90 Maple Avenue

Architectural Description: 

Italianate style, Nice original porch columns, window trim, side bay window on south facade.

Historical Narrative: 

90 Maple Ave (formerly #40 then #72)
Maple Ave. was once a 17 acre parcel of land that was owned by Samuel G. Valpey who purchased the home at 60 Elm Street for $6600 on Feb. 17, 1855. The Maple Ave parcel of 17 acres 26 rods was purchased at auction by John H. Flint for $858.12 on June 16, 1866. Andover Advertiser (AA) Oct. 23, 1874 – John H. Flint is at work on a new avenue leading through his land from Elm Street to Carmel lane. AA - July 23, 1875 - Maple St. opened; description of 1st house, a brick one on Flint's land.

This property was purchased from John H. Flint by Lorin A. Dinsmore on Aug. 8, 1833 for $500. The lot was 90 feet on Maple Ave x 190 x 101 x 193 feet. Dinsmore held the parcel for nine months then selling for $500 to Alice M. & George F. Cheever on Aug. 8, 1884. Andover Advertiser May 9, 1884 p.2 – "Brainerd Cummings has contracted to build the new dwelling house for George F. Cheever on Maple Avenue. Milton Bancroft puts in the cellar."

George Franklin Cheever was born Dec. 10, 1851 in Andover, son of Benjamin & Betsy Jane (Hatch) Cheever. George married on Nov. 30, 1881 to Alice Monroe Bancroft b. Nov. 7, 1860 in Andover, dau. of Albert & Hannah (Pearson) Bancroft. George & Alice had nine children, seven survived to adults. Arthur b. Mar. 1883, Grace B. b. Sept. 1884, George L. b. Mar. 1887, Frederick Eaton b. June 18, 1888, Philip Stanley b. Aug. 7, 1892, Laura A. b. Aug. 1896, Brooks b. Mar. 28, 1898 and Doris Jennette b. Nov. 20, 1901 – d. Nov 18, 1902.
AT Sept. 24, 1897 – An addition is being built on the house of George F. Cheever on Maple Ave.

George listed his occupation as shoe dealer in 1900 and house carpenter in 1910 but he also served as Chief of Police in 1894-95 and was a Broker. The Cheever family occupied this home for 25 years. Alice Cheever would inherit her parent’s home at 9 Bancroft Rd. in 1909 so they sold this property to Josephine Knowles, wife of David B. on Sept. 15, 1909 and moved to the Bancroft family homestead. Their son Fred E. Cheever, was pay master at Tyer Rubber Co., an established realtor, developed Johnson Acres and served as Post Master in Andover in the 1930’s.

David Benjamin Knowles b. June 26, 1864, in Lawrence, son of David & Jan Ann (Eden) Knowles was a Jeweler in Lawrence. He married on Oct. 3, 1892 Josephine Brackett b. Mar. 1865 in Perry, ME dau. of John and Adeline Brackett. Her father John owned a successful electricial company in Lawrence. David and Josie had five children: Clifford B b. July 1893, Helen E. b. Mar. 1895, D. Russell b. Mar. 1898, Leslie Watkins b. 1901, and Audrey b. 1909. They held six years then selling to James Curren on Oct. 16, 1915.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Maps 1882, 1888, 1906
Andover Advertiser - Andover Townsman
Andover Directories
Ancestry.com - Cheever family

John H. Flint - June 16, 1866 rec. 7/26/1866 - b. 707 leaf 267 - 17 acres – [Maple Ave]
Lorin A. Dinsmore – Aug. 8, 1883 – b. 73 p. 145 – lot $500
Alice M. Cheever, wife of George F. – Apr. 12, 1884 – b. 76 p. 143 lot $500.
Josephine Knowles – Sept. 15, 1909 – b. 279 p. 581
David B. & Josephine Knowles – Sept. 15, 1914 – b. 346 p. 354 mtg
James Curren – Oct. 16, 1915 – b. 358 p. 180 – Poss. Mtg deed
Harry Ilgorsky – Oct. 19, 1915 – b. 359 p. 181
Rosie Sonek, wife of Harry – Nov. 29, 1915 – b. 359 p. 417
Dora Ilgorsky, wife of Harry – Apr. 23, 1916 – b.365 p. 406
Sarah Ilgorsky – April 20, 1917 – b. 375 p. 355
Patsey Rozzi & John Integlia – May 17, 1920 – b. 423 p. 242
Andover Savings Bank – Nov. 1930 – b. 555 p. 280 – Poss. Mgt. deed
William B. Baker – Nov. 17, 1930 – b. 556 p. 36 at auction
Joseph E. & Catherine C. Walison – Feb. 18, 1946 – b. 681 p. 449
Eugene E. & Mildred A. Demers – Nov. 26, 1952 – b. 769 p. 558
Sandra Dearborn & Melissa Dearborn – Dec. 14, 2001 – b. 6545 p. 34

Inventory Data:

StreetMaple Av
PlaceAndover Center District
Historic DistrictAndover Historic Building Survey
Historic NameGeorge F. & Alice M. Cheever House
Present Useresidence
Original Useresidence
Construction Date1884
SourceERDS, NERDL, style,
Architectural StyleItalianate
Architect/BuilderBrainerd Cummings/Builder
Foundationstone & granite
Wall/TrimClapboard/wood/asbestos clad
Roofasphalt/gable
Major Alterationsasbestos clapbording over original wood siding.
Conditiongood
Acreage0.437 a
Settingresidential
Map and parcel38-168
Recorded byW. Frontiero, James S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date entered28 Feb 1980, 11/3/2019

Images: 

Map: