#11 Center St. today was formerly #9 Centre St. in earlier directories. Re-numbering and corrections were done in Andover in 1959. Centre St. on earlier maps and deeds was also referred to at times as Central St. in Ballardvale.

The Ballardvale Machine Shop Corp., John Marland, President, purchased much of the property in the center of Ballardvale in 1847. The land was then sub-divided the into house and store lots and began selling off parcels in 1848. John Marland and John Howe Jr. owned the parcel along Centre St. (now Center St.) and began auctioning off their 35 lots on July 28. 1847. The auctioneers were Loring, Abbott and Porter of Boston.

The Ballardvale Machine shop would begin selling off their holdings in 1848 and Samuel Abbott and William Abbott followed suit with their property on Oak and Tewksbury Streets. The greater portion of the village center was developed at this period of time.

Lots #11 and #12 on the Marland & Howe 1847 map, was sold to Hiram O. Tuttle on July 28, 1847 at auction, #11 for $65.67 containing 5254 sq. ft. and lot #12 of 4752 sq. ft. for $59.40. The two combined equaled 10,016 sq. feet which show up in later deeds. The deeds are interesting and confusing in that Tuttle appears to have sold off a portion of lot #12 containing 2016 sq. ft. to Thomas Finn after the auction. The deeds state, "not embraced and included" in the purchase of lot 12. This portion is now #9 Center St.

We know that Tuttle sold this lot to Arthur N. Bean in Dec. 1847. Bean owned an operated a Livery business in Ballardvale, later moved to Elm Sq. in Andover Center. In the 1850 Andover Valuation Schedule, West Parish - Bean is assessed a Dwelling house $600., Barn $150, shed $100, Farm Stock and Carriages $850. No land is assessed. Bean owned for seven years then selling to Owen Caffrey on Jan 12, 1855. Owen then sells to James Caffrey in Aug. 1856 then transferred to Thomas Caffrey, wife Ann in October. The property remained in the Caffrey family for 50 years then was sold to Jeremiah Cronin in Jan. 1905. The Cronin family held for 40 years. Caffrey purchased a second lot to the rear of the property in 1933.

Eugene & Rose R. Murnane purchased the property in March 1945. Eugene b. 1913 was a Mill operative and Rose b. 1900 a L.P. Nurse. Murnanes owned for 42 years.