45 Cheever Circle

Architectural Description: 

Colonial Revival Georgian Style, classical entrance porch, Palladian window over front entrance, gable roof, double end chimneys.
Designed by Architect Royal Barry Wills and built by Fred Doyle of Andover, MA. This was the 31st home built in Johnson Acres.

Historical Narrative: 

Themes: architectural, community development
First Owners: Pingree, Daniel & Elizabeth (from 5/20/39)

The history of the property includes Hobart Clark who sold two parcels of his land in 1846, of about 10 acres, to Mortimer C. Ferris, a Boston merchant. Ferries later sold the property to George J. Thornton on July 1, 1851. Thornton paid $3100 for the land and took mortgage loans from Ferris. George Thornton was a gardener and had an extensive garden nursery and home on the property. Thornton later sold to George H. French on on Mar. 25, 1856. French had assumed the Ferris mortgage loan to Thornton in 1853. French then sold to Charles B Clark, wife Lydia of Concord, MA, a Bookbinder on Mar. 25, 1856. Clark paid $3000 for dwelling house and 10 acres of land.

Clark took a mortgage loan with the Trustees of Phillips Academy for $1200 in 1856 but was declared insolvent on Feb. 2, 1857. His estate was assigned to Moses D. Phillips of Boston and sold on June 12, 1857 to George L. Abbott & Moses Clement, both house-wrights and business partners. Abbott & Clement paid $1500 for the property and assumed the PA mortgage. It is not known if Abbott & Clement enhanced the property at that time but they did hold the parcel for two years. They then sold to Samuel Raymond on Aug. 9, 1859 for $525 plus assuming the outstanding mortgage.

Samuel Raymond, wife Emily F. M. owned for eight years then selling to Rev. Francis H. Johnson on Feb. 11, 1867. Johnson paid $10,000. for the house and 10 acres. Johnson added three more parcels to his property which had at that time a commanding view of Andover from his hill top home. Rev Johnson married Mary A. "Marcy" Dove b. 1840 - d. 1867?, daughter of John Dove, of the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. in Andover. This residence remained in the Johnson family until 1934. The estate was sold to Fred E. Cheever, an Andover native and Real estate agent.

Fred E. Cheever who created "Johnson Acres" housing development on the former Johnson estate. The mansion house was razed and the main driveway became Johnson Rd. with Cheever Circle, Cedar Rd. Coolidge and Cabot Roads. Cheever embraced the Colonial Revival style and many of the homes built reflect that style. His lots were sold with certain deed restrictions including each home had to worth at least $8000, a single family residence, with setbacks, garage stipulations and no per-fabricated homes were allowed.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Johnson Acres Scrapbook - Assembled by Fred Cheever - AHS files.

Owners;
Hobart Clark - 1846
Mortimer C. Ferris - Aug. 13, 1846 - b. 370 leaf 276 - land
Mortimer C. Ferris - Dec. 12, 1846 - b. 376 leaf 103 - 1 a 129 sq. rds.
George J. Thornton - July 1, 1851 - b. 448 leaf 48 - $3100.
Thornton to Mortimer C. Ferris - July 1, 1851 - b. 448 leaf 49 - mtg. loan $3000. - 9 acres 129 rds.
Ferris to George H. French - July 9, 1853 - b. 480 leaf 226 - mtg. assigned $3000.
Thornton to Betsey Dawson - mtg. loan $500.
Thornton to Samuel G. Valpey - Dec. 6, 1852 - mtg. loan - $150
Thornton to Geo. H. French -Dec. 18, 1854 - b. 505 leaf 97 - mtg. loan $100
Thornton to Geo. H. French - Mar. 25, 1856 - b. 528 leaf 260 - deed
Charles B. Clark - Mar. 25, 1856 - b. 528 leaf 260 - $3000 - 10 acres w. dwelling
Charles B. Clark estate, Moses D. Phillips, assignee - Jan. 17, 1857 - insolvent
George L. Abbott & Moses Clament - "Abbott & Clement" - June 12, 1857 - b. 555 leaf 10
Samuel Raymond - Aug. 9, 1859 - b. 592 p. 137 - $525 with dwelling & mtg.
Francis H. Johnson - Feb. 11, 1867 - b. 718 leaf 282 - $10,000 - with dwelling
Francis H. Johnson estate, heir wife Mary B., son Reginald M. - d. Oct. 27, 1920 - Probate #137,778 - Essex Co.
Reginald M. Johnson estate, heir Mary B. Johnson - d. Feb. 11, 1923 - Probate #62996 - Norfolk Co.
Mary Beach Johnson estate, Francis J. O. Alsop, John Rice Trustees - d. Nov. 11, 1931 - Probate #78773 - Norfolk Co.
Fred E. Cheever - Oct. 15, 1934 - b. 582 p. 472
Fred E. Cheever - "Johnson Acres Estates" 1935 - 1937
David & Elizabeth Pingree - March 20, 1939 - b. 621 p. 582 - lot 15 with dwelling
David Pingree estate, heir Elizabeth Pingree - Nov. 10, 1986 - probate
A. Palmer & Linda J. Dinkel - Apr. 4, 1997 - b. 4724 p. 288

Inventory Data:

StreetCheever Ci
PlaceAndover Center District
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Historic NameDavid & Elizabeth Pingree House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1938 - 1939
SourceECRDS, ENRDL, style-njs
Architectural StyleGeorgian Revival
Architect/BuilderRoyal Barry Wills / Fred Doyle builder
Foundationstone/granite
Wall/Trimclapboards/wood
Roofslate - gable
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.383 acre; 16,700 sq. ft.
Settingresidential
Map and parcel20-100
Recorded byStack/Mofford, James S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975-77, 6/6/2016

Map: