Architectural Description:
cupola with glass windows
Historical Narrative:
Themes - Architectural, Community Development, Education and Industry
Present owner Roman Catholic Archbishop 9/17/56,
Original owner; Mary Smith Byers;
The former convent for St. Augustine Parish and the teaching nuns of the nearby St. Augustine's School was originally built as a carriage house and barn for Mary Smith Byers who built her new home at the corner of Central & School Street in 1892 now listed as 36 Central St.
May 27, 1892 AT - A new barn for Mrs. Byers is to be built by contractor Brainard Cummings.
The gambrel roof design was to compliment the same style roof on her home.
The property was once the location of the South Parish Parsonage built in 1710 on the corner of School and Central Streets. Mrs. Mary H. (Smith) Byers purchased the five and one half acres in 1891 and razed the old Manse in 1892 to build her mansion at the same location. After her death on March 21, 1904, the property was inherited by her nephew Peter Smith who sold to Ella V. Cann, wife of Judge George W. Cann on May 31, 1905. Cann owned for 11 years then selling to Jerome Cross, Sr. of Cross Coal Company on Oct. 12, 1916. Jerome Cross, used the carriage house as a garage, stable and riding academy and is said to have enlarged the building during his ownership.
In 1914, Rev. Frederick S. Riordan, C.S.A. of St. Augustine's Church purchased the Henry Tyer home at 1 Chestnut St. and established the convent residence for the Sisters of Notre Dame. It was in former Tyer home that the parochial school first began until St. Augustine's school was built in 1914 at corner of Central and Chestnut, on a portion of the Tyer estate.
In 1951 the carriage barn was remodeled under direction of Saint Augustine's rector, Rev. P.J. Campbell into a new convent for the Sister of Notre Dame. It was still used as a convent 1977. As more lay teachers were hired the building was too large for the remaining nuns and the parish then used it as a religious education center which ended being used by St. Augustine's in 2006. Now empty and upkeep expensive the building began to deteriate. It was razed by the parish in 2010 and is now an expanded play area for the students at St. Augustine's School
Bibliography/References:
Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Northern Essex Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Historical Society - Andover Center for History & Culture, files.
Historical Manuel of South Church 1859.
Historical Sketches of Andover, 1882 Sarah Loring Bailey
Fuess, Claude; Andover: Symbol of New England, 1959, p. 337.
Saint Augustine's Parish, Andover, Mass. 1866-1966-100th anniversary (centennial of church as independent parish)
One Hundredth Anniversary, Saint Augustine's Parish, 1852-1952, Lawrence 1952 (centennial of organization as mission of St. Mary's, Lawrence.)
Owners:/Occupants -
South Parish Church - 1710 - 1815 - Parsonage parcel
Rev. Samuel Phillips - Oct. 17, 1711 – June 5, 1771 – 60 years, age 82.
Rev. Jonathan French - Sept. 23, 1772 – July 28, 1809 – 36 years, age 70
Rev Justin Edwards, D.D. - Dec. 2, 1812 – Oct. 1, 1827
South Parish Ministerial Fund - Feb. 16, 1810
Rev. Justin Edwards - Apr. 1, 1816 - b. 224 leaf 93 -$2000 - 5½ acres
Rev. Justin Edwards - July 7, 1816 - b. 224 leaf 93-94 - $585 - 7a 128 rods
Elijah L. Herrick - Dec. 1, 1817 - b. 218 leaf 234 - $2000
Peter French
William Richardson (Sarah) - Jan. 1, 1824 - b. 234 leaf 161 - $3000 (+600 mtg)
Peter French (Elizabeth) - Nov. 10, 1824 - b. 237 lf. 205 (+$600 mtg)
Timothy Osgood (Sally) - Nov. 25, 1824 - b. 237 lf. 205 - $3500
Henry Osgood - May 4, 1835 - b. 286 lf. 92 - $4000
George H. French - Sept. 8, 1851 - b. 450 lf. 144 - $4000
James Means - May 14, 1856 - b. 531 lf. 231 - $6100
James Means estate - died Apr. 6, 1863 - probate.
Elizabeth Means, wid. life estate - 1863 - died Jan. 9, 1890
Means Heirs, Catherine A., Lilla B., Emily A., & David McGregor Means – Jan. 9, 1890
Esther H. Byers - Mar. 16, 1891 - b. 111 p. 424 - 5 acres
Esther H. Byers estate - died March 21, 1904
Peter Smith, heir - 1904 - Probate Will
Ella V. Cann - May 31, 1905 - b. 221 p. 48
George W. & Ella V. Cann - Apr. 23, 1914 - b. 340 p. 289
Jerome Cross - Oct. 12, 1916 - b. 369 p. 267
Herman H. Petzold - June 19, 1940 - b. 631 p. 292
Roman Catholic Archbishop - Sept.17, 1956
Inventory Data:
| Street | School St |
| Place | Andover Center |
| Historic District | Not Applicable |
| Historic Name | Sisters of Notre Dame Convent |
| Present Use | convent |
| Original Use | carriage house |
| Construction Date | 1892 |
| Source | style, njs |
| Architectural Style | Greek Revival |
| Architect/Builder | builder/Brainard Cummings. |
| Foundation | stone and concrete |
| Wall/Trim | clapboards |
| Roof | asphalt |
| Major Alterations | remodeled in 1951 Razed 2011 |
| Condition | razed |
| Demolished? | Yes |
| Demolition Details | 2010-2011 |
| Acreage | less than one acre, 24,600 sq. ft., 115' frontage |
| Setting | residential/commerical |
| Map and parcel | 55-114 |
| MHC Number | ANV.524 |
| Recorded by | Stack/Mofford |
| Organization | Andover Historical Commission |
| Date entered | 1975-77 |
