Pinehurst Playground
The Pinehurst Playground is the town playground and park at 795 Boston Road in Pinehurst, near the Burlington line, on the grounds of the Old Ditson School. It has a fenced playground with climbing structures, rock walls and slides, a basketball court, picnic tables and a large field where the Billerica Community Farmers Market meets on summer Mondays. The town opened the playground in 2010 and rebuilt the grounds in 2025 as Pinehurst Park, also called Ditson Park.
The land was once known as the Ditson Plain, probably after the Ditson family of this part of town. In 1825 the aged Samuel Bowers put all his real estate in trust with his son-in-law, Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, and in 1828 Thompson sold John and Henry Baldwin nine and three quarters acres "known by the name of the Ditson place," bounded easterly "on the County road to Boston." The Baldwins sold the Ditson Plain in 1834 to Harvey Crosby, Crosby sold it to John S. Edgerly and Henry Crosby, and they sold it in 1850 for $100 to Lowell F. Jennison. On May 11, 1857 Jennison sold the plain to Moses P. Greenwood for $125, and on December 2, 1865 Greenwood sold it for $100 to Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster. In December 1896 the heirs of Haynes and Foster sold "the Ditson Plain" for $450 to George W. McFarland of East Boston, and in 1912 McFarland sold a lot of it on the west side of the Boston road, next to the Pinehurst Annex house lots laid out by E. E. Varnum in 1902, to Mary A. Bolton of Lowell. She passed it to Mary C. Bolton, who on May 26, 1913 sold the lot "with the buildings thereon" to Josiah Hardwick of Everett.
Pinehurst grew quickly after the First World War, and the town needed a school there. In 1921 the Pinehurst Schoolhouse Committee, Philip Scott chairman, reported that "a site on the southerly side of Boston Road, just west of the Shawsheen post office, has been purchased from Josiah Hardwick for $800.00," a lot 135 feet on the road and 200 feet deep, and Hardwick's deed of 27,000 square feet was recorded on October 5, 1921. The Pinehurst School built there was soon crowded. In 1927 the town exchanged a small strip with Hardwick to straighten the line between them, and after his death his heirs, Maude H. Brown, Annie H. Fuller and Mabell H. Freeman, sold the town the rest of his land, 93,658 square feet around the school lot, by a deed of July 7, 1930, for $7,000. The town sold the Hardwick buildings for $375 and built a six-room brick school, which opened in 1931. In 1935 the town meeting voted to name it the Thomas Ditson School, for the Billerica man who was tarred and feathered by British soldiers in Boston in 1775. The Ditson School was enlarged in 1949, and in 1950 the town bought more house lots behind it.
In 2001 a new Ditson School opened on Cook Street. The old building was used as a training center by the Middlesex Sheriff's Office until 2016 and was torn down in 2021. In 2010 the Recreation Department, "partnering with the Middlesex County Sheriff," created "the Pinehurst Playground at the old Ditson School," which, it wrote, "brings back a very popular playground for the children in the neighborhood." From 2014 the Billerica Democratic Committee took charge of cleanup and plantings at the Pinehurst playground as its Green Up project. On September 24, 2024 the state awarded the town a PARC grant of $449,500 for "Ditson Park," for a perimeter trail, a pavilion and the renovation of the basketball court and playground, and in 2025 the Recreation Department oversaw "the development of Pinehurst Park on the former site of the Old Ditson School," paid for with federal ARPA money and the state grant.
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| 1825 | Deed in Trust | Samuel Bowers of Billerica, yeoman | His son-in-law Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician, in trust | 1825: Samuel Bowers puts his real estate in trust with his son-in-law Abraham R. Thompson | 261/524 (South) |
Samuel Bowers, "being advanced in years and infirm of body" and "desirous of relieving myself from the cares incident to the management of my worldly substance and of settling my estate in my life time", in consideration of Thompson's bond of $10,000 for the trusts and "of love and affection to my wife Sarah and to all my children and to my granddaughter Caroline W. Little", conveys his pew in the meeting house and all his lands, first "all the lands which I purchased of William Bowers by his deed dated the twenty third day of May ... one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight that is to say, all the homestead where I now live, containing about twenty acres of land", with many other pieces in Billerica, Lynesborough, N.H., and Maine, and his livestock and chattels, the trustee to pay his debts and support the family. Dated Aug. 25, 1825 (date from the 1830 deed to Cheever). Billerica town book 12, pages 400-404. The homestead is the later Cheever place.
