Themes: Architectural, Community development, Industry

This land was once owned by Eaton Green and Thomas Barron and the two lots were sold to Parker Fletcher on Aug. 4, 1847. Fletcher paid $142.31 for each lot. Parker Fletcher was a stone cutter and appears to have had the double house built. The following year on Aug. 19, 1848, he sells one undivided half of the property to John Horne, a blacksmith, for $1500. Horne held the West side of the house #15 and Fletcher the East. #13. John Horne then sells his share of the property to Richard Horne on Sept. 7, 1849, rec. Nov. 30th. Fletcher then sells his share of the property to Moses Foster Jr. in 1850.

It would be Richard Horne, of Stranthan, NH and Moses Foster Jr. of Andover, MA that would enter into an Indenture with each other and Partition off the house into separate parcels. Foster held the east side of the double house for thirteen years then selling to James Holmes for $800. The deed now states the north side. James Holmes b, 1811 in England, son of John & Sarah Holmes. James was a wool sorter at the Ballardvale Mills. He married on Jan. 20, 1849 age 38 to Mary Morrison age 31 b. Scotland, daughter of Alexander and Helen Morrison. Mary gave birth to twins; James and Ellen on March 5, 1849. With the death of James Holmes, his widow Mary, and children, Joseph M, Mary Agnes and Sarah F. MacDonald sell to Nellie H. Holmes on Aug. 24, 1886.

Richard Horne sells his side of the house to John H. Horne of Westford on Jan. 12, 1861. for $1000. John H. later moved to Medfield, MA and transferred the deed to his wife's name Emma A. Horne on Feb. 22, 1866. Andrew James did the deed transfer. With the death of Emma A. Horne in 1904 her half of the house (west side) was sold by her heirs, Byron F. , John E. and George A. Horne to Nellie H. Holmes on Nov. 15, 1904. Nellie H. Holmes is now owner of both sides of the building.

Part of development of Ballardvale in 1840's by John Marland & John Howe Jr. for employees of Ballardvale Mills. Mill village growth significant as it exemplifies a new, inexpensive, functional sort of architecture to satisfy a rapidly growing working force. In Andover, as in America, mill housing symbolizes the change from farm to factory.