31 Morton Street – Henry A. & Eva C. Bodwell House
40-89 – 0.418 acre 18,166 sq. ft. – blt 1911 –

The property along the south side of Morton Street was once owned by Phillips Academy. In 1908 the Trustees of Phillips deeded 21 parcels of land to Andover Theological Seminary on July 1, 1908. The Seminary sold off house lots with the following deed restrictions. Only single family dwelling homes adapted to the use of one single family, only outbuildings as commonly used with a dwelling house, including private stable and private automobile garage. Dwelling shall not cost less than $4000 above the foundation, any stable should not cost less than $1500 above the foundation. Any elevation plans and location of building must be approved by the trustees. 30’ set back from Morton St. and 10’ on the sides and rear. No Inn, hotel store, shop or livery stable shall be erected on the lot, No mechanical or manufacture. The restrictions to remain for 999 years.

This was lot #3 and sold to Henry Albert Bodwell on April 23, 1910. Henry was born Nov. 22, 1873 in Keene, NH son of Henry A. and Emma Arabella (Kimball) Bodwell. Henry’s father married three times, Emma his 3rd wife. Henry Sr. had lived in Andover in 1854, was manager of the Mansion House and ran a Carriage rental service. The family returned to Andover in 1883 when Henry was ten and lived at 37 Maple St.

Henry Jr. attended the public schools in Andover and graduated from Punchard High School in 1896. He went to work for the Smith and Dove Manufacturing Co. in town, worked up the ladder to Superintendent and Treasurer of the company. When the company acquired in 1927 by the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates Henry then worked for their Boson office. Henry married on Oct. 15, 1902 at South Church to Eva Morey Clark b. 1878 in Andover, dau. of Joseph W. & Sarah E. (Holt) Clark. They had two children; Sarah “Sally” C. born 1904 and Henry Arnold b. 3/10/1907.

The 1910 Census list them at Florence Street but they are at 31 Morton St. in the 1913 Directory. Henry was a respected leader in Andover’s industrial, civic and educational life. He was on the building committee for the new addition of Punchard High School in 1916-1917 (Now the Town office building), served on the finance and school committees and the Board of Public Works from 1931-1940. He was also a Mason of St. Mathews Lodge A.F. & A. M. and the Square & Compass Service Club and a member of South Church.
Son H. Arnold Bodwell graduated from Phillips Academy in 1924 and Yale in 1929. He was employed at Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. married in May 1934 to Evelyn B. Terrell of Derby Ct. Tragically Arnold was killed in an automobile crash on the Daniel Webster Highway near Manchester, NH on June 27, 1935. Henry A. died on May 23, 1942. Eva remained in the home until her death in on Feb. 19, 1965 in Ft. Meyers FL. Their daughter Sally Bodwell purchased the Jaquith homestead at 400 South Main St. in 1937 and converted the main house into a family restaurant named "Fieldstones". Sally later married C. Leon Houghton and lived in Whitinsville, Worcester Co. MA. In 1945 she sold the business to Wescott B. & Catherine M. Merrow of Boxford, MA. They owned a short time then sold Fieldstones back to Sally Houghton on May 4, 1946 and continued ownership until March 1960. The Bodwell family are interred in Spring Grove Cemetery. The Bodwell family owned this home for 55 years.

Sally Houghton sold the property to Ralph J. & R. Patricia Writz on May 12, 1965.