43 Lowell Street

Architectural Description: 

Craftsman bungalow

Historical Narrative: 

43 Lowell St
This property was formerly part of the lot at 41 Lowell St. which was purchased on May 8, 1897 by Mary H. McCarthy of Lawrence, MA. Mary owned for seven years. Mary then sold to Thomas Peters on Sept. 16, 1904. The bungalow is listed on the 1906 map of Frye Village and may have been built by Peters as rental income property.

In 1908 James Nairn, his wife and three daughters reside in the house. James works for Tyer Rubber Co. Daisy, also works at T.R.Co. and Eliza J. and Lillian both at Brightwood Mills.
In 1910 we find Charles Frederickson age 32, wife Mary S. 30, and their two children Elizabeth age 9, and Charles age 4 living at 43 Lowell St. Charles immigrated from Sweden in 1892 and works as a finisher in the Woolen Mill.

The property was sold to Margaret M. Baxter on Mar. 27, 1914 and sub-divided off from the lot at #41. Margaret Kydd Miller was born in her parents’ home at 9 Lowell St. on April 12, 1888 dau. of William and Mary (Charles) Miller. Margaret was the youngest of 10 children of which 8 were born in Dundee, Scotland. She grew up in Frye Village. Her father William died Nov. 16, 1897 of stomach cancer.

The Census of 1900 list Mary Miller and head of the household, with daughter Elizabeth B. Abbott age 30, a widow with her son William Abbott. Elizabeth work as saleslady selling candy. Jane C. age20 is a flax winder, James C. age 16 a flax spinner, Joseph 14, teamster and Margaret age 12 attending school.
The Richardson School house was just west of their home.

Margaret married on Aug. 22, 1905 to George Baxter b. 1887 son of John & Jessie (Anderson) Baxter. George was listed as a carpenter. The moved into the Miller home. Margaret & George had two children; James George Baxter b. Aug. 20, 1905 and Ruth Miller Baxter b. June 15, 1910.

The 1910 census has Mary Miller, now 63, and son Joseph 24, a house carpenter, living in one side of the house. Her extended family; Frank Ellis 44 a grocery clerk, wife Elizabeth (Miller – Abbott) age 40 and son William Abbott 14 live in the rear of the house. George Baxter 24, a Gardener at Wm. M. Woods farm, Margaret 22, and son James 4 live in the front part of 9 Lowell St. Mary Miller sold the property to William M. Wood, on Jan. 13, 1914 and moved to 56 Poor St.

Margaret & George then move into the bungalow down the street at 43 Lowell St. In 1920 George is a gardener and florist at Wood’s estate. Their daughter Ruth married in 1930 to Chandler Bailey b. Oct. 9, 1906, a farmer, only son of Frank & Bertha (Chandler) Bailey. Ruth and Chandler lived at the Bailey homestead at 125 Bailey Rd.

James G. Baxter married in 1935 to Leonra b. 1908 and lived with his mother. James was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Andover, occupation assistant restaurant manager. During WWII he was working at the Washington Mills in Lawrence. They had one son James Baxter Jr. b. 1946.

Margaret separated from George and later divorced. Margaret worked as an operative at the Shawsheen Mill in 1940. Margaret died on May 29, 1973 and the house was inherited by her son James & Lenora in Dec. 1973. In 1981 James Sr. and his son James Jr. b.1946 and wife Linda b. 1950 live in the home. The property remained with the Baxter family for 88 years until sold to Robert J. & Malihe Frost on March 21, 2002.

Bibliography/References: 

43 Lowell St. Bungalow 0.172 a 52-79

Moses Wardwell -
Winslow Battles & Artemus Brown – May 25, 1835 – b. 282 leaf 232 – ½ acre w/sm. house
Augustus Merrill, wife Catherine – Mar. 19, 1844 – b. 347 leaf 294 – ½ acre $50.
Mary W. Stevens, widow – Oct. 9, 1844 – b. 360 leaf 37 - $330
Willard & Mary W. (Stevens) Durant – June 5, 1847
Joshua F. Hill –Apr. 5, 1851 – b. 446 leaf 251 - $600 w/bld ¼ acre So. portion
Joshua F. Hill estate wid. Sept. 15, 1869
Hill heirs; Mary F. Tuck & M. Warren Tuck, Abbie A. Hill – 1888
Feather Holmes – June 16, 1888 – b. 96 p. 175 - $1100
Harry & Hannah Holmes – June 16, 1888 – b. 96 p. 175
Mary H. McCarthy – May 8, 1897 – b. 154 p. 272 – south corner lot #43
Thomas Peters, wife Isabella S. – Sept. 16, 1904 – b. 214 p. 189 - #41 1910 #37
Margaret M. Baxter - Mar. 27, 1914 – b. 339 p. 574 w/blds #43
Margaret M. Baxter estate, May 29, 1973, heir James G. Baxter – probate
James G. & Leona Baxter – Dec. 20, 1973 – b. 1233 p. 547
James G. Baxter estate; Joan Lannon, Barbara Grasso, Extrxs. probate
Robert J. & Malihe Frost – Mar. 21, 2002 – b. 6745 p. 326
Jodi Barilone and David Pas – Oct. 9, 2005 – b. 9842 p. 56
Deutshe Bank Trust Co. – June 23, 2016 – b. 14726 p. 246
Intellivest Partner, LLC, Julio Evangelista – Aug. 12, 2016 – b. 14769 p. 156
Brian & Megan Johnson – Jan. 10, 2018 – b. 15358 p. 83

Inventory Data:

StreetLowell St
PlaceShawsheen Village
Historic DistrictAndover Historic Building Survey
Historic NameMargaret Baxter House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1904 - 1905
SourceERDS, NERDL, style,
Architectural StyleCraftsman/Bungalow
Foundationstone & granite
Wall/Trimclapboard/wood/vinyl clad
Roofasphalt/gable
Major Alterationsvinyl siding and replacement windows
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.172 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel52-79
Recorded byJames S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date enteredApril 21, 2020

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Map: