Washington Ave. was constructed in 1889 and named on the Centennial of George Washington’s visit to Andover in 1789. Constructed over farm land of Charles O. Cummings, house lots were then sold off to residents and developers. By 1906 eighteen new homes had been built. Interesting to note that five new owners, Tyler, Lewis, Gray, Stiles and Caldwell were House Carpenters and Cummings and Wardwell were developers at each end of the avenue.
Aug. 30, 1889 Andover Townsman p. 4 - The new street, Washington Ave. is progressing rapidly, and from all appearances it is likely to be a good piece of road. The ledge at the Elm Street end had been blasted sufficiently, and the men are now engaged cutting down the ground above the grad and filling in the lower places. Quite a piece stretching from Summer Street is ready for the finishing touches.
October 25, 1889 AT – The new street Washington Ave. is beginning to look like a very good piece of road. The top dressing of red spring gravel is being put on.
Nov. 1, 1889 p.1 AT Commissioner Hayward has finished putting the top coat of Red Spring gravel on Washington Ave. and one sidewalk has been made the entire length.

37 Washington Ave – 21-68 – 0.364 a
This property was owned by Benjamin F. Wardwell, a house carpenter who lived at 42 Summer St. Wardwell sold the lot to George R. & Mattie A. Caldwell on Apr. 16, 1891.

George Rufus Caldwell was born Nov. 2, 1836 in Andover, son of Rufus Frost & Mary (Smith) Caldwell. George was also a house carpenter, and “at his trade he was a master workman and his work was known for its quality and substantialness”. George married April 1, 1878 in Lowell, MA to Mattie A. Mitchell b. July 26, 1852 in Russell, NY, dau. of George & Mary Mitchell. They did not have children.
George died on Sept. 17, 1914 after four years of illness. Mattie remained in the home another four years, then selling to Ruth E. Morway on July 25, 1918. Morway held 11 months then sols to George B. & Agnes Nicoll on June23, 1919.

The 1920 Valuation – George B. Nicoll: House $2500, land 16,000 sq. ft. $800 = $3300. Nicoll, a machinist, sold two years later to Eben Simmons on June 15, 1921. Simmons, a farm hand, was living at 42 Summer St. in the Wardwell house prior to his move.

Eben Simmons was born in Nov. 1870 in Nova Scotia, Canada, son of Thomas & Adela (Benjamin) Simmons. Eben came to Andover in 1890, worked as a farm laborer. Eben married on July 11, 1900 at St. Augustine’s Church to Annie O’Connor b. 1873 in Ireland, dau. of Michael & Gertrude (Smith) O’Connor. Eben & Annie had three children: Mary C., b. 1901, William E. b. 1904 and Catherine b. 1912.