Themes: Architectural, community development, education.

Present owner: Trustees of Phillips Academy (1977)
Building marker 1976
89 Bartlet (Formerly numbered #77 Bartlet in 1900)

The Trustees of Phillips Academy once owned this property and sold the lot to James S. Eaton on May 1, 1858. The house was built for Eaton and his family. April 10, 1858 Andover Advertiser - James S. Eaton is building a residence near the Stone Academy, opposite the house of Mrs. Parker. Mr. Eaton of Fitchburg, builder.

James Steward Eaton was born on Nov. 13, 1816 in Fitchburg, MA, son of Thomas & Mary "Betsey" Eaton Jr. James S. became a Mathematician and teacher. James married on Apr. 5, 1841 in Fitchburg to Louisa A. Howard b. 1818 in Grafton, VT, daughter of Benjamin & Margaret B. (Down) Howard. The Eatons moved to Colchester, CT, and were admitted into the Church there in Jan. 1842. Eaton was elected as a teacher at Phillips Academy and arrived in Andover in the Summer of 1848. They had two young sons, James Howard b. June 21, 1842 and William Wells b. Aug. 24, 1846 both in Colchester, CT. They would have two more while in Andover; George Thomas b. Feb. 13, 1856 and Louisa Adelaide b. Feb. 20, 1860. All would be a family of Educators.

Professor James S. Eaton wrote the book "A Key to Eaton's Arithmetic" It is said his son James H. assisted his father in the publication. James S. died on Oct. 10, 1865 at the age of 48 of Dysentery, as did several other Andover residents at that time. James was interred in the Chapel Cemetery of the Andover Theological Seminary now owned by Phillips Academy.

The census records on 1860 and 1865 show a Rev. Joseph Emerson, wife Martha and son Edward H. also residing with the Eaton family. Louisa Eaton remained in the home and took in boarders. In 1880 two students from China, Liu Luen Fai age 19 and Liu Luen Shing age 18 board at the Eaton home along with Rev. Joseph Emerson and domestic Martha Van Horne. 18 from New Brunswick, Canada.

Son James H. graduated from Amherst College, in New Haven, CT and taught Chemistry, Natural Science & Mineralogy from 1868-1877 at Beloit College in Wisconsin. James married Abbie Clark Fisk b. June 17, 1851 dau. of John Proctor Fisk & Abby Richardson (Clark) Fisk. James H. published, " Metric Systems of Weights and Measures; Elements of Qualitative Analysis." James H. died on Jan. 7, 1877 in Beliot, and is interred at the Oakwood Cemetery there. Abby died in Oct. 1933.

William Wells Eaton became a professor at Middlebury College in VT from 1882 - 1905. William married on Dec. 30, 1885 to Mary M. Wright b. Apr. 29, 1859 in Oroomiah, Persia, daughter of Austin H. & Catherine (Myers) Wright. Mary was also a teacher living in Poughkeepsie, NY when she married. William W. died on Feb. 1, 1905 in Middlebury, VT and is interred in the Chapel Cemetery Phillips Academy. Mary died on Cot. 27, 1944.

George Thomas Eaton stayed with his mother Louisa until he recieved a teaching job in Monson, MA. George married on June 29, 1882 in Andover, MA to Fannie Thaxter Wheeler b. Aug. 16, 1857 in Worcester, MA, dau. of Henry M. & Sarah Huntington (Wilcox) Wheeler. George became a teacher at Phillips Academy and lived next door at #87 Bartlet (formerly numbered #73 in 1900) George & Fannie had three children; Louisa b. 1884, Thaxter b. 1887 and Helen b. 1888. George T. died on March 2, 1937 and is interred at the Chapel Cemetery in the Eaton Family lot. Fannie and her daughters then moved to Chestnut St.

Daughter Louisa A. Eaton married Alanson J. Abbe. Her mother Louisa A. Eaton died at age 77 of Influenza on Mar. 29, 1895 at Fall River, MA. George T. Eaton handled the family estate and had sold the property to George D. Pettee and wife Rose on Aug. 1, 1892.

July 1, 1892 Andover Townsman - Geo. D. Pettee, one of the Phillips Academy instructors has purchased and will occupy the Eaton estate at the corner of Bartlet and Cross Streets.

Aug. 27, 1897 – AT pg. 5 George D. Pettee of Phillips Academy will sail next Wednesday for a year’s absence in Europe.
[1897-98 Street directory gives Pettee’s residence at 77 Bartlet St. He is listed as an instructor at Phillips Academy. The street was later renumbered as new homes were built.]

May 3, 1901 AT - pg 1 Geo. D. Pettee of the "University School", Cleveland, Ohio, was in town Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

July 12, 1901 pg 1 col. 4 Geo. D. Pettee has sold his residence on Bartlet St. to Otis F. French of Boston.
Col. 6 - While alighting from an electric car at Chapel Avenue, Wednesday noon, Principal Pettee, of the University School, Cleveland, Ohio, who has been in town this week, was struck and knocked down by a careless bicyclist who was riding down Main Street too rapidly. Mr. Pettee was rendered unconscious by the blow and received several bad bruises, besides a cut near his right eye in which several stitches had to be taken. Altho’ the injuries are not to be serious, he feels rather lame and sore from the results of his rough experience.

George Pettee was active in town affairs while in Andover and served on the Andover School Committee. He was elected Headmaster of the "University School", also a boys preparatory school in Cleveland, Ohio in 1901. George & Rose had two children; Allan b. Sept. 1889 and Frances H. b. Feb. 1896. Pettee sold the property to Otis F. French and wife Marion on July 17, 1901.

The property was transferred to Adelaide E. French on Dec. 29, 1913. French owned for 84 years then selling to the
Trustees of Phillips Academy on June 14, 1985. The house is named "French House" by the Academy. It has 14 rooms, 6 bedrooms and is used as faculty housing.