p. 128
David E. & Linda Brinks - March 28, 1997 - b. 4731 p. 112
Gary J. Epstein & Nancy M. Earley - Mar. 14, 2000 - b. 5749 p. 115
Gary J. Epstein - Jan. 8, 2009 - b. 11429 p. 123
Epstein Realty Trust, Gary J. Epstein, Tr. - Dec. 1, 2009 - b. 11961 p. 93
Gary J. Epstein - Aug. 3, 2012 - b. 13055 p. 66

Inventory Data:

StreetWilliam St
PlaceShawsheen Village - Frye Village
Historic DistrictShawsheen Village NRH District
Historic NameNorth - Anderson House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1920 - 1922
SourceERDS, ENRDL, AHS file, njs, style
Architectural StyleColonial Revival
Architect/BuilderAdden & Parker of Boston
Foundationstone
Wall/Trimclapboard/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Major AlterationsRoof Dormers
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.216 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel52-66
Recorded byJames S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered6/21/2015

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