This property was once part of the Nathaniel Whittier estate (10 Summer St.) and inherited by his heirs, Ann Higgins, Hannah E. Whittier and Mary L. Dickerson, wife of William Dickerson. Susan F. Brown purchased the half acre on Park St. on Apr. 25, 1881 for $800. Susan was born Dec. 10, 1836 in Ballardvale, dau. of Samuel & Eliza (Davis) [Doe] Burr and the wife of Benjamin Brown.

Benjamin Brown was born on Dec. 17, 1835 in Andover, one of nine children of Jacob & Ruby (Farnum) Brown. Benjamin Brown established a shoe & boot shop in 1857 in the Deacon Albert Abbott building on the “Hill” at Main St. and Highland Rd. That same year he married Susan F. Burr. Ben and Susan had one son George A. b. Dec. 5, 1859. Benjamin relocated his shop to the center of town to Swift’s building at #43 Main St. in August 1870. His son George A. Brown would later join the business. They did a large trade in custom work and were the official outfitters to Phillips Academy.

The Browns were active members of South Church. Susan died on July 14, 1908 at City Hospital, Boston of a rare skin disease. Benjamin remarried at age 69 on Aug. 30, 1905 to Kate Wiley Towne daughter of Joseph H. & Eliza J. C. (Wiley) Towne. Kate was born in Bridgeport, CT but sadly died on Dec. 30, 1908. Son George had also married on Sept. 25, 1905 in Haverhill at age 45 to Mary Byers (Bruce) Poor age 44, widow of George H. Poor and dau, of David & Jemima (Burns) Bruce. This union however did not last as Mary is not listed in the 1910 census.

Benjamin Brown died Feb. 12, 1915 and George continued the business until his the death on Jan. 28, 1919 of Influenza and pneumonia. The business was then purchased by Henry E. Miller who had established a shop with partner Alfred Robb on Bartlet St. “The Andover Shoe Hospital” in 1914
The property had been inherited by their son George A. Brown who died in 1919. Charles F. Emerson was the administrator of George's estate who was the nephew of Benjamin and cousin to George. The property was sold to Susan M. Emerson, wife of Charles on Oct. 4, 1919 and the Emersons lived here for 35 years.

Charles Francis Emerson was born June 22, 1877 in North Reading son of Benjamin A. & Laura Ann (Brown) Emerson. His mother was Benjamin Brown’s sister. Charles was a Motorman or Truckman when he married on his birthday in 1904 at Medford, MA to Susan Maria Peabody. Susan was born Nov. 12, 1876, a shoe sticher, dau. of James W. & Olive (Symonds) Peabody. Charles joind the Andover Fire Dept. in 1909 as a call man, appointed Call Chief in 1920 and then Fire Chief from 1924 to 1941. Charles & Susan had one adopted daughter Madeline S. born 1911 who became a Practical Nurse and married Philip Dodge. By the 1940 Census the house had been converted into four apartments. Susan died on Sept. 27, 1952 at age 75. Charles died May 31, 1954 at Portsmouth, NH. Both are interred at Riverside Cemetery in No. Reading.

The property was sold to William H. & Grace V. Harrison Jr. on Dec. 1, 1954. The Harrisons held the property four years then selling to Daniel N & Claire G. Morin on Dec. 3, 1958. The Morins placed the property into the Daniel N & Claire G. Morin Trust in Feb. 1996 and continue to own in 2015.