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| November 11, 1828 | Warranty Deed | Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician (Elizabeth Thompson releasing dower) | John Baldwin Esq. and Henry Baldwin, gentlemen, of Billerica | 1828: Thompson sells "the Ditson place," 9 3/4 acres on the county road to Boston, to John and Henry Baldwin | 284/362 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 106-107. Dated April 25, 1828, recorded Nov. 11, 1828. For $103.69, "a certain piece of Land lying in Billerica bounded as follows Easterly on the County road to Boston Southerly on land of Isaac Beard Westerly on land of Benjamin Bowers Northerly by land of Farmers heirs containing nine acres three quarters and twenty perches and known by the name of the Ditson place, being the same land conveyed to me by Samuel Bowers by Deed dated August 25th 1825 ... Book 261 Page 524."
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| April 22, 1843 | Warranty Deed | John Baldwin and Henry Baldwin of Billerica, traders (Clarissa and Anne Baldwin releasing dower) | Harvey Crosby of Billerica | 1834: the Baldwins sell the Ditson Plain to Harvey Crosby | 427/124 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, page 464. Dated April 17, 1834, recorded April 22, 1843. "A certain piece of land situate in said Billerica containing nine acres three quarters and twenty perches more or less and known by the name of the Ditson Plain and bounded as follows viz. easterly on the County road leading from said Billerica to Boston southerly on land of Francis Carter westerly on land formerly of Benjamin Bowers and northerly on land formerly of the Farmer Heirs being the same conveyed to us by Abraham R. Thompson dated April 25 1828 ... Book 284 Page 362."
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| October 9, 1849 | Quitclaim | Harvey Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | John S. Edgerly of Somerville, trader, and Henry Crosby of Billerica, trader | c. 1849: Harvey Crosby sells the Ditson Plain to John S. Edgerly and Henry Crosby (recital) | 567/298 (South) |
Dated Oct. 8, 1849. For one dollar and other consideration, eight pieces "with all the buildings thereon standing," among them "a certain farm situated about one mile south of the Unitarian Meeting house ... known by the name of the Hill Farm containing thirty three acres" (bought of Joseph Bowers) and "a certain tract of land containing thirty acres more or less bounded by the lands now or late of Isaac Hurd, of Zadock Allen, of Walter Carr Jr., of Benjamin Bowers and by the County road and a certain piece of land containing eight acres ... bounded by land now or late of Benjamin Bowers and by the County Road, the last two named being the premises to me conveyed by Josiah Crosby Jr. administrator of Isaac Kendall ... and by Joseph Bradley Deputy Sheriff"; with the Valley Orchard, a sheep pasture, 16 acres from Bernard Tufts, 10 acres from Sereno Fiske and the northerly half of the Bowers Foster Place, "said eight pieces ... being parts of the Home Place so called," and lots in Chelmsford, on the Concord and Shawsheen rivers and on Gibson's Hill, and his quarter of the estate of Seth Crosby. Subject to mortgages to Betsey Crosby, to the heirs of Kendall Crosby ($5,300), to Blaney Abbott and to Rhodes G. Lockwood. In effect a transfer of all of Harvey Crosby's real estate to a trustee for his creditors and a family member; Harvey went on living on the farm. Billerica town book 20, pages 331-339.
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| 1850 | Warranty Deed | John S. Edgerly of Somerville and Henry Crosby of Billerica, traders | Lowell Jennison of Billerica, yeoman | 1850: Edgerly and Henry Crosby sell the Ditson Plain to Lowell Jennison for $100 | 618/562 (South) |
Billerica town book 19, pages 151-152. Dated 1850 (index), recorded 1851. For $100, "a certain piece or parcel of land situated in said Billerica containing nine acres three quarters & twenty perches more or less known as the 'Ditson Plain' being the premises conveyed to Harvey Crosby by John and Henry Baldwin by deed recorded ... Book 427 page 124, and by said Crosby to us by deed recorded as aforesaid Book 567 page 298."
