53 Enmore Street

Architectural Description: 

Cape Style house

Historical Narrative: 

Shawsheen Village was named after the Native American name for the river Shawshin, which means Great Spring. Prior to Shawsheen Village this area was known as Frye Village. All the streets in the Village were named for Castles & Cathedrals in Great Britain. Enmore Street takes its name from Enmore Castle, an historic building in the village of Enmore, Somerset, England.

This home was not built as part of the Shawsheen Village development 1918-1924 by William M. Wood, President of the American Woolen Company. Enmore Street was however developed by Wood who hired about eight different architects to design the homes and structures for the village. Homes were leased through the Homestead Association who had offices in the Post Office building on the corner of North Main & Poor Streets.

The former Alexander Wilson farm at 57 Haverhill Street included the land on Haverhill from the house to the Boston & Maine Railroad. Thomas Bentley purchased the property on June 27, 1889. The American Woolen Co. purchased a portion of the Bentley property on May 29, 1922 to extend Enmore Street connecting with Haverhill St.

In the 1926 directory Bertram L. & Evelyn W. (Bentley) George are living at 57 Haverhill St. Bert is an electrician. Evelyn's sister Mae F. (Bentley) Sprague and her husband Ottis E. Sprague take ownership on May 1, 1946. Mae died in 1957 and Ottis E. Sprague then sold the homestead to George P. & Thelma M. Thomson on July 27, 1957. The Thomsons sub-divied their property in Jan. 1972 and their son George P. Thomson Jr. built the Cape style home on the rear lot facing Enmore St. George Jr. and wife Sharon M. Thomson continue as life tenants in the home, now deeded to their daughters.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Maps, 1852, 1872, 1888, 1906, 1926
Andover Street Directories
Mills, Mergers and Mansions, by Edward Roddy 1982
See Map plan #704 - American Woolen Company - Sept. 1927
#877 - June 1932 - Textile Realty Company lot #
#975 - Oct. 29, 1921 - Dufton to AWCo.
#1324 May 1941 amended -
#6566 - Jan 1972 - sub divided lot of 57 Haverhill St.

Owners; Enmore Street property
George C. H. Dufton, wife Susanna - 1921 - 18 acres-
American Woolen Company– October 29, 1921 – b. 470 p. 341 – 18 acres - Enmore St.
Textile Realty Co., Lionel J. Noah, Pres. A.W.Co. - Dec. 30, 1931 - b. 563 p. 351
Andover Shawsheen Realty Co. - June. 30, 1932 - b. 565 p. 87 - 7th parcel

57 Haverhill St. & 53 Enmore Street
Inhabitants of Andover - Town Meeting Vote - May 7, 1870 sell land
Alexander Wilson, wife Hannah B. - May 18, 1870 - b. 101 p. 138 - 2aces 144 rods
Thomas H. Bentley - June 27, 1889 - b. 101 p. 139 - 2aces 144 rods
Evelyn W. Bentley & Grace I Bentley - Oct. 13, 1923 - b. 488 p. 388 mtg deed ref.
Mae F. (Bentley) Sprague & hus. Ottis E. Sprague - May 1, 1946 - b. 684 p. 157
Mae F. (Bentley) Sprague estate, Ottis E. Sprague, adm. July 16, 1957 - b. 858 p. 213
George P. & Thelma M. Thomson - July 27, 1957 - b. 858 p. 214
George P. & Sharon M. Thomson, Jr. - Mar. 17, 1972 - b. 1189 p. 721
Jennifer Lyn Thomson & Kimberly Anne Thomson - Jan. 31, 2014 - b. 13767 p. 330

American Woolen Company - May 29, 1922 - b. 458 p. 252 part of lot to build Enmore St.

Inventory Data:

StreetEnmore St
PlaceShawsheen Village - Frye Village
Historic DistrictShawsheen Village NRH District
Historic NameGeorge & Sharon Thomson House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1972
SourceERDS, ENRDL
Architectural StyleOther
Foundationconcrete
Wall/Trimclapboard/wood/vinyl covered
Roofgable - asphalt
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.221 acre
Settingresidential
Map and parcel19-44A
Recorded byJames S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date enteredAug. 11, 2015

Map: