Howe School
Howe School
The Howe School is a two-story Greek Revival brick school building of 1852 on the east side of Boston Road, north of the Billerica Common. It was built as the Howe Academy under the will of Dr. Zadok Howe, served as the town's public high school, and has belonged to the Town of Billerica since 1921. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
The one-acre lot was cut from the old homestead north of the meeting house that Capt. Jonathan Danforth gave to his son Jonathan Danforth Jr. in 1709. It passed through the Danforth family to the innholder David Osgood in 1760 and from his executors to Solomon Pollard in 1768. Pollard left it to his son Francis Pollard, and after Francis died in 1813 his widow Judith, as guardian of their son, sold the 56-acre homestead at auction in 1818 to John Crosby, who conveyed it in 1819 to Ichabod Everett of Boston.
On October 14, 1846, Everett, then a Billerica yeoman, sold to Dr. Zadock Howe, physician, for $250 "a certain tract or parcel of land ... on the east side of the main street leading from said Everetts dwelling house to the house of William Blanchard, containing one acre more or less." It measured eight rods along the wall by the road and twenty rods deep, beginning at a stake "two rods and one foot from the north side of said Everett's old barn." The deed was recorded on March 10, 1847.
Dr. Howe's will, dated January 31, 1850, left "that lot of land in Billerica known as the Everett Lot, situated opposite Mr Samuel Foster's house," and the residue of his estate to seven trustees, among them Marshall Preston, John Baldwin, William H. Odiorne, James R. Faulkner and Dudley Foster, "to erect upon said Everett lot a suitable building for an Academy for the education of youth, to be kept and maintained upon said land forever." The school was to teach "the higher branches of English education" and prepare students for college, and the building was "to be built of brick, to have brick eavings and a slate roof, and to be otherwise rendered fire proof," at a cost of up to $7,000. Howe died in 1851 (probate 34834). Work on the foundation began on June 17, 1851, to designs by the Lowell architect Daniel G. Bean, and the school was dedicated on May 31, 1852.
The trustees ran the Howe School as a private, tuition-charging academy open to the children of Billerica and nearby towns. Massachusetts law had required since 1827 that every town of five hundred families keep a high school, a rule restated in Chapter 226 of the Acts of 1868: "Every town containing five hundred families, or householders, according to the latest public census shall maintain a high school." The latest census showed that Billerica had grown past five hundred families, making the requirement new to the town, and in its report for the year ending February 1891 the School Committee warned of "the statutory requirement now made upon the town to maintain a high school." Rather than build and staff a high school of its own, the town took up an offer from the trustees. Article 19 of the 1891 town meeting warrant asked "if the Town will accept the Howe School, if made free Tuition and Books, as and in place of a High School," and Article 20 sought any special legislation needed. The Legislature passed a special act (given in the National Register nomination as Chapter 246 of the Acts of 1891) allowing the endowed school to stand in for a town high school, the town voted to accept, and the trustees and the School Committee agreed on a course of study meeting the requirements of a high school. The Howe School then served as Billerica's free high school, still governed and paid for by the trustees from the endowment, so that the 1897 town report called it the town's high school, "conducted at no cost to the town." The trustees' management of the school ended in 1914. When the new Howe High School (now the Town Hall) opened across Boston Road in 1916, the old building was used for grade school classes and later for school offices. The trustees' grantor entries in the registry indexes from 1857 to 1915 concern only mortgages and leases of other land in which the school fund was invested; the school lot itself stayed with the trust until 1920.
Under a Superior Court decree of March 6, 1920, in the equity suit of the Trustees of the Howe School against the Attorney General, the trustees Frederic S. Clark, Charles H. Eames, T. Frank Lyons, J. Nelson Parker, John A. Richardson, Ivory M. Hanson and Everett S. Bull deeded the land "with the buildings thereon" to the Inhabitants of Billerica on December 1, 1920. The deed, recorded February 11, 1921, describes one acre 132 feet on Main Street and 330 feet deep, bounded by land of Sears J. Cook "formerly of Ichabod Everett," and refers to the "Plan of the Howe School Lot" made by Smith and Brooks of Lowell in November 1920 (Plan Book 38, Plan 23).
