51 Maple Avenue

Architectural Description: 

Queen Anne style, mixture of clapboard and fish-scale cedar shingle decorative banding, original window shutters

Historical Narrative: 

This parcel lot was purchased on Dec. 19, 1890 by Joseph H. Lowd, wife Stella, from Henry A. Bodwell. Bodwell purchased his parcel (#37) in 1883 from John H. Flint which included all the land on the east side of Maple Ave from #29 to Walnut St. including this lot. It was formerly numbered #25 and renumbered in 1928 to #51.
AT Apr. 10, 1891 – The batters are up marking out the land for Joseph Loud’s new house on Maple Avenue. Hardy & Cole will build it.

Joseph Haven Lowd b. Dec. 2, 1856 in Acton, Maine, son of Sylvester & Dorcas (Hanson) Lowd. Joseph was first a carpenter working for Abbott & Jenkins. He then went to work for T.A. Holt & Co. a grocery store located in the basement of the Baptist Church and became a partner after Holt died. He married on Jan. 25, 1882 to Estella J. Stevens, b. July 22, 1860 in Lisbon, NH, dau. of Hiram O. & Almira J. (Dodge) Stevens. Joseph Joseph & Stella had three children; Harry Stevens b. May 3, 1886, Marion D. b. May 1889 and Dana J. b. July 1896. They owned for eight years then moved to 29 Bartlet St. Son Harry became a minister. Marion D., a teacher, married William Harnden Foster (Illustrator & sportsman) and Dana owned an insurance agency in Northhampton, MA.

John Voorhis Holt, b. April 1871 son of Ballard & Delia (Jefferts) Holt purchased the home on Jan. 27, 1898. Single at the time he lived here with his parents and siblings. His father Ballard Holt was the first librarian of Memorial Hall Library from 1873-1900 and also was the janitor during and after his retirement. John V. was a clerk for a stock broker firm in Boston and later a loan clerk. John married June 27, 1901 to Alice Emma Perrington, a teacher, b. 1875 in Bethel, Maine, dau. of Joseph U. & Francetta A. Woodbury. They would have one son Reginald W. John & Alice would rent a home on Elm St. and his parents remained in this home. John later built a home at 74 Bartlet St. He owned this property until April 20, 1934 when he sold to Elizabeth F. Lawson and Mary J. Frederickson.

Bibliography/References: 

51 Maple Ave – (formerly #25) 38-179 – 20,995 sq. ft. [plan #709 – lot 5 - Land of H.S. Bodwell Esq. Dec. 1890]
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Ancestry.com - Lowd and Holt family
Andover maps 1888, 1906
Andover Directories.

Owners:
Henry A. Bodwell (Emma)
Joseph H. & Stella J. Lowd – Dec. 19, 1890 – b. 110 p. 68 - lot
John V. Holt, (Alice P.) – Jan. 27, 1898 – b. 160 p. 153 w/blds
Elizabeth F. Lawson & Mary J. Frederickson – Apr. 20, 1934 – b. 577 p. 467
Elizabeth F. Lawson – May 14, 1942 – b. 650 p. 192
Edward R. & Elizabeth F. Lawson – May 14, 1942 – b. 650 p. 193
Edward R. Lawson estate, Elizabeth F. Lawson heir
Elizabeth F. Lawson – Nov. 10, 1961 – b. 945 p. 433
Phillip A. & Jane A. Vondell – Sept. 9, 1966 – b. 1061 p. 388
Frank L. & Mary E. Morris - June 25, 1979 – b. 1374 p. 257
Frank L. Morris estate, d. Aug. 3, 1989 – heir Mary E. Morris
Harry L. Voorhees Jr. & Ann Knowles – Sept. 15, 1993 – b. 3834 p. 83

Inventory Data:

StreetMaple Av
PlaceAndover Center District
Historic DistrictAndover Historic Building Survey
Historic NameLowd - Holt House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1891
SourceERDS, NERDL, style,
Architectural StyleQueen Anne
Architect/BuilderHardy & Cole (builders)
Foundationstone & granite
Wall/Trimclapboard/wood/cedar shingle
Roofasphalt/gable
Major AlterationsFront entrance with pediment 20th Century addition. Originally built with a front porch that extended across the entire front facade.
Conditionexcellent
Acreage20,995 sq. ft.
Settingresidential
Map and parcel38-179
Recorded byW. Frontiero, James S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered28 Feb 1980, 10/22/2019

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