The land on this side of Chestnut Street from #71 -#99 was once part of the Henry Pasho Estate at 36 Summer St. Henry died in July 1904. The Pasho heirs began to divide up the property. They hired Civil Engineer John Franklin, to sub-divide the parcel on the south side of Chestnut St. into eight lots which were then sold off for residential development. Lot #2 was purchased by John S. Anderson on September 23, 1912. John and wife Mary Ann would also purchase the Comeau house at 87 Chestnut St. on Nov. 6, 1913, and moved there from 15 Cuba Street.

John Samuel Anderson b. Oct. 22, 1856, son of Samuel & Isabella (Howarth) Anderson. He grew up on Cuba Street and became a blacksmith, apprenticed with John Faulkner. He later formed a partnership with Charles Bowman in the firm “Anderson & Bowman”. Their business was purchased from James Cochran located at 5 Punchard Ave. in Cochrane’s former shop. The business was later relocated to 2 Bartlet St. on the corner of Park St. where it remained until retirement in 1927.

The duplex home at 79 – 81 was built for the Andersons and occupied first by both their married daughter Mima H. Anderson who married William Mitchell and lived in #79 with their daughter Ruth Marion. #81 appears to have been rented but would later be occupied by her brother Burtt M. married Florence Wood and lived in the upper unit at #81 with their children John W. & Ruth E. Anderson.

John S Anderson married on Sept. 19, 1881, at Christ Church to Mary Ann McIntosh b. Nov. 1857, dau. of John & Mary (Smith) McIntosh. They had three children: John Faulkner b. Aug. 9, 1882, Jemima “Mima” Howarth b. Mar. 24, 1884, and Burtt McIntosh b. Feb. 10, 1886. Their son John Faulkner Anderson died on Sept. 22, 1903, age 21 of cerebral congestion. He was employed at Smith & Dave as a Flax dresser.

Daughter Mima Howarth Anderson was a spinner at Smith & Dove and married on Sept. 27, 1905, at Christ Church to William Gilbert Mitchell b. Mar. 26, 1875, in North Andover, son of David & Susan B. (Caird) Mitchell. William was a machinist and work in a wool mill in Lawrence in 1910. William’s WWI registration card (1917) lists them living at 32 Avon St. Andover. William is a machinist for Emerson Manuf. Co. in Lawrence, a paper mill. In the 1920s William worked for the American Woolen Co.

The 1920 Valuation Schedule lists Mrs. Mary A. Anderson 87 Chestnut St. – House $2200, Auto shed $100, 13,890 sq. ft. lot $600 – 79-81 Chestnut St. House $3800, land 13,531 sq. ft. $1000 = $7700.
In 1920 Mima & William they are living at 79 Chestnut Street. Their daughter Ruth Marion Mitchell b. July 2, 1906, graduated from Punchard High School in 1924. Ruth became a stenographer.

The deed to the properties was in Mary Ann Anderson’s name and when she died on June 24, 1931, the property went to both children Mima Mitchell and Burtt Anderson. Their father John S. then lived with Mina at 79 Chestnut. John S. died on June 21, 1940. The house at #87 was sold in 1942. William Mitchell also died in 1940 and Mima and 1946. They are both interred at Christ Church Cemetery.

Burtt McIntosh Anderson b. Feb. 10, 1886, was a plumber worked for J. P. Steven’s Co. as a steamfitter. He lived with his parents at #87 Chestnut St. Burtt married Florence May Wood b. Feb. 9, 1887, in Madison, ME, dau. of Joseph W. & Hannah (Stansfield) Wood. Burtt and Florence had two children: John Wood Anderson b. Oct. 26, 1919, and Ruth Eleanor Anderson b. Mar. 7, 1927. In 1928 Burtt and Florence had moved into the apartment at 81 Chestnut St. John W. graduated from Punchard High School in 1937, and Ruth E. graduated in 1945. Burtt died on June 26, 1946, at age 60.

His wife Florence M. Anderson and Ruth M. (Mitchell) Winter were heirs to the property. Florence died on Feb. 19, 1976. Burtt & Florence's daughter Ruth E. married David MacDonald Jr. b. Oct. 25, 1923, son of David Sr. & Annie (Howart) MacDonald who lived at 2 Upland Rd. Ruth and David had three children: Burtt A. b. June 12, 1949 - d. May 29, 1955, Geoffrey D. b. 1952 and Peter L. b. 1956. Ruth died on Dec. 7, 2001, and David Jr. died July 8, 2015.
The property continues to remain with the heirs of the Anderson – MacDonald family.