Present owner: James S. Pierro Jr. Aug. 2004.

Themes: Architectural, Community development, Industry, Religion
18 Ridge Street – Mark H. Newman House

The Deacon Mark H. Newman house once stood on the corner lot of Central & School Streets where the current Episcopal Church building is now located. The house is a Federal period structure which had its center main entrance facing Central St. and two large wings off the rear of the house. It is said Newman boarded boys from Phillips Academy here. Mark was married twice, first to Sarah Phillips and then to Abigail Dodge. Mark died on June 15, 1859. His daughters Margaret Newman and Hannah N. Fay sold the house and property to the Proprietors of Protestant Episcopal Church also known as Christ Church Parish on November 21, 1885 for $6000. The next month the Christ Church Parish put the Newman house up for auction provided it was moved off the site.
Dec. 11, 1885 Andover Advertiser (AA) p2 – The Henry [sic] Newman house, corner of School &Central Streets will be sold at public auction tomorrow afternoon at 3’ o’clock.
Dec. 18, 1885 AA p9 The Mark Newman house was sold last Sat. to Mr. Dennis O’Brien. Mr. Dennis O’Brien has purchased two house lots on School Street, near the B & M Station of Messrs Abbott & Jenkins; he intends moving his Mark Newman house to that place.

O’Brien did purchase the lot of land at the corner of Ridge and School Streets and moved the house and the two back additions down to this location. The main house was placed on a high ground floor cellar foundation and the two wings were placed on a lot to the east and north of the house creating three separate buildings for tenement housing. Today houses numbers #14–16 and #18 Ridge St and #77 School St. comprise the original parts of Newman house. O’Brien converted all three structures into income rental apartments with the plan to rent to workers at the mills of the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. and the Tyer Rubber Co. nearby.

John J. Sweeney purchased the properties in 1900 and held to his death. The Sweeny heirs sold to Patrick Daly in January 1929 and the Daly family held the property for 28 years. It sold to Westport Realty Trust in Jan. 1957. Westport Realty Trustees were; Guy B Howe and Amita M. & Charles P. Howe of Andover. The property was surveyed in August 1959 and a map Plan #4034 divided up the lot and houses into four separate lots including #75 School St. Westport Realty Trust sold in 1964 to Suburban Household Enterprises, Inc. John R. Daly, Trustee.
In the next decade five more owners would hold the property. On May 28, 1974 Torrisi & DiFiore Inc. Raymond E. DeFiore Pres. bought the property and sold off #77 School St. to Rosalie V. E. Dodd in July 1977. Torrisi & DeFiore then sold to Ralph A. & Marie Barbagallo Jr. Trustees in 1977. They would sell off #75 School St. to Michael K. & Eileen A Broderick on Aug. 31, 1978. The remaining two lots of #14–16 and #18 Ridge St., the original Newman homestead, were later sold to Massih & Denise A. Massihzadegan in Oct. 1979. Who held for 26 years. James S. Pierro Jr. purchased the properties in Aug. 2004.