81 Bellevue Road

Architectural Description: 

Greek Revival farmhouse

Historical Narrative: 

This former farmhouse was not listed on the Andover Building survey done in 1975-1977 or at anytime after. It is now listed only as an historical reference to the Osgood District.

The property was once owned by Joshua Griffin who married Hannah Chandler on Nov. 13, 1810. Joshua and Hannah had three children; Hannah b. Sept. 25, 1811, Maria b. July 4, 1813 and Martha b. Apr. 13, 1815. Joshua's death is not recorded in the Andover vital records. His widow Hannah is the administrator of his estate and sells to Benjamin Dane for $142.45 one undivided half of the 36 acre 125 rods property on Apr. 23, 1821. We believe that the house was built for Benjamin Dane.

Benjamin Dane b. 1790, bpt. Oct. 31, 1790 son of William Jr. and Abiah Dane married on Sept. 24, 1815 in Tewksbury, MA to Lydia Brown. b. Aug. 31, 1798 in Tewksbury, dau. of Stephen & Hannah (Shed) Brown. Benjamin & Lydia had ten children: Benjamin A. b. Dec. 21, 1815, Lydia b. Aug. 15, 1817, Joseph b. May 14, 1819, John O. b. Nov. 28, 1820, son b. Dec. 17, 1822 (George A.), Richard G, b. 1825, Elitia S. b. ?, Hannah b. 1835, Lucy b. 1848. and son Elmore.

The 1850 census has Benjamin, wife Lydia, son John O. and his wife Mary P. all living in the home. Lydia died March 29, 1862 and is interred in the Tewksbury Cemetery.

Benjamin takes a mortgage loan from George A. Dane on Oct. 23, 1861 for $300 on the two parcels of land. The first is 36 acres 23 roads and the second is a 12 acre lot with buildings. George A. Dane b. 1823, married Jerusha Frost int. filed on Jan. 25, 1845. The 1865 Mass. State census lists Benjamin age 75, farmer, George A. age 42 Blacksmith, wife Jerusha 40, and two sons George F. 18 and Willie F. 13.
The 1860 Agricultural schedule census lists Benjamin Dane's farm with 28 improved acres and 6 unimproved. He had 1 horse, two cows, 2 oxen and 1 swine.

Benjamin Dane died on Jan. 27, 1867 age 77y 2m. His will appointed George A. as administrator of the estate. All the living children receive $10 each and George the remainder of the estate. The 1870 Valuation lists George A. Dane; House $375, Barn $125, 32 acres $700 = $1200. His Farm stock is $227. George & Jerusha own for 30 years then sold the house lot piece to William F. and Maggie Dane on Oct. 19, 1892. George held the remainder of the property. The parcel had dwindled to 9 acres 117 rods by the time of sale in 1901 to Edwidn C. Moody. George moved to 51 Argilla Rd. where he shared property with Herman Dane.

It is interesting to note that the Lowell - Lawrence Railroad line cut across Dane's north west boundary of his land on through to Lowell St. and the Haggett's Pond Depot. The line was constructed about 1848-1850.

Bibliography/References: 

Essex County Registry Deeds, Salem, MA
Essex Northern Registry Deeds, Lawrence, MA
Andover Valuation 1870, 1920
Map plans #2960, and #2992

Owners;
Joshua Griffin
Joshua Griffin estate, Hannah Griffin, Adm. -
Benjamin Dane - Apr. 23, 1821 - b. 235 leaf 177
George A. & Jarusa Dane - Oct. 23, 1861 - b. 643 leaf 185
William F. Dane, wife Maggie - Oct. 19, 1892 - b. 121 p. 183
Edwin C. Moody, wife Mary F. - Feb. 7, 1901 - b. 183 p. 190 - lot 1
Edwin C. Moody, wife Mary - Apr. 1, 1902 - b. 192 p. 578 - lot 2
Fred T. Harrington - Feb. 1, 1911 - b. 300 p. 112 & 114 - 9 acres 117 rods
Bertha Mabel Woodman - Feb. 1, 1911 - b. 300 p. 112 - house lot 1
Bertha Mabel Woodman - July 24, 1939 - b. 624 p. 540 - 9 acres 117 rods
Fred T. Harrington - Mar. 10, 1944 - b. 720 p. 45
Fred T. Harrington estate, Frederick L. Harrigton Adm. - Feb. 2, 1955 - Probate
Sidney P. White - Feb. 17, 1955 - b. 808 p. 303
Thomas J. & Alma G. Pendergast - Apr. 14, 1960 - b. 913 p. 147-8
Francis J. & Elizabeth McNiff - Mar. 29, 1962 - b. 955 p. 167
Arbor Realty, Inc., Ricardo E. Zurrilla, treas. - July 28, 1967 - b. 1087 p. 201
Norman W. & Martha G. Rice - Mar. 26, 1968 - b. 1102 p. 443
Martha G. Rice - Sept. 12, 1985 - b. 2044 p. 268
Atlantic Coast Properties, Mark A. Henderson, Dir. - July 28, 2006 - b. 10309 p. 214
Mark A. Henderson & Christopher G. Prefontaine - Nov. 14, 2006 - b. 10524 p. 23
Nicholas Marcinowski - Nov. 28, 2006 - b. 10524 p. 25
Bank of New York, Mellon - June 29, 2010 - b. 12169 p. 165
C & L Homes, LLC of Burlington, MA - May 17, 2011 - b. 12489 p. 212
Litchfield Company, Inc. - July 1, 2005, b. 14289 p. 3
Thomas J. & Erin T. Bolton - July 2, 2015 - b. 14289 p. 5

Inventory Data:

StreetBellevue Rd
PlaceWest Parish - Osgood District
Historic DistrictNot Applicable
Historic NameBenjamin & Lydia Dane - Geo. A. & Jarusa Dane house
Present Useresidence
Original Usefarmhouse
Construction Date1861
SourceERDS, NERDL, style,
Architectural StyleGreek Revival
Foundationstone & granite
Wall/TrimClapboard/wood
Roofasphalt/gable
Outbuildings / Secondary Structures1906, Barn, sheds, ice house, garage
Major Alterationseast side room addition.
Conditionrazed
Demolition Detailsafter 2015
Acreage1.18 acres, 51,450 sq. ft.
Settingresidential
Map and parcel197-5
Recorded byJames S. Batchelder
OrganizationAndover Preservation Commission
Date enteredJuly 15, 2018

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