Owned by Phillips Academy

Set close to Highland - front steps 5' from road; small grassed lawn w/low hedge next to house; large back yard & sloping side yards

This property was once owned by Henry A. Bodwell and purchased by James H. Cochran, wife Sarah S. on June 22, 1869 for $1500. James Cochran built the house and in 1884 took an $1800 mortgage loan from Michael Nolan who held the deed to the 11 acre 117 rods property. With the death Michael Nolan his wife Catherine inherited his estate and mortgage deed on Apr. 15, 1884.

The property went back and forth between James H. Cochran and Catherine Nolan in the years that followed when the mortgage loan was called in. Ultimately John H. Cochran took possession of the property through a foreclosure in June 1905. John Cochran then sold to William Watson on June 5, 1905.

William Watson was born in Scotland on May 17, 1873 and immigrated to America in 1892. William was a Coachman for a private family, married in 1894 to Ellen Davidson b. July 1871 and also Scottish. They had seven children, six survived to adulthood; Emily Florence b. 1895, Joseph Walter b. 1897, Bertha Helen b. 1898, William Sidney b. 1902 - d. 1904, Howard J. b. 1905, Ruth b. 1906 and William b. 1910. The Watsons were living at 30 Salem St. in 1900 then moved here in 1905. The house was then listed as #11 Highland Rd. later changed in the 1940's to the current number #69.

The Watson family owned the property for 82 years before selling to the Trustees of Phillips Academy on Feb. 9, 1987.