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| May 25, 1857 | Warranty Deed | Lowell F. Jennison of Billerica (Lucy A. Jennison, his wife, releasing dower) | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman | 1857: Jennison sells the Ditson Plain to Moses P. Greenwood for $125 | 9/512 |
Signed May 11, 1857 before Dudley Foster, recorded May 25, 1857 (pages 512-513). For $125, "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing nine acres & three quarters and twenty Rods more or less known as the Ditson Plain being the premises conveyed to Harvey Crosby by John and Henry Baldwin by deed recorded in Middlesex Registry of Deeds Book 427, page 124, and by said Crosby to John E. Edgerly by deed recorded as aforesaid Book 567, p. 298, and by said Edgerly to me by deed recorded in Middlesex Registry of Deeds Book 618, Page 562."
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| March 19, 1866 | Warranty Deed | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman (Lucy Greenwood, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster, both of Billerica | 1865: Greenwood sells the Ditson Plain to Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster for $100 | 47/337 |
Dated and acknowledged Dec. 2, 1865 before Charles H. Parker, recorded March 19, 1866. For $100, "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing nine acres three quarters and twenty rods more or less known as the Ditson Plain," with the same recital of title from the Baldwins through Harvey Crosby, John S. Edgerly and L. F. Jennison "to me ... Book 9, Page 512."
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| 1896 | Warranty Deed | Heirs of Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster: Cyrus H., Charles R., William H. and John Haynes, Abby Haynes, Caroline H. Jenkins, Adeline H. Hickey, John H. Foster, Frank D. Foster and Mary A. Foster | George W. McFarland of East Boston | 1896: the Haynes and Foster heirs sell the Ditson Plain to George W. McFarland for $450 | 280/585 |
Signed Dec. 2, 1896, acknowledged Dec. 3 and (Mary A. Foster) Dec. 12, 1896 (pages 585-586; recorded December 1896, day not read). The heirs of Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster (Cyrus H., Charles R., William H. and John Haynes of Springfield, Abby Haynes of Boston, Caroline H. Jenkins of New York, Adeline H. Hickey of Boston, John H. Foster of Billerica, Frank D. Foster of North Andover and Mary A. Foster of Pasadena), for $450, "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica, containing nine and three quarters acres and twenty rods more or less, known as the Ditson Plain, being all and the same premises conveyed to Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster by Moses P. Greenwood by deed dated December 2nd A.D. 1865 ... Book 47 Page 337"; also ten acres of meadow and upland bounded westerly by the Shawsheen River, conveyed to Dudley Foster by Lyman Haynes April 21, 1865 (Book 42, Page 307).
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| March 12, 1912 | Warranty Deed | George W. McFarland of Billerica (Anna L. McFarland, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Mary A. Bolton of Lowell | 1912: McFarland sells the lot on the west side of Boston Road to Mary A. Bolton | 483/186 |
Signed March 12, 1912 (pages 186-187). For one dollar and other consideration, "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon": from the northeasterly corner of Lot 300 on the "Plan of land in Billerica belonging to E. E. Varnum, surveyed September 1902, O. F. Osgood surveyor" (Plan Book 19, Plan 42), "on the westerly side of the Boston road," westerly 415 feet to Lots 286 and 287, northerly along Lots 281 to 270, 343.25 feet, easterly 217 feet, southerly 75 feet, easterly 150 feet to the Boston road, and southeasterly along the road 275 feet to the beginning. "Being part of the same premises conveyed to me by Cyrus H. Haynes et al, by their deed dated December 24, 1896 ... Book 280, Page 585."
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| 1912 | Quitclaim Deed | Mary A. Bolton of Lowell | Mary C. Bolton of Lowell | 1912: Mary A. Bolton quitclaims the lot to Mary C. Bolton | 490/598 |
Dated July 31, 1912 (per the 1913 deed), recorded about August 1912 (pages 598-599). For one dollar and other consideration, quitclaim of the same lot on the westerly side of the Boston road at Lot 300 of the Varnum plan, 415 by 343.25 feet, with the buildings. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by George W. McFarland, by his deed dated March 12, 1912 ... book 483 page 186."
