Washington Ave. was constructed in 1889 and named on the Centennial of George Washington’s visit to Andover in 1789. Constructed over farm land of Charles O. Cummings, house lots were then sold off to residents and developers. By 1906 eighteen new homes had been built. Interesting to note that five new owners, Tyler, Lewis, Gray, Stiles and Caldwell were House Carpenters and Cummings and Wardwell were developers at each end of the avenue.
Aug. 30, 1889 Andover Townsman p. 4 - The new street, Washington Ave. is progressing rapidly, and from all appearances it is likely to be a good piece of road. The ledge at the Elm Street end had been blasted sufficiently, and the men are now engaged cutting down the ground above the grad and filling in the lower places. Quite a piece stretching from Summer Street is ready for the finishing touches.
October 25, 1889 AT – The new street Washington Ave. is beginning to look like a very good piece of road. The top dressing of red spring gravel is being put on.
Nov. 1, 1889 p.1 AT Commissioner Hayward has finished putting the top coat of Red Spring gravel on Washington Ave. and one sidewalk has been made the entire length.

39 Washington Ave – 21-67 –
This property was owned by Benjamin F. Wardwell, a house carpenter who lived at 42 Summer St. and created three house lots on his homestead lot; #41, #39 and #37. Wardwell built #41 & #39 and first rented the houses prior to his death in 1914.

AT Mar. 16, 1894 – B.F. Wardwell has moved a barn connected with one of his Summer Street houses to Washington Avenue and is converting it into a house.
The above item from the Townsman adds an interesting twist to this home and its neighbor at #41.
Either one may be older than currently listed, only construction materials may reveal the answer.

The 1900 Census lists Irving E. & Helen (Redy) Murch as tenants., with son Russell age 1, and Irving’s twin brother Ivan D. age 22. Both working at Tyer Rubber Co.
In 1908 Albert Ruhl, wife Lillian and son Malcolm are tenants. Albert is a printer at Andover Press. They had a daughter Dorothy H. b. 1911. Ruhl lived here until the property was sold in 1914.

Miles R. Ward purchased the home for $2500 on May 13, 1914 from the Wardwell estate. Miles Rensford Ward was born on June 11 1888 in Waterville, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, son of William Albert & Letetia (Hagerman) Ward. Miles, a farmer, immigrated to Andover in 1907. His brother Edward lived across the street at #42. Miles married on Jan. 30, 1913 in Somerville, MA to Catherine E. Barrett, age 21, b. Cambridge, MA dau. of Frank & Ellen (Martin) Barrett. Miles & Catherine had once son Allen Mason b. Oct. 23, 1915. Miles became a carpenter worked for Phillip Hardy. In 1919 Miles transferred the deed to his wife and later that year sold the property to Annie Polgreen and Alan T. Polgren on Sept. 29, 1919. Alan T. was her son 11 year old son.
1920 Valuation – Aubrey G. & Annie Polgreen; House $1900, land 13,510 sq. ft. $800 = $2700. The 1920 Census list both families living at #39.

Aubrey Gaskind T. Polgreen, husband of Annie, was born May 11, 1878 in Barbados, British West Indies, son of Manning & Rebecca (King) Polgreen. Aubrey emigrated in 1900 and worked as a Percher in the Sheldon Worsted Mill in Lawrence and lived in Methuen. He later was promoted to an Overseer. Aubrey married on Nov. 24, 1902 in Lawrence to Annie O’Regan b. 1875 in Ireland, dau. of Michael & Catherine (Morton) O’Regan. Annie was an operative in the mill. They had six children: Kathleen Eleanor b. Jan. 17, 1904, Ethel May b. Apr. 12, 1906, Theodore Allan b. Aug.3, 1908, John Aubrey b. Aug. 10, 1910, Hazel Annie b. Nov. 18, 1912 and Edward Stanley b. 1918 – d. 1922.

Annie died on July 11, 1927 in Andover. Annie was a member of St. Augustine’s Church and the Court of St. Monica, Catholic Daughters of America. She was interred in the family lot at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence. Their oldest daughter Eleanor joined the Order of the Sisters of Notre Dame, as Sister Rita Alberta, and was a teacher in Cambridge, MA . Ethel was a hairdresser, married in 1933, Allan T. , Punchard High School 1925, became a Lawyer, John Aubrey P.H.S. 1928 was an insurance agent for John Hancock and Hazel P.H.S. 1929 worked for Morin, Inc. then married in 1932.

Aubrey G. T. remarried in 1935 to Mary E. b. 1897. Allan deeded the property to his father on Nov. 114, 1936. Aubrey moved to Providence, RI. Employed by Victor Mending Room. Son Allan T. remained in the house on Washington Ave. until 1939. The property was sold to John & Albina MacLeish on Feb. 10, 1940.