Architectural Description:
89 Jenkins Road – 8 Douglass Lane
Historical Narrative:
Original owner; Samuel Jenkins
Themes: agricultural, architectural, community development, political, religion, science, social/ humanitarian.
Important historical and geological site.
Historical Narrative:
Important historical and geological site.
Part of original 400-acre grant from King to Osgood family. Came to Jenkins family about 1758, second house occupied by him on site. Son Benjamin inherited and bequeathed to his son William, acquired with sawmill on Skug River. Blue-soapstone quarry on farm-many tombstones in area cut from here. In 1834, William Jenkins contracted with Addison Flint and Michael Flannelly of Reading to quarry stone, stone quarried for Boston buildings, for Cambridge's Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Business booming until company treasurer absconded with funds.
William Jenkins and wife, Mary Saltmarsh Farnham of North Andover, were abolitionists and house was station on "underground railway". Famous visitors included Harriet Beacher Stowe, Frederick Douglas, William Lloyd Garrison, Hutchinson family who sang abolitionist songs around the country. Large rock in yard, hollowed underneath, hid fugitive slaves on their way to Canada. William Jenkins elected to Mass. House of Representatives, 1854. A farm cemetery of Woodbridge family is on site. Jenkins buried here, were later removed to Spring Grove Cemetery. Boulder marking Wm. Jenkin's grave at Spring Grove reads "William Jenkins, 1796-1878- He lived to see the fulfillment of his great desire, the abolition of slavery in America."
Belle Jenkins Butterfield; William Jenkins daughter owned, 1922. Soapstone mantels in house from quarry on land. F. M. Anderson bought from Paul Hill, 1947 (Anderson contractor from No. Reading owned briefly- interested in Indian artifacts). Present owners, sisters, with husbands, bought in 1947/8 for mink ranch.
Bibliography/References:
Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Historical Society files
Noyes, Kay; "Jenkins House Station for Escaping Slaves; Famed Abolitionists met there" --Andover Townsman, 1956
Goldsmith, Bessie; "William Jenkins House" - Fair and Warmer, April, 1928
Fuess, Claude; Andover; Symbol of New England, 1959, p. 313 ff.
Goldsmith ,Bessie; Historical Houses of Andover1946, a chapter in Andover Townsman P. 20-21
Siebert, Wilbur; Underground Railway in Mass.: Worcester, 1936, P. 29-31
See plans; # 1781 Aug. 1947, Plan #13137 – Jan. 13, 1997
Owners;
400-acre grant from King to Osgood family
Woodbridge Family
Benjamin Jenkins Family abt. 1758
William Jenkins, heir, b. 1796 - d. 1878
William Jenkins – Aug. 28, 1827 – b. 246 leaf 76 – Salem, deed
Elizabeth “Belle” (Jenkins) Butterfield – heir - 1878
John Frank Morse – May 10, 1904 – b. 212 p. 519
Paul Hill – Apr. 30, 1907 – b. 245 p. 433
Hill Parker Company; Heldge Anderson, Ed & James Dean – Apr. 24, 1947 – b. 696 p. 596
A. Reginald & Belinda Mortimer, Dennis & Ann E. Pettigrew – Aug. 26, 1947 – b. 701 p. 280
Elizabeth A. McIntyre – June 5, 1989 – b. 2933 p. 32-36
A. Reginald & Belinda Mortimer, Dennis & Ann E. Pettigrew - June 5, 1989 – b. 2933 p. 34-36
Mortimer Realty Trust, Joan E. Raza, Trustee, - Apr. 23, 1991 – b. 3333 p. 123
Anne E. Pettigrew –
Stowe Development Inc., Robert J. Peterson, pres., Daniel A. Hayes, Jr. treas. Aug. 16, 1996 – b. 4625 p. 56-59
Mortimer Development Corp. Robert J. Peterson, pres. - Oct. 4, 1999 – b. 5599 p. 191
Deirdre M. Brennan – Mar. 10, 2000 – b. 5700 p. 200
Deirdre M. Brennan & Keith M. Fields, - Feb. 11, 2004 – b. 8608 p. 93
George D. & Jennifer R. Michaels – Dec. 2, 2005 – b. 9921 p. 179
Inventory Data:
| Street | Jenkins Rd |
| Place | Holt District |
| Historic District | Andover Historic Building Survey |
| Historic Name | William Jenkins Homestead |
| Present Use | residence |
| Original Use | residence |
| Construction Date | 1765 |
| Source | ERDS, NERDL, style, |
| Architectural Style | Georgian |
| Foundation | stone & granite |
| Wall/Trim | Clapboard/wood |
| Roof | asphalt/gable |
| Outbuildings / Secondary Structures | Former barns, and outbuildings |
| Major Alterations | 1996 address change to 8 Douglass Lane for housing developement of property. See * Douglass Lane for history |
| Condition | excellent |
| Setting | residential |
| MHC Number | ANC.277 |
| Recorded by | Stack/Mofford, James S. Batchelder |
| Organization | Andover Preservation Commission |
| Date entered | March 21, 2022 |
