4 Sutherland Street

Architectural Description: 

Colonial Revival

Historical Narrative: 

Shawsheen Village was named after the Native American name for the river Shawshin, which means Great Spring. Prior to Shawsheen Village this area was known as Frye Village. All the streets in the new Village were named for Castles & Cathedrals in Great Britain Sutherland Street takes it name from the historic seat of the Earls of Sutherland, Dunrobin Castle, a mile to the north of Golspie, Scotland. The current castle was developed out of an old stronghold that was remodeled in modern times by Robert Lorimer.

This house is in the Shawsheen Village National Register Historic District, surveyed in 1977 and created in 1979. It was designated a National Register Historic District in 1980 by the Massachusetts Historical Commission, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

This home was built as part of the Shawsheen Village development from 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 leased through the Homestead Association who had offices in the Post Office building on the corner of North Main & Poor Streets, later moved into the Administration Building.

Each home incorporates a different look, style and design modifications, most noticeable with the front door entrances. Decorative details on the corner boards and a variety of ornamental trellises, window boxes all added the “icing on the cake, of the original designs. Most of the homes now sport a variety of different colors, no longer all white with green shutters as dictated in the original deeds. Many of the
original screen porches have been enclosed for an additional room.

After the death of William M. Wood on Feb. 2, 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 A.W.Co. Board of Directors authorized its President, Lionel J. Noah, to deliver all deeds, as deemed necessary to the Textile Realty Co. 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 lease the properties. With the Great Depression sales were sluggish and many homes were rented until the economy rebounded.

One of the first occupants of record to lease the home in 1923 were Robert B. & Ethel R. Todd. Robert is listed as a traveling salesman in Boston. He may have been selling woolen goods for the American Woolen Co.

This house was sold to Mary E. King, wife of Romeo King on Apr. 15, 1940. Romeo King b.Oct. 8, 1899 was the son of Joseph & Mitilda (Bruno) King form Canada. Romeo and Mary b. 1906 married on April 27, 1927. Romeo owned an Auction company and was also a Deputy Sherriff. He died on Feb. 6, 1988 at the age of 88. The property was in Mary King's name and she remained in the home another eight years then sold to G. Brian & Jane P. Kobelski on Nov. 19, 1996. The Kings occupied the home for 56 years.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Maps, 1852, 1872, 1888, 1906, 1926
Andover Street Directories
Andover Townsman
Mills, Mergers and Mansions, by Edward Roddy 1982
See Map plan #704 - American Woolen Company - Sept. 1927
#708 - Nov. 1927 - AWCo.- lot 14
Land Court Map #1726-E - lot 14

Owners;
Thomas T. Clark, wife Louisa – 1920 – land 4.3 acres
American Woolen Company, Wm. M. Wood Pres. Oct. 2, 1920 – Certificate #992
Textile Realty Co., Lionel J. Noah, Pres. A.W.Co. - Dec. 30, 1931 Ctf - #1925
Andover Shawsheen Realty Co. - June. 30, 1932 Ctf. #1932
Mary E. King, wife of Romeo King - Apr. 15, 1940 - Ctf. #2486
Mary E. King, wife of Romeo King -Dec. 23, 1985 - Ctf. #9889
Mary E. King widow, Romeo King died Feb. 6, 1988
G. Brian & Jane P. Kobelski - Nov. 19, 1996 - Ctf. #12526
John P. & Jennifer J. Delmonaco - Mar. 30, 2006 - Ctf. #10104
Delmonaco Family Revocable Trust, Jennifer J. Demonaco, Tr. - Jan. 1, 2011 - b. 12390 p. 157

Inventory Data:

StreetSutherland St
PlaceShawsheen Village - Frye Village
Historic DistrictShawsheen Village NRH District
Historic NameMary E. & Romeo King House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence - mill housing
Construction Date1921 - 1922
SourceERDS, ENRDL, assessers' rec./style-njs
Architectural StyleColonial Revival
Architect/BuilderChester A. Patten
Foundationstone
Wall/Trimclapboard/wood
Roofasphalt - hip
Major AlterationsReplacement windows, asphalt roof shingles replace original slate, ballistrade over front entrance porch missing, engaged post still visable
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.161 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel18-74
Recorded byStack/Mofford, James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975 - 1977, 8/26/2015

Map: