Themes: architectural, community development

This home is a bit of a puzzle as, at first examination, it appears to have been a former carriage house in the Shingle style. There is however no other home, in close proximity, of similar design, suggesting that the structure may have been moved here from another location. Two possible candidates are the Dove estate "Southridge" at 290 South Main, a property which extended back to Holt Road and "Lincolnshire" at 22 Hidden Road the grandest shingle style home built in Andover. The other possibility is it was built on site as is and updated. Further research may discover the answer.

Stillman H. Harnden once owned this property on Holt Rd. and sold four lots on Sept. 1, 1864. The parcel had been surveyed by James S. Eaton on Aug. 31, 1864. Lot #1 of 2 acres was sold to John Sweeney for $250. The adjoining lot #2 also 2 acres was sold to Dennis Sweeney for $250 and lot #3 of 1 acre 3 rods and 37 sq. rods was purchased by Patrick Carney $250.
Stillman Harnden also sold a 2 acre lot to Michael Geary on Sept. 1, 1864 for $250 recorded in an earlier book.

Michael Geary sells his parcel to Patrick Carney, wife Mary, for $260 on May 7, 1867. Patrick Carney held the property for six years. The 1870 Andover Valuation lists Patrick Carney, South District, house $300, 4 acres land $200. Patrick Carney 2nd (of Lawrence) had a shed $50 and 2¼ acres $200. When Carney sold to Edward C. Upton on April 18, 1873 one of the stipulations was "said buildings on the land to be removed three months from date".

Dennis Sweeney purchased the four acre parcel of two lots on April 14, 1880 for $600. Dennis lot adjoined to the south. The 1906 Atlas map of Andover clearly shows a house with attached barn at this location and another house to the south three doors down also marked J. Sweeney.
Dennis Sweeney was born in Ireland 1830, son of Daniel & Mary (Sexton) Sweeney. His brother John lived next door at 76 Holt Road. Dennis, a Laborer, married Margaret Collins b. 1830 daughter of John & Mary (Donovan) Collins. Dennis and Margaret had two children: Daniel b. March 5, 1858 and Mary b. 1861. Dennis died July 20, 1898, age 70 years of Apoplexy in Andover. Margaret died on Mar. 23, 1904 at age 80.

Son Daniel Sweeney born March 5, 1858 in Andover, a carpenter, married on Nov. 29, 1883 at St. Augustine’s Church, Andover to Emma M. Geraghty b. May 30, 1858 in Kings Co., Ireland, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth (Bradshaw) Geraghty. Emma immigrated in 1870. Daniel would transition to farmer and inherited the property. Daniel & Emma did not have children. Daniel died on Nov. 5, 1915 of heart disease. He is interred at St. Augustine’s Cemetery, Andover, MA.

Dennis widow Emma M. Sweeney then sold the two parcels of land to Mary E. Bradshaw, wife of James O. Bradshaw on Feb. 1, 1916. Lot 1 contained 1 acre 3 rods, (was lot #3 in the Eaton survey) lot 2 was 2 acres. Mary was the daughter of Dennis and Margaret and sister to Daniel. Mary and James lived on Brook St. Bradshaw held the property just two months selling three parcels totaling six acres, with buildings, to Thomas & Bridget Doyle on April 22, 1916.

The 1920 Andover Valuation Schedule lists Thomas J. & Bridget Doyle - South District - Holt Road - House $950, barn $100, 6 acres land $550 = $1600 assessment. Thomas J. Doyle was born on May 8, 1872 in Castlepollard, West, Ireland, son of Thomas & Margaret (Nevin) Doyle. Thomas immigrated in 1890. He married on Sept. 5, 1900 to Bridget C. Donovan b. June 1, 1878 in Gurteenaspig, Cork, Ireland, dau. of Michael & Nora (Moynihan) Donovan. Thomas & Bridget had four sons; Edward A. b. 1901, John J. b. Apr. 9, 1904, Thomas Alfred b. July 15, 1906 and Daniel J. b. Jan. 28, 1909.

The Doyle family would own for 53 years. Thomas was a Stationary engineer in a Dye plant in 1920. Edward and John were tubers in a tire factory. (Tyer Rubber Co.) Both continue to live with their parents in 1930. Son John J. Doyle purchased the home on Dec. 18, 1936. His father Thomas died in 1940 and mother Bridget in 1951. John J. and Daniel J. Doyle sub-divided the property in 1963 creating four parcels, two on Holt Rd. Numbers 1 & 4 and two on Appletree Lane lots 2 & 3. This home is on lot #1 of that plan.
John J. Doyle died on Sept. 16, 1968 and his wife Ruth M. b. 1901 would sell to John F. & Elizabeth Maxwell on Mar. 28, 1969.

1906 map: J. Sweeney possibly owned the land this house was built on
1910 Tax list - no Doyles
1920 directory: Thomas J. Doyle, rubber worker
1920 Tax list - Thomas & Bridget Doyle, house & barn on 6 acres
1923 directory - Doyle