Original owner: J. Gray ?

Themes: Architectural, Community development
Across street from site of an earlier Holt District Schoolhouse

Historical significance:
This may be a later house, i.e. 1840's, but a J. Gray is cited on the 1830 M. Dorman map of Andover. A Mr. Carlton sold the property to Jessie Harnden on Apr. 24, 1848. Jessie had purchased the "Great Meadow" near by on Apr. 9, 1846 from Seth Farnham's estate. In the 1850 Valuation Schedule lists Jesse farm as 35 acres, house $850, barn & shed $100., 11 acre house lot, 11 1/2 acre pasture $200, 1 1/2 acre Woodland $100, 1 acre Peat Meadow $25, 10 Acre Carlton land $180. and farm stock $180.

Jesse purchased additional parcels of land from Henry J. Gray in 1858, John B. Jenkins in March 1877 two lots, and from the Samuel Tucker's estate the "Pine Swamp" pasture in No. Andover Mar. 1866.

Jessie Harnden was born in New Hampshire on Jan. 25, 1812, son of Jesse & Hannah Harnden. Jesse was a farmer and married Dorothy W. Willey on Nov. 23, 1835. They had eight children, Hannah Jane b. 1837, Henry Clayton b. 1839, Nancy D. b. 1841, George W. b. Aug. 12, 1843, Laura A. b. 1845, Sarah Elizabeth b. 1849 - d. 1850, Helen L. b. 1851 - d. 1852 and Emma L. b. 1856 - d. 1858.

Jessie Harnden died Dec. 20, 1881 and the property went to his son George W. Harnden. Dorothy died on Sept. 12, 1890.

George was born on Aug. 12, 1843, married Jan 25, 1868 to Mary "Lottie" A. Carter of Wilmington, MA. George & Lottie had one son Jessie Walter Harnden b. 1870. George died at age 59 on Nov. 25, 1902. Lottie sold the property eight years later to Moses B. Johnson on May 11, 1910.

Johnson held the property for three years then sold to Enrico & Lena R. Carpilio on May 29, 1913. Carpillio stayed just two years then selling the property with all the stock, machinery and farming tools to Gustav & Minna A. Dimlich on Apr. 7, 1915.

Gustav & Minna A. Dimlich were both German immigrants in 1880 and had settled in Lawrence, MA. Gustav was a Plumber by trade. They married in 1892 and would also have eight children; Samuel b. Apr. 1893, Herbert C. b. Apr. 1893, Harold G. b. Aug. 1897, Carl F. b Aug. 1899, Albert b. 1903, Philip b. 1906, Marion b. 1909 and Benjamin b. 1914.

Gustav continued his trade as plumber and work for Phillips Academy. His son Samuel followed the same trade. Son Harold G. became a farmer and leased the farm land from his parents in 1924. Carl F. worked as a farm laborer, and Philip C. worked as a fireman at Phillips Academy. Albert and Benjamin became school teachers and daughter Marion a stenographer.

Several parcels of the farm were sold off to the children. Gustav and Minna
remained in the home until their deaths. The Dimlich family heirs sold the property to Leon & Paula Gronquist on Nov. 18, 1981. Sadly Leon Gronquist died ten years later on June 2, 1991. His wife Paula Gronguist was the heir and sold the property to Cindy A. Maher on Dec. 10, 1999 with a life tenancy estate. Cindy Maher held the property for sic years then selling to Timothy B. DeSutter on Oct. 31, 2005.