This property once belonged to George H. French and was sold to Benjamin F. Wardwell in Nov. 1854. Wardwell divided up the land and sold off house lots. This lot was sold to John Tough for $850 on May 6, 1893. Tough then financed the purchase from Wardwell, mortgaging the property for $650 which he paid off on Nov. 6, 1895.

John William Tough was born on June 17, 1838 in Columbia Maine, son of Robert & Anna (Nelson) Tough. His farther was born in Scotland, his mother in Calais, ME.
John was in Andover by 1855. He married on Nov. 3, 1856 to Blythe Jannetta Kirkpatrick b. 1842 in Scotland, daughter of Andrew & Eliza Kirkpatrick. They were married at Free Church which would have been located on Railroad St. at that time. John & Janet B. had five children, four daughter and one son: Lizzie Edith b. Feb. 22, 1855, Annie B. b. 1861 NH, Minnie E. b. 1866 NH, Cora J. b. 1870 and Alvin Earnest b. June 26, 1874 in Salem, NH.

John W. worked as a flag man for the Boston & Maine Railroad. He later became the Gate keeper at the Essex St. railroad crossing. In the 1880 Census they are living on Essex Street. Daughters Lizzie and Annie are working as Realers at Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. makers of linen thread and cloth. All the daughters marry and son Alvin E. remains at home with his parents at 43 Summer St. John W. died on March 25, 1900 of La Grippe at age 61 y 9m 8d. He is interred at Spring Grove Cemetery in the Tough family lot.

Widow Janet B. Tough inherits the property and her children quit claim the deed to her on April 29, 1900. Son Alvin later becomes a pay master at the Tyer Rubber Co. in Andover. In the 1917 WWI draft registration Alvin is employed as a manager rubber worker for the Taunton Rubber Co. in Taunton, MA. His address however is 43 Summer St. Janet B. died in 1919 and Alvin then sells the family home to Jean E. Dundas and Annie S. Dundas on June 1, 1920.

Dundas sold off a portion of the property in 1922 to Edmond & Bertha Hammond. They owned five years then selling to Francis J. Sweeney on Dec. 19, 1925. The Sweeney family would own the house for nearly 34 years.

Bruce S. & Rosalie V. E. Dodd purchased the home on Aug. 28, 1959. Rosalie, known as Lee Dodd, was a popular Realtor in Andover for many years.

Historical significance:
1920 Valuation - John W. Tough Heirs; house $3000, 1 1/4 acres $1200.
1906 atlas; J. Tough est.
1904 directory; Alvin & Janette Tough, Paymaster, Tyer Rubber Co.
1901-1902 directory; Alvin & Janette Tough, (Mrs. John W.)
1900 tax record; John Tough, house $1500, 1.44 acres $1000
1899 directory; Alvin prob. Son of John, gate tender B&M RR
1897-1998 directory; Alvin prob. Son of John, gate tender B&M RR
1891 John Tough listed at Harding Street
1890 tax record; not listed