In 2008 the Town leased the Howe School to the Billerica Historical Society for 99 years for use as a museum, and the Billerica Food Pantry occupied the first floor for some years, but by 2017 the building stood vacant. In 2020 the Town began a two-year restoration with Billerica Access Television (BATV), the town's public-access television station, which with the Town contributed a forty-by-forty-foot rear addition. The Town obtained Board of Health and Conservation Commission approvals for the addition, parking and drainage work, granted an electric easement to Massachusetts Electric Company in 2021, and in May 2022 appropriated $500,000 in Community Preservation funds to finish the project. The building reopened on November 19, 2022, after work costing nearly $9 million, as the home of BATV and a space for community events and meetings. Certificates of compliance for the completed work were recorded in 2024.
The National Register nomination gives the date of the Everett deed as 1848 and omits the third course of its bounds, which reads "southerly eight rods to a stake and stones." It also states that Dr. Howe intended the school for boys, while the will provides for "the education of youth."
References
- MACRIS BIL.46
- Billerica assessor record, 390 Boston Rd, parcel 51-24-0
- Annual Report of the Town of Billerica, year ending Feb. 28, 1891: School Committee on the high school requirement, Superintendent quoting Acts 1868 c. 226, warrant Articles 19 and 20
- Annual Report of the Town of Billerica, 1892: School Committee on the trustees' offer, the special act, and the vote to accept the Howe School in place of a high school
- Annual Report of the Town of Billerica for 1897: Superintendent on the Howe School as "the High School of the town ... conducted at no cost to the town"
- Community Preservation Coalition project database: Billerica, Howe School restoration for community use, $500,000 approved May 8, 2022, addition contributed by BATV and the Town
- Wikipedia, Howe School: reopened November 19, 2022, after a two-year renovation costing nearly $9 million, home of Billerica Access Television; vacant in 2017
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, 1715 | Deed of Gift | Capt. Jonathan Danforth of Billerica | Jonathan Danforth Jr., his son | early title of the Everett land | 17/297 (South) |
Dated Jan. 5, 1708/9. "For the love and affection which I have and do bear unto my son Jonathan Danforth," the surveyor gives his son "all my Land that joynes to his Dwelling house, which is bounded Westward and Southward by ye Country Roads, Eastward by the Land of John Dutton and partly by the Land that was John Trulls, North by the Land of John Baldwins and partly by that I sold to John Wilson Junr, which Land containes Twenty acres more or less," with the rest of his Andover meadow lot on the Shawshin, 27 acres by Daniel Shed's, five acres north of Shed's house lot, two acres of meadow at Treble Cove, ten acres of swamp at Gilson's Hill, a 52 acre second division lot, ten acres of Heath Swamp, fifteen acres of pine plain and a five acre town right. Witnesses Oliver Whiting and Samuel Danforth; acknowledged Jan. 7, 1708/9 before Jonathan Tyng; recorded Mar. 28, 1715. The deed shows the son's house already standing on his father's land. Billerica town book 2, pages 6-8.
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1711 | Administration and Division | Estate of Ensign Jonathan Danforth Jr. of Billerica (intestate) | Rebecca Danforth, widow; Thomas Danforth, eldest son; the other children | early probate in the chain of the Everett land | Probate #5890 |
Rebecca and her son Thomas were made administrators on Mar. 12, 1710/11. The inventory of Mar. 7, 1710/11 begins with "the homestead or house lott containing 20 acres with the buildings upon it," 100 pounds. The division of Dec. 7, 1711 gave the widow for her thirds "The Westerly end of the house and one third part of the barn," six and a half acres of plowland and meadow on the Country Road and four acres of pasture at the north end of the homestead, with "a way left of a pole and half wide through the widow's land from the Country Road to the east end of the house"; the rest of the house and homestead went to the eldest son Thomas, who paid the other heirs (receipts 1712-1724 from Thomas and Rebekah Parker, Sarah, Jacob and John Danforth). In June 1754, the widow being dead, commissioners valued her third, including "the west end of an old House" and "one third part of an old Barn," and since the lands "lies enter mixt with the lands of the two thirds" recommended it go to Thomas's heirs; on Feb. 10, 1755 the judge assigned it to Thomas and Elijah Danforth, "children of Thomas Danforth, who was eldest son of Jonathan Danforth." Papers read, pages 2-15.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1737 | Administration and Division | Estate of Thomas Danforth of Billerica (intestate) | Thomas Danforth, eldest son; Elijah Danforth, youngest son | early probate in the chain of the Everett land | Probate #5916 |
Thomas Danforth, the Ensign's eldest son, died late in 1737; his widow Rebecca (later Rebecca Brown) was administratrix, and the inventory of Dec. 13, 1737 lists "The homestead with the buildings 15 acres," 300 pounds old tenor. After her death his son Thomas was made administrator (Feb. 5, 1759, with the innholder David Osgood a surety). The committee of Mar. 28, 1759 valued "Twenty acres of land which is the Homestead, bounded Westwardly by the Country Road, Southwardly by Sheldon's lane (so called), Eastwardly partly by Samuel Sheldon's land and partly by Ebenezer French's land, Northwardly partly by Thomas Kidder's land and David Osgood and partly by William Baldwin's land ... near the Center of the Town" at 152 pounds and "the Dwelling House and Barn belonging to and standing on the abovesaid lot" at 60 pounds, and, finding "the above said Homestead is not convenient for to make two settlements," settled "the whole lands and buildings upon the Eldest Son," Thomas, who paid his brother Elijah. Accepted Jan. 7, 1760. Papers read, pages 2-13.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| October 17, 1760 | Deed | Thomas Danforth of Billerica, yeoman, and Abigail Danforth | David Osgood of Billerica, innholder | earlier title of the Everett land | 57/464 (South) |
Dated Oct. 16, 1760. For 266 pounds 13s. 4d., three lots: first, the homestead "near the Center of the Town" of "about twenty Acres more or less with the Dwelling House and all the other Buildings thereon standing," bounded west and south by the County Road, east by Samuel Sheldon and partly by Ebenezer French, north by Thomas Kidder Esq. "and by land of the said David Osgood and partly William Baldwin in a Crank as the Fence now stands to the County Road"; second, four acres of meadow west of the County Road by the lane to Thomas Kidder's; third, sixteen acres by the County Road near Daniel Shed's barn "as it was laid off to him by a Committee appointed by the Judge of Probate for settling his Father's Estate." Witnesses Isaac Noyes and Elijah Danforth; recorded Oct. 17, 1760. Billerica town book 5, pages 493-495.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| 1768 | Will | Estate of David Osgood of Billerica, innholder | His widow Sarah Osgood and Elijah Danforth, executors (real estate to be sold) | probate in the chain of the Everett land | Probate #16271 |
Will dated June 15, 1767, proved Feb. 16, 1768 (witnesses Jonathan Kidder, Samuel Danforth, Nathaniel Davidson). All real estate to be sold; to his wife Sarah "Eight Rods Square of Land off my Homestead for to Build a House on and a Garden Spott, at the Corner of the Stone Wall at the Lane Leading to Mr. Samuel Sheldon's"; his pew "in the Meeting House in Billerica Shall not be Sold". Inventory April 21, 1768: "1/2 an Acre of Land Given to the Widow by Will", 10 pounds; "nineteen Acres and one Half Acre of the Homestead with all the Buildings thereon Excepting the Pott ash House", 395 pounds; ten acres near the centre; 760 bushels of ashes and potash barrels.
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| April 26, 1769 | Executors' Deed | Sarah Osgood, widow and innholder, and Elijah Danforth, blacksmith, executors of David Osgood | Solomon Pollard of Billerica, tanner | earlier title of the Everett land | 69/122 (South) |
Dated Oct. 26, 1768. For 484 pounds lawful money, "one Lot or Parcel of Land situate in Billerica aforesaid near the Centre of the Town it being the whole of the Homestead of the said David Osgood dec'd," except half an acre at the corner of Sheldon's Lane left to the widow by the will, "and also excepting & reserving Liberty for John Baldwin John Patten & others their Sabbath Day House as it now stands"; bounded "Westerly & Southwardly by the County Road, Easterly by Land of Samuel Shelden and partly by Land of Ebenezer French, Northerly by Land of Thomas Kidder Esq. and partly by land of Mr Oliver Abbot and partly by Land of the heirs of William Baldwin ... in a Crank as the fence now stands to the County Road," "with all the Buildings Edifices and out Houses thereon." Witnesses Nathaniel Davidson and Timothy Whiting; acknowledged before Thomas Kidder; recorded Apr. 26, 1769. Billerica town book 6, pages 348-350.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1803 | Will | Capt. Solomon Pollard of Billerica | Francis Pollard, his son and executor | probate in the chain of the Everett land | Probate #17692 |
Will dated May 17, 1802, proved Oct. 5, 1803. "I give and bequeath to my son, Francis, all my real estate and landed-interest in the town of Billerica and elsewhere, with all the buildings"; his wife to have the improvement of a third; his son Isaac already provided for by deed; legacies to daughters Hannah Russ, Mary Bowers and Alice Bridge, with pasture for a cow for Alice. Papers read, pages 1-7.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| 1813 | Administration and Dower | Estate of Francis Pollard of Billerica (intestate) | Judith Pollard, widow; Andrew R. Pollard, only child | probate in the chain of the Everett land | Probate #17681 |
Francis Pollard died early in 1813 leaving "only one child, who is a minor"; Samuel Whiting was made administrator Feb. 16, 1813. The inventory lists "The homestead of said deceased estimated at sixty-two acres with the buildings thereon," $4,585, with woodlots and a pew. The dower return of Sept. 10, 1813 (allowed Nov. 10) valued "The Dwelling-house barn and all the out buildings and a lot of mowing land therewith inclosed, containing twelve acres and three quarters nearly" at $2,275 and the Kidder pastures, Tanyard lot, Potash pasture and Walnut pasture separately, and gave the widow "The Southeast front room in said Dwelling house called the Bar room, the chamber over the same; the Bed room in the North east corner of the house, and the North east Bedchamber; the Kitchen at the east end of the house," the west half of the cellar and the east end of the barn. Papers read, pages 2-17.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1813 | Guardianship | Andrew Richardson Pollard, minor, son of Francis Pollard | Judith Pollard, widow, his guardian | probate in the chain of the Everett land | Probate #17682 |
Judith Pollard was appointed guardian of her son Andrew Richardson Pollard, under fourteen, on Apr. 13, 1813. Her bond of Dec. 6, 1813 recites a license from the Supreme Judicial Court (November term, 1813) to sell the minor's interest in his father's real estate, "including the reversion of said deceased's widow's dower," after the administrator had sold enough to raise $1,376.86 for debts. The sale under this license is the guardian's deed of 1818/19 to John Crosby. Papers read, pages 2-5.
Related:
|
|||||
| March 23, 1819 | Guardian's Deed | Judith Pollard, widow, guardian of Andrew Pollard, minor and sole heir of Francis Pollard | John Crosby | Everett farm title, 1819 | 229/76 (South) |
Judith Pollard of Billerica, widow, guardian of Andrew Pollard, "a minor, and sole heir of Francis Pollard late of said Billerica gentleman deceased intestate," licensed by the Supreme Judicial Court, sold at public vendue on July 6, 1818 to John Crosby of Billerica, the highest bidder, for $3,800, the whole of the minor's real estate and her own dower: "the homestead situate a few rods north of the meeting house in said Billerica containing fifty six acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon," beginning at the south-west corner "at the east side of the great road near the widow Foster's house," running east about forty rods by Foster, Francis Kidder, John Baldwin and Theophilus Manning, north by Josiah Bowers and Luther French, east by French, north by Thomas Holden, around by Holden, Joseph Locke, Zaccheus Shed, Henry Bridge and Thomas Sumner, and back along the road about seventy-six poles; with twelve acres of woodland on the north side of Fox Hill. Deed dated Feb. 2, 1819, witnessed by Samuel Whiting and Ichabod Everett. Billerica town book 12, pages 119-121.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| March 23, 1819 | Quitclaim | John Crosby and Abigail Crosby | Ichabod Everett of Boston | Ichabod Everett buys the farm, 1819 | 229/78 (South) |
The same day, John Crosby of Billerica, yeoman, for $4,000 quitclaimed to Ichabod Everett of Boston "the homestead situate a few rods north of the meeting house in said Billerica containing fifty six acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon," with the same bounds as the guardian's deed, reserving a right of way for Joseph Locke from the gate near Henry Bridge's house and the right of the widow Alice Bridge "to pasture one cow on the above described premises during her natural life," with the twelve acre Fox Hill wood lot. Dated Feb. 2, 1819. Billerica town book 12, pages 122-123.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| March 10, 1847 | Deed | Ichabod Everett of Billerica, yeoman (Martha Everett, his wife, releasing dower) | Dr. Zadock Howe of Billerica, physician | Everett sells the one acre school lot to Dr. Howe | 505/184 (South) |
For $250, "a certain tract or parcel of land situated in Billerica aforesaid on the east side of the main street leading from said Everetts dwelling house to the house of William Blanchard, containing one acre more or less", beginning at a stake by the wall two rods and one foot from the north side of Everett's old barn, northerly by the wall 8 rods, easterly 20 rods, southerly 8 rods and westerly 20 rods to the beginning. Warranty deed dated October 14, 1846, acknowledged October 16, 1846 before Marshall Preston; no title recital. Also copied in Billerica town book 18, pages 271-272, the "Book 18 Page 271" named by the assessor, the 1920 deed and the National Register nomination. This is the "Everett Lot" of Howe's will.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1851 | Administration | Estate of Ichabod Everett of Billerica, yeoman (intestate) | Dudley Foster, administrator; the heirs at law | Everett probate | Probate #31419 |
Ichabod Everett died in 1851 intestate, "leaving no widow nor children." His heirs Hepsibah Fales, Issachar, Ira, William and Oliver B. Everett, Charles Draper and Isaac and Sally Fisher asked for Dudley Foster as administrator; he was appointed Oct. 14, 1851. The appraisers Amos Spalding, Benjamin L. Judkins and Lyman Haynes returned real estate of $11,920 and personal estate of $5,010.41 (allowed Dec. 2, 1851). Only the personal estate was licensed for sale; the heirs sold the farm by their own deeds in 1852. Papers read, pages 2-11.
Title from:
Related:
|
|||||
| 1851 | Will | Estate of Dr. Zadok Howe of Billerica, physician | Marshall Preston, John Baldwin, William H. Odiorne, James R. Faulkner, Dudley Foster, C. H. Whitman and Abner Spalding, trustees (the Howe School) | will of Zadock Howe founding the school on the Everett Lot | Probate #34834 |
Will dated Jan. 31, 1850, presented 1851; William H. Odiorne executor. After legacies, the Everett lot "and also all the rest, residue and remainder" of his estate to seven trustees to found a school "for instruction in the higher branches of English education", the Howe School. The house passed with the residue.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| November 18, 1852 | Warranty | Issachar Everett of Wrentham, gentleman, by Silas P. Fisher his attorney, and Dolly Everett | Abel Spalding Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | later Everett farm conveyance (abutting land) | 641/137 (South) |
