This corner property is designated as Lot #1 on the 1848 map "Plan of the Village of Ballard Vale and House Lots belonging to the Ballardvale Machine Shop Company" surveyed May 1848 -Franklin Darracott, Engineer. At that time lot #1 was 8811 square feet in size. The Andover Ballardvale Union Society, established in 1850 acquired the parcel on April 12, 1855 from Alfred Kittridge for $1. "it being undestood that the said lot is conveyed to said Society for the purpose of being used by the said Society as a meeting house lot. The Society had rented the hall in the Ballardvale Schoolhouse, on Andover St. fronting on Center St until 1876 when they then built a church on the corner of Church and Andover Streets. The Society sold this lot to Elizabeth Ryley, wife of George W. Ryley, on Apr. 3, 1863 as it abutted her newly purchased home at 34 Tewksbury St.

This lot remained vacant and part of #34 until a portion of the original lot was sub-divided by Fred E. Cheever in 1946 for a house lot. The Z.B.A. approved a variance to build on June 20, 1946. The lot was later sold by Cheever to William G. & Alice M. McDermitt of North Reading on Oct. 20, 1953. George A. & Vera T. Murphy, also from North Reading purchased the lot on May 10, 1954.

Alexina S. Poland and Catherine (Poland) Bickell purchased the house on May 7, 1955 and owned for 23 years. They were the first residents of the home, as the house, listed as #32 in the 1956 street directory, does not appear in earlier directories. The street numbers we changed in 1959 and became #30 at that time. The 1962 Andover Street list includes; Catherine Bickell b. 1891 a housekeeper, Helen Poland b. 1876 and Jean A. Poland - b. 1888, all living in the home. The Poland sisters were daughters of James & Helen Poland who lived at 51 Red Spring Rd, renting from 1897- 1918. They lived at 68 Whittier St prior to moving to Ballardvale.