This home was purchased by John Smith, President of the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Co. and deeded to them in 1864. It was used as a tenement house for operatives working in the flax mill. The home may have dated to the 18th century. Listed in the 1900 Valuation schedule as the Abbott House and Shed, 68 Essex St., Village $2000.

In the photo above one can see the old "Brick Block" to the left in the rear of the property. The dirt road was Higgins Ct. on the left. The Brick Block dated to the 1840's and was probably built by Smith & Dove shortly after they purchased the Abbott Mills in 1843 and the Howarth Mill in 1848. The building is assessed in 1850 for $3250 as property of the Smith, Dove & Co.

As the company expanded in Abbott Village, there was a demand for housing employees. Many homes in the area were converted into apartments to meet the demand.

The property remained with Smith & Dove until the company was purchased by the Ludlow Co. of MA in 1927. Smith & Dove placed all their land holdings into the Smith & Dove Tenements Co. Inc. Feb. 21, 1927. The property was then sold to Winifred A. Keith on May 13, 1927. The house was then used as income property with rental apartments. The property was sold to Donald & Barbara Richmond on Dec. 30, 1971. Richmond had purchased the townhouse block next door at 70-84 Essex Street. The house was razed in the mid 1970s and the lot has remained vacant ever since.
ARCO Properties LLC - Richmond - June 26, 2007 - b. 10810 p. 155