444 Lowell St. 197-10

This home is located just east of the former Lowell – Lawrence Railroad, Boston District line constructed in 1847-1848 to service the new City of Lawrence. The property was owned by Paul B. Follensbee who built his home across the street at 359 Lowell St.

This home appears to have been built by Paul Follensbee and used as an income rental. The Haggetts Depot Station was directly across the street and may have been use by the station master. In the 1870 Census; Samuel Batchelder age 38 Depot Master, wife Augusta S. 32, and children Freddie S. 8, Benjamin N. 7 and Josephine 5 with mother Clara N. Stone age 71 are in this area of Lowell Street.

Paul Follensbee died on May 9, 1900. The Follensbee estate was inherited by his daughter Emma A. Spalding who died in 1912. Emma left her estate to her brother John Follensbee who died on January 20, 1901. Roy F. Spaulding, Laura & Charles Spaulding and this home was sold to George M. Hunter, of Methuen on Jan. 12, 1916.

George Matthew Hunter was born June 28, 1873 in Lawrence, son of John & Marion Maria (Colquhoun) Hunter, both Scottish immigrants. George was the youngest of three children to John and Marion, two brothers John W. b. July 18, 1866 d. Sept. 28, 1873 and Alexander b. 1868. His mother Marion died on Feb. 23, 1875. The 1880 census lists George Hunter age 7, as adopted son, living with his grandfather John Colquhoun age 75 and his two children, Alexander age 25 a butcher and Elizabeth age 28 mill worker. George would continue to live with his Aunt Elizabeth Colquhoun. In 1900 they had moved to Andover and rented at 234 Main St. George is an upholsterer. George later went to work for the American Woolen Co., lived in Methuen and became manager of the bag and burlap mill on Canal St. in Lawrence. The 1920 Census lists George at Lowell St., age 45, with his Aunt Elizabeth now 75.

George married on June 21, 1922 to Beatrice Elizabeth Monroe b. Aug. 12, 1895 in Bradford, MA dau. of Joseph W. & Grace Jane (McGillivray) Monroe. George bought land along the east side of the railroad route (now owned by Boston & Maine Railroad Co.) George would own three homes in a row, #440, #442 and #444 Lowell St. The 1920 Andover Valuation lists: George M. Hunter, Lowell St. - House, $950, Barn $150, ¼ acre $50, House #1 $600, House #2 $700, 4 acres $300 = $2750.

The 1926 Andover Directory has George and Beatrice living in the cottage at 440 Lowell. This home has Hugh & Agnes Colquhoun living here. Hugh is listed as a carpenter. They are also listed in the 1929-29 directory. In 1930 Raymond Monre is listed.

On August 10, 1926 George bought an 8.23 acre parcel at 36 Haggetts Pond Rd. from the American Woolen Co. The former Seth Chase homestead farm which also included the lot now at #48 Haggetts Pond Rd. The railroad line ran along the west boarder of the farm and had closed down in August 1924. It is believed that George moved the Haggetts Station depot from the north side of Lowell St. to 48 Haggetts Pond. George died on Dec. 22, 1928 and his widow Beatrice remained in the 440 Lowell St. house. Beatrice rented the cottage house at #48 to her sister and brother-in-law Clare I. & Andrew K. Innes in 1930. The Seth Chase house was sold to Alice Bell in 1934 and razed.

Raymond A. & Kathryn Munroe purchased the property on Aug. 21, 1934. Raymond b. Mar. 23, 1902 in Lawrence, son of Joseph & Grace (MacGillivary) Munroe and brother of Beatrice Hunter. Raymond was a mail carrier in Lawrence in 1943. Ray married on June 21, 1925 in Londonderry, NH to Kathryn Elizabeth Gibbs b. 1904 dau. of James B. & Martha (Baldwin) Gibbs. Children; Alan R. b. 1926, James Gordon b. 1928 and Richard G. b. 1933. Katheryn died in 1984 and Raymond Monroe on Sept. 15, 1985. Both interred in Bellevue Cemetery, Lawrence, MA. Son Richard Munroe, executor of the estate sold the property to Anna Marie Conte on March 17, 1986. The Munroe family owned for 52 years.