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. Most of the streets in the new Village were named for Castles & Cathedrals in Great Britain. Shepley Street however is named for a person but, as yet, has not been substantiated. This land was once owned by Sylvester P. Smith (49 Union St) who had plans for a housing development. A 1901 map of Frye Village clearly shows the locations of Shepley & Binney Streets, but named Agawam and Merrick Streets respectively, both connected at the east end by Madison St. which was never built. Old deeds reference both earlier names.

This home was built as part of the Shawsheen Village development from 1918-1924 by William M. Wood, President of the American Woolen Company. Wood hired about eight different architects to design the homes and structures for the village. Homes were leased through the Homestead Association with offices in the Post Office building in Shawsheen Square, later moved into the Administration Building.

Each home incorporates a different look, style and design modifications, most noticeable with the front door entrances. Decorative details on the corner boards and a variety of ornamental trellises, window boxes all added the “icing on the cake, of the original designs. Most of the homes now sport a variety of different colors, no longer all white with green shutters as dictated in the original deeds. Many of the original screen porches have been enclosed for an additional room.

After the death of William M. Wood on Feb. 2, 1926 most of the residential and commercial buildings were then sold. Some were held by the Wood family in the "Arden Trust" and others with the American Woolen Company. The AWCo. Board of Directors authorized its President, Lionel J. Noah, to deliver all deeds, as deemed necessary to the Textile Realty Co. for sale on Dec. 29, 1931.

The Textile Realty then transferred ownership to the Andover Shawsheen Realty Company on June 30, 1932, holding the mortgage on the properties. T. Edwin Andrew, treasurer, was authorized to sell or lease the properties. With the Great Depression sales were sluggish and many homes were rented until the economy rebounded.

One of the first occupants of record to lease the home in 1926 were James R. & Teresa Wray. James was a cost clerk for the American Woolen Co.

This house was sold to Andrew & Mary E. Baillie on July 10, 1936. Baillie owned just one year then sold to C. Arthur & Lillian P. Duhamel on June 24, 1937. Charles Arthur Duhamel was born October 28, 1903 in Lawrence, MA son of George A. Delia Ellen (Barry) Duhamel. Known as Arthur, he was first a Stock Manager in Lawrence. He married Lillian P Dore b. 1906. In 1931 they built a home at 291 North Main St. but lost it to the bank in 1937. They then purchased this home on Shepley St. Arthur worked for the Shawsheen Motor Mart in 1939 and in 1940 was employed employed with General Electric in Lynn, MA. Duhamel owned for 11 years then selling to Alfred F. & Pauline G. Zawojek on April 6, 1948.