50 Whittier – 78 Park St. 39-89 - 0.249a
Brainerd Cummings was a carpenter and contractor in Andover and built this house for himself. He purchased the corner lot on April 9, 1875 from the daughters of Nathaniel Whittier.

Brainerd was born Feb. 24, 1833 in Albany, Oxford, Maine, son of Francis P. & Lois B. (Chamberlain) Cummings. Brainerd enlisted in Company A. 7th NH Regiment on Oct. 21, 1861 and was mustered out on Oct. 20, 1864. He was wounded at the assault on Ft. Wagner, South Carolina on July 18, 1863. “…he was wounded in three places. A bullet passed through his right arm into his right side and emerging carried away his thumb. For some time he was in hospitals at Beaufort, Fort Schuyller and Portsmouth grove. Received a medal from Maj. Gen. Gilmore. After being discharged form the hospital he served in the invalid corps.” Brainerd returned to Andover and married on Nov. 22, 1864 to Sarah H. Holt b. Nov. 26, 1832, dau. of Moses W. & Lydia Holt. Brainerd was a successful carpenter and contractor building many homes for residents in town. He retired and sold his business on Park Street to Allen F. Abbott. He was a charter member of the Gen. Wm. F. Bartlett Post GAR 99 of Andover. Brainerd & Sarah had no issue. Brainerd died on Dec. 10, 1900.

Widow Sarah Cummings then sold the home to John W. Richardson on Apr. 23, 1901. John was also a carpenter and built homes. John W. was born on Feb. 1, 1863 in North Andover, son of John W. & Hannah H. Richardson. John married in 1882 to Rose B. Weare b. Aug. 1859 in New Hampshire. John & Rose had three children: Cela b. 1884 – d. 1890, Ethel Florence b. Oct. 1887 and Bertrand W. b. 1890 died Apr. 16, 1893. Rose died on April 13, 1925. John was then joined by his sister Anabel Richardson and his Uncle Adam C. Richardson, also a house carpenter in town who lived on Maple Ave. John sold the property to Thomas Chadwick on Oct. 9, 1937. John died the year on April 12, 1938.