Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. 1848
Themes: architectural, community development

This eight unit townhouse apartment building was build by the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. in 1905
Dec. 22, 1905 AT – Abbott Village - David Black of Higgins Court is to move into one of the new tenements in the Smith & Dove new block on Essex Street.

These tenement row houses were the first constructed by the company exclusively for workers and their families in the 20th century. Smith & Dove built quality housing units for both the married and single operatives employed by their company. [Brechin Terrace 1907 and Hillside 1912]
The first tenants in the apartments Andover 1908 Directory: 1908 Andover Directory Essex Street – Smith & Dove New Block
70 – Clark, William, wife Wilhemina, S&D Co., and Barkley, Emma A. S&D Co.
72 - Black, David, wife, Mary A , S&D Co. Dresser, Mary L. b. 1891 S&D Co. Spinner, Margaret b. 1894, Robert b. 1897, Christina, b. 1902, Alexander b. 1906 and Petrie, Alexander S&D Co.
74 – Dudley, Thomas, wife Ann M. S&D Co., Alexander Arlington Mills, Lawrence, Mary Tyer Rubber Co. and Connelly, Katherine
76 – Germain, Leon, wife Barbara S&D Co., Mechanic Woolen Mill, Paul b. 1904, Leon Jr. b. 1908
78 – Ryly, John, wife Catherine A. - S&D Co. – Carder, here 1910, Alexander - b. 1891 (1910 census)
80 – Black, Alexander, wife, Isabella S&D Co. Dresser, Alexander Jr, S&D Co., John S&D Co., William Machinist, Mary M, b. 1894, David C. b. 1898
82 – MacKenzie, William, wife, Elizabeth, S&D Co. - Dresser, Mary J. b. 1891
84 – Gordon, John, wife _______, S&D Co., Robina b. 18__, S&D Co. William H. b. 1889 S&D Co. Machinist , Jennie b. 1891 S&D Co. Mender, Elizabeth b. 1893 S&D Co.Twister,
Edward b. 1899, Evaline b. 1904, John Jr. b. 1906, and Charles Dolan b. 1888 Finisher - Wool Mill, Rose Dolan b. 1894 Inspector – Wool Mill.

The expansion of the mills created demand for housing which was in short supply in the Abbott Village area. Smith & Dove began the process of buying several homes in the area and converting them into company owned apartments or tenements. S & D had built a large three story apartment building referred to as "The Brick Block" which was built about 1845 - 1850 and stood just southeast of this block on a right of way called Higgins Court. The old brick building was later razed in 1927. Oct. 7, 1927 – AT p.1 col. 4 - Workmen have begun tearing down the old brick building owned by Smith & Dove Manft. Co. in Higgins Court. The building has been occupied seventy-five years and some of the first flax workers hired in the Smith & Dove mill lived here.

This apartment block on Essex St. was built with families in mind. The apartments are arranged as four mirror image unit blocks. As you enter a unit there is an entry hall with stairway to the second level and one to the basement. Off the hallway is the front living room and to the rear is a large eat-kitchen and a small pantry off to the side. The back faces south to a large sunny yard that once had 8 rows of clotheslines for the tenants, today parking is provided. On the second floor are two bedrooms and a bath over the pantry area below. The attic space had an additional bedroom and storage area.

"In my youth, my grandmother, Elizabeth Ferrier and uncle Andrew lived at #82 from 1955 -1970. Mr. & Mrs. James & Constance Turnbull next door at #84. Many Scottish immigrants who came to work in the mills were from Angus County where the Smith & Dove families had also lived. You could spot where the Scots lived in Abbott Village as a Scottish tradition was to polish the brass on the front doors on the first of each month to bring good fortune. The doors that shined were all the Scots." (Notes of Jim Batchelder, grandson)

The Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. was purchased by the Ludlow Co. and all operations moved to Ludlow, MA. by 1928. A map of the company holdings was done by John Franklin CE. in 1927 map # 676. The Smith & Dove Co. created the "Smith & Dove Tenements, Inc.", later renamed "Andover Homes, Inc., to sell off all their property holdings. This block labeled lot #39 on the plan was sold to Frank & Dorothy McBride on April 27, 1928. A second parcel next door lot #38, the old Keith home (built 1840) was later purchased by McBride.

The McBrides held the property for 32 years before selling to Donald & Barbara Richmond in 1960. The building was painted by Richmond to a gray and white in the 1970s but returned to its original color scheme of brown and cream. In 2007 the Richmond holdings in Andover were all place into the ARCO Properties LLC.