8 William Street

Architectural Description: 

Colonial Revival

Historical Narrative: 

William Street was originally named Warwick Street when Shawsheen Village was laid out. The name was changed by a vote at a special Town Meeting on November 13, 1922 in memory of William M. Wood Jr., son of William M. & Ellen (Ayer) Wood, who died in an automobile accident on Aug. 15, 1922.

This home was built as part of the Shawsheen Village development 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 sold or rented through the Homestead Association who had offices in the Post Office building on the corner of North Main & Poor Streets.

After the death of William M. Wood in Feb. 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, which had been deeded the property in December 1920. The A.W.Co. Board of Directors authorized its President, Lionel J. Noah, to deliver all deeds, as deemed necessary to the Textile Realty 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 rent the properties. With the Great Depression sales were sluggish and many homes were rented until the economy rebounded.

The first occupants of record to lease the home in 1923 were George C. & Nellie J. Best. George was a superintendent for the A. W. Co. They are also listed here in 1928.

This house was sold to James A. & Bertha E. Campbell on Oct. 20, 1933. James Campbell was a Supervisor for the American Woolen Company. James died on Oct. 31, 1945. Bertha E. Campbell sold four years later to Charles & Elda I. Benedetti on May 16, 1949. Charles Benedetti b. 1913 was a Physician and Elda b. 1913 a housewife. They owned for 28 years then selling to Joseph M. & Betty J. Miller on July 15, 1977. Thomas E. & Barbara A. Fardy purchased the home a year later on July 17, 1978. Thomas was a CPA in Andover.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Maps, 1852, 1872, 1888, 1906, 1926
Andover Street Directories
See Map plan #704 - American Woolen Company - Sept. 1927
#879 - June 1932 - Textile Realty Company

Owners;
Henry P. Binney - Apr. 24, 1919 - b. 398 p. 52
American Woolen Company - Dec. 30, 1920 - b. 435 p. 215
Textile Realty Company - Dec. 30, 1931 - b. 563 p. 351
Andover Shawsheen Realty Co. - June. 30, 1932 - b. 565 p. 87 - parcel 20
James A. & Bertha E. Campbell - Oct. 20, 1933 - b. 572 p. 505
James A. Campbell estate, Bertha E. Campbell heir - Oct. 31, 1945 probate
Charles & Elda I. Benedetti - May 16, 1949 - b. 723 p. 82
Joseph M. & Betty J. Miller - July 15, 1977 - b. 1313 p. 772
Thomas E. & Barbara A. Fardy - July 17, 1978 - b. 1344 p. 639
Barbara A. Fardy - Sept. 26, 1998 - b. 5267 p. 171
Brian F. Lynch & Andrea Zaimes - Apr. 4, 1999 - b. 5399 p. 346

Inventory Data:

StreetWilliam St
PlaceShawsheen Village - Frye Village
Historic DistrictShawsheen Village NRH District
Historic NameJames & Bertha Campbell House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1920 - 1922
SourceERDS, ENRDL
Architectural StyleColonial Revival
Architect/BuilderAdden & Parker of Boston
Foundationstone and brick
Wall/Trimbrick veneer/wood
Roofhip - slate
Conditionexcellent
Acreage0.175
Settingresidential
Map and parcel52-60
Recorded byJames S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered6/21/2015

Images: 

Map: