Themes: architectural, community development

Washington Ave. was constructed in 1889 and named on the Centennial of George Washington’s visit to Andover in 1789. Constructed over farm land of Charles O. Cummings, house lots were then sold off to residents and developers. By 1906 eighteen new homes had been built. Interesting to note that five new owners, Tyler, Lewis, Gray, Stiles and Caldwell were House Carpenters and Cummings and Wardwell were developers at each end of the avenue.

Aug. 30, 1889 Andover Townsman p. 4 - The new street, Washington Ave. is progressing rapidly, and from all appearances it is likely to be a good piece of road. The ledge at the Elm Street end had been blasted sufficiently, and the men are now engaged cutting down the ground above the grad and filling in the lower places. Quite a piece stretching from Summer Street is ready for the finishing touches.
October 25, 1889 AT – The new street Washington Ave. is beginning to look like a very good piece of road. The top dressing of red spring gravel is being put on.
Nov. 1, 1889 p.1 AT Commissioner Hayward has finished putting the top coat of Red Spring gravel on Washington Ave. and one sidewalk has been made the entire length.
38 Washington Ave – 21 -102 –

This property was once owned by Mary T. Bodwell when purchased by George W. Stiles on Jan 6, 1897. Stiles lived at #34 Washington Ave . Stiles, a house builder divided the 27,081 sq. ft.parcel into three house lots creating #36, #38, and #40 Washington Ave. Stiles built the homes then rented until selling them.

Stiles first rented this home. The 1900 Census lists Arthur P. Goodrich, born Aug. 1866, age 33, shoe salesman in Boston, wife Bertha b. Aug. 1873 age 26 and a three year of son Huchings b. June 1896. A cousin Parker A. Goodrich, b. Oct. 1840 age 59, widower, living with them. Parker is a Cutter in a shoe factory. Goodrich is here in 1904 but no longer listed in 1908.

Stiles sold the home to William J. Simpson on Jan. 6, 1919. William James Simpson was born in Lisburn, Co. Down, Northern Ireland on Dec. 29, 1884, son of George & Ellen (Matur) Simpson. William immigrated in 1912. He worked as a machinist in a mill in Pittsfield, MA where he met his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, a Winder, b. 1887 in Northern Ireland, dau. of Arthur & Mary (Read) Taylor. They married on May 25, 1912 in Pittsfield. William became assistant superintendent for Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. in Andover. William & Eliza had four sons; Charles b. 1913, George b. 1914, William A. b. 1916 and Robert A. b. 1918. Smith & Dove were bought out in 1927 and the Andover mill closed. William sold the home on Washington Ave. to Robert McCoubrie on July 6, 1926 and moved to 81 Salem Street. William became manager of a cotton mill.

Robert James McCoubrie, born Feb. 25, 1868 in Kilmore, Co. Down, Ireland (NI). Robert married Annabelle McCullough b. May 24, 1868 in Creigved, Co. Down, Ireland (NI). They had six children: Henrietta “Hattie” Lily b. 1896, Mary “May” Jane b. 1898, and Robert James b. Aug. 4, 1899. The family left County Antrim from Londonderry on April 25, 1902 on the Anchor Line S.S. Ethiopia, in steerage class arriving in NYC on May 5th. Robert had $65 in his pocket. They stayed with Annie’s brother Robert McCullough in Providence, RI where daughter Anna was born on March 14,1903. They later settled in Andover where Sarah b. July 12, 1906 and William b. July 16, 1908 were born.

Robert was a janitor at Phillips Academy and lived at 25 Phillips St. Sadly Annie died July 6, 1918 age 50. The family later moved to 48 Morton St, prior to purchasing the home on Washington Ave. In 1930 census Robert’s children, Anna, Sarah, William and Mary J., now married to George Brown, resided with him. Anna & Sarah both work as bookkeepers at the National Bank. William is a machinist at a garage and George in an Electrical Engineer. In 1940 all but William continue to live in the home. Robert placed the deed in daughters Sarah and Annie McCoubrie on Feb. 10, 1941. Robert retired and died on Jan. 24, 1946. The home stayed in the McCoubrie family for 65 years. Anna McCoubrie died on June 3, 1988, leaving Sarah sole heir. Sarah sold the home on March 20, 1992 to James Dale MacDonald & Debra D. MacDonald.