This property was once part of the Abbott-Baker homestead at 5 Argilla Rd.

George Frost Baker inherited the Baker homestead at 5 Argilla Rd. George was born on Oct. 10, 1830 in Andover, son of David & Lucy F. (Mann) Baker. He married Charlotte Abbott Blanchard b. 1838 dau. of Joshua & Liza Jane Blanchard. George d. Aug. 23, 1907 and Charlotte A. d. Dec. 18, 1936. Children; Ina Lord b. Nov. 12, 1870 – d. Feb. 23, 1953 and Charlotte “Lottie” Evelyn b. May 1879.

Ina Lord Baker married on June 10, 1896 at South Church, Andover to Herbert Lincoln White b. Oct. 1873 in Chelsea, MA, son of Henry Kirk & Laura Emma (Pratt) White. Herbert was an engineer of the heating plant at Marland Mills. They first lived at 87 Andover St. and then to 10 Reservation Rd. The house was most likely built for them in 1897. The property had two acres 59 rods and was deeded to Ina White on Dec. 7, 1897 by her father George Baker. Ina & Herbert then took a mortgage for $1050 with the Lawrence Cooperative Bank.

Ina & Herbert had five children: Gertrude B. b. Dec. 22, 1896 Reading, MA, Winthrop Kirk b. Apr. 17, 1898 - d. Dec. 1979 (m. Elsie Ruth Holt), Sidney Pratt b. May 12, 1899 - d. Oct. 26, 1983, Marion Blanchard b. Oct. 5, 1901 d. 2003 (m. Alexander Harold Henderson) and Charlotte Frost b. Nov. 5, 1907 - d.

The front yard contained a landmark curiosity named “Samson’s Hockey”. An old Oak tree bent like a large hockey stick. George Baker deeded the tree and a 10 foot strip of land to the road to the Andover Village Improvement Society (AVIS) on June 14, 1897. The Indian Ridge Reservation had also just been acquired by AVIS. The deed included a restriction that should the Oak tree die or AVIS cease to exist, the tree lot would return to the Baker heirs.

The children were all raised here and some would later get portions of the Baker farm to build homes upon. Son Sidney P. White went into farming and in 1920 was living with his grandmother Charlotte Baker at 5 Argilla Rd. supervising the Baker farm. He would later purchase the Baker homestead in 1939 from his mother after she inherited in 1936. Daughter Marion and husband Alex Henderson built a Bungalow house north of the Baker home on Argilla Rd. Son Winthop lived at 87 Andover St.

Ina White died on Feb. 23, 1953 and Herbert died on Feb. 18, 1963. Sidney P. White purchase his childhood home from the estate on June 24, 1963 for $10,700. The property was then placed in the Thornton Trust with Richard M Sullivan as trustee. The home was then rental property for Sid White.
Samson’s Hockey finally succumbed to the elements and disease and was cut down by AVIS in 1982. “As the tree has died and has been removed from the premises.” AVIS then deeded the property back to Sid White on July 30, 1982. That November Sid sold the property to Princeton Place Realty Trust, Doug R. Mifflin and William. S. MacLeod trustees and developers. The property was subdivided into two lots and the home was renovated and enlarged. A new house was built on the adjoining lot to the north. Sidney White died the following year on Oct. 26, 1983 but lived long enough to see his former childhood home restored.

Michael B. & Jane L. Roberts purchase the property on June 1, 1983 and lived her 14 years.
See 5 Argilla Road for Abbott – Baker history

Samson's Hockey
George F. Baker to AVIS – Andover Village Improvement Society – June 14, 1897 – b. 155 p. 599
“Samson’s Hockey” The large Oak tree with the curious bend in the front yard of the home at 10 Reservation Rd. – A strip of land 10’ wide to the road from either side of the tree 5’ from the center. If the tree should die or AVIS cease to exist, the land will revert back to the original owners or heirs.
Andover Townsman - October 1897
Editor of the Townsman,
In reply to a request from one of the Indian Ridge Committee, that I would ask my brother, Dr. John G. Johnson of Brooklyn, N.Y., what little circumstance led to the naming of the Old Oak, Samson’s Hockey, I am pleased to give from one of his letters the following:
“The origin of Samson’s Hockey was with your brother Samuel; hockey was a great game when we were boys and when we were going through the woods he called out attention to the shape of the tree. George Baker, I think, said “what a magnificent hockey it would make.” Samuel replied “Yes, but it would take Samson to use it.” We used to call it Samson’s hockey after that. I had forgotten the occurrence of fifty years ago. It must have grown since then.”
Very cordially,
Mrs. J. E. Sears.
Andover, Oct. 13, 1897.

Samuel Johnson b. April 20, 1831 and brother John b. Oct. 10, 1833 were sons of Dr. Samuel & Susanna (Barker) Johnson and lived at 25 Central St. Their sister Susan M. married John C. Sears, the shoe merchant who had his shop in the National Bank building on Main Street. George Frost Baker, mentioned above, b. October 10, 1830 lived a 5 Argilla Rd. and by coincidence shared the same birth date as John.

The old tree was still there in the 1970's but in a sad decaying state. On July 30, 1982 AVIS deeded the property back to Sidney P. White b. 1594 p. 60. What remained of Samson's Hockey was later taken down.