Original owner: Solomon H. Higgins
Themes: architectural, moved buildings,

Nov. 14, 1873 Andover Advertiser – "B. Frank Smith has purchased of the Higgins heir, the small cottage and an acre of land on Central St. opposite the house of Charles W. Higgins. Mr. Smith will probably erect an elegant residence upon the premises."

This house formerly stood at 65 Central St. and was moved to this location when Benjamin Franklin Smith built his elegant Victorian home on the property.

Benjamin F. Smith purchased land at 65 Central St. from the Solomon H. Higgins estate on Nov. 11, 1873. Tradition says he moved a house from 65 Central St. to 81 Central St. before he built a new house at 65. On March 18, 1874, Benjamin Smith purchased the land for 81 Central St. from John Abbot (later, two more parcels were added to this property when Charles S. Buchan owned it. One a 60' x 200" strip of land from Oliver Vennard next door at 75 Central in in 1912) B. Frank Smith, as his was known by, sold the property to William B. & Jennie E. Chubb of Boston on Feb. 7, 1889 recorded on Dec. 8, 1890. A confirmatory deed was recorded on April 1, 1893 as the original deed had been "mislaid" Ella P. Smith, wife B. Frank purchased the property back from Chubb and placed into a Trust for their son Peter Smith, born Oct. 29, 1875, "until he is 21 years old, (Oct. 29, 1896) when the estate described shall belong to him. The property deed is dated Jan 3, 1891. Peter had moved to Schenectady, NY by the time he sold the cottage to George W. Buchan on May 15, 1902. Peter Smith died April 7, 1938 and is interred in the Smith family lot at West Parish Cemetery.

The Buchan family were long time owners of the property. George W. Buchan was born in 1862 in Andover, son of George & Elizabeth (Lawson) Buchan. His father was a Civil War Vereran who fought with the Co. K. 6th Reg MA Vols. George W. was married to Gertrude L. b. 1875 d. June 6, 1956. George died on Sept. 14, 1922 at the age of 60.
Charles S. Buchan and wife Carrie (Stevens) held the property - Charles S. died Nov. 7, 1936. The property was assigned to Max Nicholson on March 5, 1936 (in trust?) until sold to Charles S. and Reta V. Buchan on June 29, 1951.

The Buchan family sold the property to Alan & Rowan H. McClaren in June 1987 and four years later sold to Ann E. Constantine on March 13, 1991. Ann has spent many years restoring the house. She add a large family room to the rear of the house blending the addition with the existing cottage. As a bit of history she salvaged a large arched window from the Free Chucrh during the addition to the church and incorporated it into the family room design. Ann served on the Preservation Commission for several years and is also a member of the Town's design review board..

Peter Smith taxed for #81 and #65 Central, both in 1900.
Carrie S. Buchan, from M. Nicholson in May, 1935.
"Owner: Reta V. Buchan (6-25-42)