Themes: architectural, community development
Certificate of Appreciation - Andover Preservation Awards, May 1, 1994

Housing for workers at earliest spinning mills along the Shawsheen River. Subsequent use as tavern and residence.

Historic Site;
The house that occupied this site was razed on August 21 & 22, 2012 after much effort by the Preservation Commission to prevent demolition by developers. The house had a long history in Abbott Village and deeds lead back to the Griffin family. The owner of the property in 2006 gutted the interior of #60, left side, down to the studs with a plan to add an additional apartment to the rear but that never materialized.

The exposed walls revealed that the left side had been a separate structure and moved to this location. There was no basement under this portion of the house. The two structures, both post and beam, had never been tied together, both standing independently with a few inches of space between. Only the exterior sheathing joined the the two houses. Closed off windows on the right side revealed the the house at #62 was built as a Cape. The large chimney held five fireplace boxes, one located in the basement and probably used as a summer kitchen. It has been stated that this space was also once used as a tavern.

Jonathan Griffin was born in Andover on June 23, 1774 the son of Shemuel [sic] & Abigail Griffin. He married a Zeruiah and they had eight children; Jonathan b. Feb. 16, 1795, Jonathan b. Feb. 6, 1797, Joseph b. Nov. 8, 1798, Cyrus b. Nov. 9, 1800, Charles b, Aug. 3, 1802, Roxanna b. Dec. 27, 1803 d. Dec. 29, George b. Mar.15, 1807, Henry b. Feb. 3, 1810. A six boys survived to adulthood. Their father Jonathan died on July 13, 1813 at the age of 41. Zeruiah Griffin, widow and tailoress, died of a diseased heart on Nov. 1, 1845 at the age of 71.

Thomas C. Foster was executor of Zeruiah Griffin estate. The property was purchased by Rogers Blood, laborer on Nov. 2, 1846 for $800. The 1850 Census lists Roger Blood 56 a mason. Wife Martha 51, children James 23 mason, Martha M. Magee, 21, Roxanna 15, George W. 12 and John L. age 1. A Winthrop Shazey 27 and Mr. Dennett 24 both mill wrights born in NH were boarding at the home. The 1850 Andover Valuation; Rogers Blood 1/4 acre, Dwelling house $800. Blood owned for seven years then selling to David Higgins, laborer on Oct. 18, 1853 for $650.

David Higgins was born in Ireland in in 1813, married Ann Barker b. 1816 in England and had three children in Ireland; William b. 1834 – 7/18/1861, Maria b. 1837, and Ann b. 1840 prior to immigrating to Andover. Five more children were born in Andover; Eliza b. Sept. 20, 1848, Sarah Jane b. Jan. 5, 1851, Joseph W. b. July 23, 1853, George b. May1856 – d.4/19/1868, David b. Feb. 4, 1859, and John b. Nov. 2, 1861. David was a Flax Dresser, worked at Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. As his home was on the corner next to the road that leads to the Brick Block and the S& D Co. mills, the right of way became known as Higgins Court. David died April 15, 1884 at age 71. He is interred at St. Augustine’s Cemetery. The 1885 Directory does not list any of the Higgins family at this address so they may have rented the home as income property for their mother. Widow Annie died May 8, 1893. The Higgins family held the property for 41 years. The Higgins family heirs; Richard & Maria Donohue of Gardner, MA, Annie Higgins, single woman, Andover, Michael T. & Eliza Walsh, Andover, James & Sarah J. Nolan of Weymouth; Joseph W. Higgins, Andover, David Higgins, Boston and John Higgins, Andover sold the property for $1200 on August 14, 1894 to the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co.

The house was then rented out to mill operatives. With the sale of the Smith & Dove to the Ludlow Co. in 1927 all the company holdings were placed into the Smith & Dove Tenements, Inc. The holding company changed its name to to Andover Homes Inc. which then transferred to Ludlow Manufacturing Associates on Aug. 31, 1928. Virgil D. Harrington purchased the property in June 1932 then to Indian Ridge Co. Inc. in Nov. 1932. The house was then bought by Alexander & Hughina (Ina) Auchterlonie on Aug. 5, 1933.

The Auchterlonie family held the property for 45 years then selling to David & Ella C. Cargill on June 10, 1977. David Cargill died March 2, 1978. Ella maintained the property doing needed renovations and received recognition for her efforts with a Certificate of Appreciation Award from the Andover Preservation Commission on May 1, 1994. Ella held the property until Apr. 9, 2004 when she sold to Peter D. Kelleher.

Peter Kelleher began renovations to the interior of the house in 2006. He had hoped to enlarge the home with a rear addition adding another apartment if possible. In the process of removing all the walls in the apartment at #60 much of the construct history was revealed at that time. Original window openings, doorway changes, staircases and a few unknown fire places exposed. There was no foundation under the east end of the house. With the loss of rental income plans stalled. Two new plans to demolish the house and one to build a profession doctors office and a second to put 3 condos on the lot never materialized.

Unfortunately the house was taken and auctioned off to Miami Stuart Realty Trust LLC on Jan. 30, 2009. The house remained vacant for nearly four years before being purchased by Dundee Station LLC on Aug. 14, 2012. The house was deemed unsafe by the building department and condemned. The home came down on August 21 & 22, 2012. The lot was landscaped and seeded and continues to be maintained.

The Preservation Commission was able to photograph the interior spaces and draw floor plans of the home before demolition. Photographs were also taken during the two days the structure was razed.

Tenants of 60 & 62 Essex Street
1995 - #62 - Margaret C. Turner - bartender
1972 - #60 - Dennis M. & Diane A Traynor
1968 - #60 - Catherine Marcille, born 1910 housewife
1960 - #60 - Ralph & Janice Heselton
1955-59 - #60 - Ina Auchterlonie
1943 - #60 - James H. Eldridge
1932 - #62 - Alexander & Ina Auchterlonie - Tyer Rubber Co.
1929 - #60 - George & Mary Buss,- flax dresser, Elizabeth Buss - Telephone Operator
1929 - #62 - Frank A. Goodwin - Laborer
#62 Amanda J. McCarthy age 76
#62 Catherine C. McCarthy age 39 - Operative
1901 - #62 - William M. Clark - watchman