Themes: Architectural, Community Development

Two houses were once on site of "old red house" of Capt. Job Abbot, and larger one of son Nathan B. Abbot

The small house was known as "The Old Red House". Captain Job Abbot built larger house for his son, Nathan Ballard Abbot, at time of his marriage to Elizabeth Lovejoy Noyes in 1841. The former ship captain supplied ship timber for the construction. Nathan later inherited both houses and land from his father in 1859.

Formerly it was suggested Jacob Chickering may have built or rebuilt this home. (Chickering records indicate: " Capt Job Abbott's cottage 23 x 30 feet at Vale") But during the two year restoration, structural evidence indicates the dimensions are much greater and the foundation is continuous, not pieced together. It had also been stated that Sturgis bought both houses and moved "old red house" from first (and present site), attaching it to the house. Three years later he returned it to the original foundation. Evidence suggest two structures melded into one cohesive structure and place on a new foundation.

Capt. Job Abbott was born in Andover on Aug. 7, 1782, son of Deacon Nathan Abbott Jr. and Sarah Ballard. Job married on Oct. 9, 1807 to Lucy Chandler b. 1790 of Concord, NH, daughter of Hezekiah & Lydia Ballard. Job. & Lucy had seven children: Lucy b. Oct. 11, 1811, Job. b. Sept. 1813 d. Feb. 9, 1817, Nathan Ballard b. Nov. 18, 1816, Sarah b. July 18, 1818, Job b. June 8, 1820 - Oct. 18, 1926, Amos b. Feb. 15, 1823 and Joanna b. Nov. 4, 1828. Captain Job Abbott died on Dec. 15, 1859.

Son Nathan Ballard Abbott inherits the homestead farm and his mother Lucy remains in the home with Nathan's family until her death on July 19, 1872. Nathan's marriage intentions were published on Oct. 30, 1841 to Elizabeth Lovejoy Noyes of Windham, NH. Nathan B. & Elizabeth had four children: Job. b. Aug. 23, 1845 - d. Aug. 18, 1896, Ella E. b. July 25, 1848 d. May 27, 1890, Ira b. Dec. 22, 1858 - d. Jan. 6, 1933 and Anna B. b. Nov. 26, 1866. Nathan B. died on Mar. 21, 1885 and his widow Elizabeth and children Ella, Anna and Ira were all heirs to his estate. Widow Elizabeth sold the homestead on April 2, 1889 to John B. Withum of Marblehead, MA.
Sept. 14, 1900. They are interred in South Parish Cemetery, Andover, MA.

John B. Witham, a Marblehead shoe manufacturer, bought the homestead as a summer home and also as investment property. The farm had three parcels, the homestead lot of 80 acres, a two acre lot and a 28 acre parcel. A boundary issue with one of the parcels necessitated John Withum to go to land court to settle the boundaries of his farm in 1906. John B. Withum received the court Disposal on Aug. 11, 1906. (Ctf. 137 and Ctf. #1462).

Withum began selling off house lot parcels of the former Nathan B. Abbott farm. An interesting "Plan of Andover Park, Andover, MA - Globe Publishing Company - Sept. 1, 1906 drawn by C. H. Gawnett, C.E." was published in brochure form to highlight the several parcels available. The former homestead and lot were sold to Josephine Sturgis, wife of Edward W. on Aug. 13, 1906. Josephine & Edward held the property for ten years then transferred the property to Allan H. Sturgis, wife Barbara,of South Hingham, MA on Jan. 4, 1916.

J. Walter Sanborn wife Julia, of Somerville, MA then bought the home on Feb. 14, 1917 and owned for eleven years. On August 20, 1928 Sanborn sold by auction to Alice E. Donovan wife of Francis M. Donovan, a cattle dealer. Donovan just three years then selling to John F. Benjamin of Barre, VT on Aug. 31, 1931. Benjamin then sold to
Doris Bartlett Wheeler wife of Richard Wheeler, a Boston Architect. The Wheelers restored the "old red house". Richard Wheeler died about 1940 and Doris B. remained in the homestead. The 1943 directory indicates that Norman E. & Helen J. Scott may have rented the house. Norman was an independent engineer in Boston.

In February 1944 John B. & Alice G. Cecil purchased the property from Doris B. Wheeler. In the Andover 1951 directory both Doris Wheeler and the Cecils are listed here.

The property was later purchased on Aug. 10, 1959 by Frederick Flather III and remained in trust until 2018. Fred, known as Felix Flather b. in 1931, son of Frederick & Edith Flather Jr., grew up at 45 Abbot St, and was an attorney in Boston. He was a member and served on the board of the Andover Historical Society. Upon Felix Flather’s death, the house was empty for approximately four years. Charles Flather became Trustee and sold the property on June 18, 2018 to Mcguffin Microwave, LLC, Richard Michalik Manager. Richard and Joann Michalik bought the property and spent two years restoring of the old homestead keeping as much of the original fabric of the structure as possible.

The Michaliks sold the house on Sept. 9, 2020 to Lisa M. & Matthew J. Pambianchi on Sept. 9, 2020.