Dated Nov. 18, 1852. For $1,125, "An undivided fourth part of the homestead farm belonging to the late Ichabod Everett situated in the centre of said Billerica containing sixty two acres be it more or less with all the buildings thereon," beginning at the southwest corner "at the east side of the road near Marshall Preston's house," east about forty rods by Preston, O. M. Blodgett, John Baldwin and A. F. Page, north by Ichabod G. Kimball and Sarah Baker, around by Amasa Holden, the heirs of Joel Richardson, Sarah Kendall, John F. Baldwin and William Blanchard to the road, then south by the road to the Howe School trustees' lot, around it, and south by the road to the beginning, reserving a passway for Joel Richardson's heirs from the barn near Isaac Holden's house. Witness Dudley Foster; recorded the same day. With the other heirs' three quarters (Book 641 Page 574) this gave Spalding the whole farm. Billerica town book 19, pages 374-376.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| February 11, 1921 | Deed | Frederic S. Clark, Charles H. Eames, T. Frank Lyons, J. Nelson Parker, John A. Richardson, Ivory M. Hanson and Everett S. Bull, trustees under the will of Zadok Howe | Inhabitants of Billerica | Howe trustees convey the school to the Town | 640/112 |
Under a Superior Court decree of March 6, 1920 in Trustees of the Howe School vs. Attorney General (Equity 3681), the trustees grant "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the easterly side of Main Street leading from North Billerica to Billerica Centre, containing one (1) acre, more or less", 132 ft on Main Street and 330 ft deep, bounded by land of Sears J. Cook (formerly Ichabod Everett) and of Thomas Lydon and wife. "Being the same premises conveyed to the said Zadok Howe by said Ichabod Everett by his deed dated October 14, 1846 ... Book 18, Page 271 ... Being also the same premises referred to as the Everett Lot under said will of Zadok Howe, and also the same referred to as The Howe School in said decree." Dated December 1, 1920; see Plan Book 38, Plan 23. Still the Town's deed of record.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| November 21, 2008 | Notice of Lease | Town of Billerica, by its Board of Selectmen | The Billerica Historical Society, Inc. | 99 year lease to the Historical Society | 22566/280 |
Notice of a lease executed September 8, 2008 of "390 Boston Road ... known as the HOWE SCHOOL", described in the deed in Book 640, Page 112 and Plan Book 38-23, for a term of 99 years from September 8, 2008 to September 8, 2107.
Title from:
|
|||||
| April 9, 2021 | Order of Conditions | Billerica Conservation Commission | Town of Billerica | Conservation Commission order for the addition | 35600/57 |
MassDEP Wetlands Protection Act Order of Conditions, file 109-1426, issued December 30, 2020 for the addition and site improvements at 390 Boston Road (Book 640, Page 112), on plans by BETA Group and PRA Architects; notice of intent filed September 9, 2020, hearing closed December 16, 2020; approved with conditions.
Title from:
|
|||||
| April 9, 2021 | Determination of Applicability | Billerica Board of Health | Town of Billerica | Board of Health review of the 2021 addition | 35600/54 |
Administrative Determination of Applicability, review dated February 3, 2021, for 390 Boston Road (Assessor's Plate 51, Parcel 24; Book 640, Page 112): "a forty-by-forty-foot addition to the historic Howe School Building", with parking and stormwater work, the addition about 130 ft from the flood plain.
Title from:
|
|||||
| September 23, 2021 | Easement | Town of Billerica | Massachusetts Electric Company | electric easement | 36291/271 |
For $1, with quitclaim covenants, an easement for an overhead (one pole) and underground electric system on the land on the easterly side of Boston Road shown as "1 ACRE" on a plan recorded "in Plan Book 38, Plan No. 32" (an error for Plan Book 38, Plan 23, the Howe School lot plan).
Title from:
|
|||||
| February 6, 2024 | Certificate of Compliance | Billerica Board of Health | Town of Billerica | Board of Health compliance | 38313/112 |
Certificate of Compliance issued January 26, 2024: the work under the February 3, 2021 determination (Book 35600, Page 54) at 390 Boston Road, Map 51 Parcel 24-0, was satisfactorily completed.
Related:
|
|||||
| February 6, 2024 | Certificate of Compliance | Billerica Conservation Commission | Town of Billerica | Conservation Commission compliance | 38313/113 |
Certificate of Compliance for MassDEP file 109-1426, "Addition and Site Improvements (Howe School) - 390 Boston Road", with the as-built plan and operation and maintenance plan; the perpetual conditions remain in force.
Related:
|
|||||
Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted; Probate # is a Middlesex probate case, Ctf a Land Court certificate of title.