73 Highland Road
Site of History 🛈The Site of History tag is given to properties that were lost before this building survey was undertaken.

Architectural Description: 

NRDIS NRMRA

Historical Narrative: 

Themes: architectural; community development; religion

Owner: William A. McCartney, John E. McCartney, 1950

This building was the last of the "old commons", or first boarding house and dining hall for Phillips Academy students. Original location of the dormitory was on the north side of Phillips Street just west of the Peabody Archeology Museum.

There were two rows of identical dorms, one called "Latin Commons" on Phillips Street and the "English Commons" aligned along Old Campus Road across the playing fields at the north end. When Phillips Academy began to expand the campus the former dormitories were either razed or sold and moved off the campus grounds.
From Fuess book:
p. 131--1809 - funds to erect Commons dormitories
p. 229--1834 - 5 Academic Halls . . . were completed in their location on the north side of Phillips Street . . .row of "Latin Commons" approx. $1500 apiece and a (1836) row of teachers halls or English Commons

p. 230--"clapboarded, wooden structures; 3 stones high, painted a rusty yellow, with small windows and a wide door in the middle of the street side." Interior: on each floor 2 suites; composed of a study and 2 bedrooms . . . "
12 occupants. Floors connected by narrow, winding staircases . . . heated by stones . . . rent $1 a term. In 1856 raised to $3 a term.

p. 508--1903-06 with the erection of the Archaeology building, the Latin Commons were torn down and by 1906 the English dormitories had been sold and the last one had been moved on rollers across the old campus to a new location where it was to be used as a tenement.
Two dormitories were moved to down to Whittier Court at the north end of the "Playstead" and were converted into tenement housing. This dormitory was moved to Highland Road and converted into an apartment house. The center of the building is the original Common structure and the ells were added when moved to the site.

From Allis book: - p. 359--"one exists to this day on Highland Road, though so completely remodeled as to bear little resemblance to its original form"

The lot of land once belonged to John W. Cochran of 69 Highland Rd who sold the property to William Watson on July 1, 1905. Watson sub-divided the property and sold off lots.

Mary McCartney of Salem, MA purchased this empty lot of land on July 25, 1906. The Old Common building was then moved onto the site. The deed was transferred by Mabel B. Huntress on Dec. 17, 1917 into joint hands of Mary McCartney & Annie McCartney.
Michael McCartney took ownership on July 26, 1932 -

Michael McCartney estate went to John F. McCartney & William A. McCartney on Feb. 7, 1947 and then to
William A. McCartney on Aug. 21, 1950.

William A. McCartney's estate heirs were Marcelle L. & John C. McCartney. The Property was then placed in the McCartney Family Realty Trust, Edward C. Todd, Trustee on May 21, 1986.

The McCartney family sold to the Trustees of Phillips Academy on Oct. 16, 1987.after 81 years of ownership.
The following November 1988 the building was razed and the lot returned to its natural state.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Fuess, Claude: Old New England School: History of Phillips Academy, 1917
Allis, Frederick, Jr. Youth from Every Quarter, 1979

Owners;
John W. Cochran - land
William Watson - July 1, 1905 - b. 221 p. 235
Mary McCartney - July 25, 1906 - b. 234 p. 199 - lot of land
Mabel B. Huntress - Dec. 17, 1917 - b. 385 p. 216
Mary McCartney & Annie McCartney - Dec. 17, 1917 - b. 385 p. 217
Michael McCartney - July 26, 1932 - b. 565 p. 594
Michael McCartney estate, Wm. A. McCartney, Admins.- Jan. 24, 1947 - Probate
John F. McCartney & William A. McCartney - Feb. 7, 1947 - b. 694 p. 453
William A. McCartney - Aug. 21, 1950 - b. 740 p. 300
William A. McCartney estate,Marcelle L. & John C. McCartney - heirs
McCartney Family Realty Trust, Edward C. Todd, Trs - May 21, 1986 p. 2219 p. 197
Trustees of Phillips Academy - Oct. 16, 1987 - b. 2608 p. 288

Inventory Data:

StreetHighland Rd
PlacePhillips District
Historic DistrictAcademy Hill NRH District
Historic NamePhillips Academy "Latin Commons"
Present Usedwelling, 4 apartments
Original UseStudent dormitory
Construction Date1834
Sourcestyle-njs, ERDS, ENRDL
Architectural StyleFederal
Foundationstone and brick
Wall/Trimclapboards/wood
Roofasphalt - gable
Major AlterationsEast and west wings added after building was moved
ConditionRazed 1988
Moved?Yes
Move Detailsabout 1902
Demolished?Yes
Demolition Details11/1988
Acreage0.391 acre; 17,020 sq. ft.; approx. frontage 90'
SettingResidential/Educational
Map and parcel41-9
MHC NumberANV.267
Recorded byStack/Mofford, James Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered1975-77, 3/25/2015

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