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| 1913 | Quitclaim Deed | Mary C. Bolton of Lowell, unmarried | Josiah Hardwick of Everett | 1913: Mary C. Bolton sells the lot with buildings to Josiah Hardwick | 505/475 |
Signed May 26, 1913, witness J. Joseph O'Connor (pages 475-476; recorded late May 1913). For one dollar and other consideration, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon, situated in Billerica," the same lot on the westerly side of the Boston Road at Lot 300 of the Varnum plan. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Mary A. Bolton by her deed dated July 31, 1912 ... Book 490 Page 598." Subject to the 1913 taxes and a $500 mortgage held by Fred M. Barney of Lowell, which the grantee assumes.
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| October 5, 1921 | Quitclaim Deed | Josiah Hardwick of Billerica, unmarried | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | 1921: Hardwick sells the town 27,000 square feet for the Pinehurst School ($800) | 649/585 |
Signed and recorded Oct. 5, 1921, before Thomas Higgins, notary. "For consideration paid" (the Pinehurst Schoolhouse Committee reported the price as $800), with quitclaim covenants, "the land in said Billerica situated on the westerly side of the Boston Road": from the northeast corner of Lot 300 on the "Pinehurst Annex" plan of E. E. Varnum (Plan Book 19, Plan 42), westerly along Lots 300 to 293, 200 feet; northerly by other land of Hardwick 135 feet; easterly 200 feet to the Boston Road; southerly along the road 135 feet. "Containing twenty-seven thousand (27,000) square feet, more or less, and being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Mary C. Bolton by her deed dated May 26, 1913 ... Book 505, Page 475." The Pinehurst School lot.
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| July 7, 1930 | Quitclaim Deed | Maude H. Brown of Manchester, New Hampshire, Annie H. Fuller of Billerica and Mabell H. Freeman of Medford (Samuel J. Freeman, her husband, releasing curtesy), heirs of Josiah Hardwick | Inhabitants of Billerica | 1930: Hardwick's heirs sell the town 93,658 square feet around the school lot ($7,000) | 792/182 |
Signed and recorded July 7, 1930, acknowledged at Lowell before John B. Boudreau (pages 182-183). For consideration paid (the town paid $7,000 for the "Hardwick Property"), with quitclaim covenants, "the land in said Billerica, in that part thereof called Pinehurst, with the buildings thereon, situated on the westerly side of the Boston Road," beginning "at the northeasterly corner of the Pinehurst School lot already owned by the Inhabitants of Billerica," along the road 140 feet to McFarland, by McFarland and Riverbank Acres Lots 5 to 14, southerly along Lots 269 to 281 and 286 of the Varnum plan (Plan Book 19, Plan 42) 343.25 feet, and around the town's school lot back to the start. "Containing 93,658 square feet, and being a part of the land conveyed to Josiah Hardwick by deed of Mary C. Bolton dated May 26, 1913 ... Book 505, Page 475. Our title is derived as heirs of said Josiah Hardwick, Middlesex Probate records #161747." Shown on "Plan of Pinehurst School Lot and Josiah Hardwick Estate Billerica, Mass.," June 21, 1930, John T. Brown, Surveyor (Plan Book 55, Plan 28).
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.
References
- Annual Reports 1920-1924: 1921 Pinehurst Schoolhouse Committee, site bought from Josiah Hardwick for $800
- Annual Reports 1925-1929: 1927 town meeting, Article 15, exchange of lots with Josiah Hardwick
- Annual Reports 1930-1934: New Pinehurst School, Hardwick property $7,000
- Annual Reports 1935-1939: 1935 vote to name the school at Pinehurst the Thomas Ditson School
- Annual Report 2010: Pinehurst Playground created at the old Ditson School with the Middlesex Sheriff
- Mass. EEA press release, Sept. 24, 2024: PARC grant of $449,500 for Ditson Park, Billerica
- Macaroni Kid Lowell: playground guide, Pinehurst Playground, 795 Boston Rd (2025)