Sarah Stearns House
Sarah Stearns House
| Address | 186 Boston Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.131 |
| Built | 1848 |
| Demolished | 2018 |
| Tenants | |
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Buckland Security Services (2003 - 2009)
D.C. Leathers (2003 - 2005) Studio Z (2003 - 2003) All Over Again (2013 - 2013) Connection Nail Design (2013 - 2016) Wolf's Den (2016 - 2017) |
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The Sarah Stearns House stood at the northeast corner of Boston Road and Treble Cove Road in North Billerica, on a lot of about a third of an acre. The land was part of the 37-acre farm that Abbot Russell bought in 1837, north of the road to the Canal Mills. On June 27, 1846 Russell sold the corner, "containing about one third of an acre", to Anthony Jones for $100, with "the use in common" of a small triangle to the north, "forming a heater piece", between the lot and the road.
Jones was the son-in-law of Nathaniel Stearns, a Billerica bricklayer and mill owner who had died in 1845. That spring the widow, Sarah Stearns, bought the family homestead across Treble Cove Road at the executor's auction, and Jones took it over from her. On August 3, 1847 Jones sold the vacant corner lot to "Sarah Stearns of said Billerica Widow" for $137, and she built a small house there for herself about 1848; the 1853 map marks it "widow N. Stearns". In a deed signed December 7, 1864, and recorded only in 1871, Sarah sold the place "with all the buildings thereon standing" for $1,000 to her daughter Emily Farwell, a widow.
Emily Farwell, the "Mrs. Farwell" of the 1875 map, owned it until her death on June 2, 1895, at 67. Under her will the house went to Lizzie R. Jones, a widow, who sold it on May 13, 1907 to Arthur Switzer, reciting the 1847 deed. In 1917 the county took a strip of about 500 square feet along the front when Boston Road was relocated. In 1920 Switzer and the Ellis family next door divided the old heater piece: Switzer kept a 20-foot strip beside the house, a 13-foot passageway was laid out "to be forever kept open", and he released the rest to the Ellises; the strip appears as "Owner Unknown" on the 1919 survey for Herbert B. Ellis. Arthur and Alice Switzer held the house together from 1923; Alice died in 1948, and after Arthur's will was allowed in 1951 his heirs sold it in 1953.
The house was a private home for the next sixty years, and its deeds still described the lot by the 1846 bounds, "at land formerly of Abbot Russell" and "to a great stone". In 2016 it was sold to NSD Real Estate LLC, which combined it with the neighboring lots; the house was torn down, and in 2018 a restaurant and bank building numbered 188 Boston Road went up on the site.
References
- MACRIS BIL.131
- Billerica assessor, parcel 15-248-2 (188 Boston Rd): 2016 deed 30098/254; parcels combined 2017-2018 per Board of Appeals decision 31405/38; building of 2018.
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| October 17, 1837 | Deed | John Mixer of Billerica, yeoman; Nancy Mixer his wife releasing dower | Abbot Russell of Billerica, yeoman | Abbot Russell buys the 37-acre farm the lot was cut from, 1837 | 367/255 (South) |
For $2000, the same farm of 37 acres "with all the buildings thereon standing, being the same conveyed by Sereno Fiske to John Brown, and by John Brown conveyed to me Aug 17, 1837, B.365 P.505", subject to the $1200 Brown mortgage "which said Russell is to pay". Dated Sept. 26, 1837. Billerica town book 15, pages 497-499.
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| November 10, 1846 | Deed | Abbot Russell of Billerica, yeoman | Anthony Jones of Billerica, yeoman | Abbot Russell sells the corner third of an acre to Anthony Jones, 1846 | 495/471 (South) |
For $100, cut from Russell's farm: "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing about one third of an acre", beginning at the northwest corner "at the road leading from the Boston and Lowell Road to the Canal Mills so called and land of said Grantor", south by that road to the Boston and Lowell road about 7 rods, east by the Boston and Lowell road about 6 rods, north by the grantor's land about 10 rods "to a great stone", west by the grantor's land about 5 rods; "Also the use in common of the piece of land on the northerly side of said premises bounded by a line running from said great stone about twelve rods to a pair of bars at said Canal Mills road ... forming a heater piece the same not to be incumbered by either of said parties". No buildings and no title recital. Dated June 27, 1846, witness Marshall Preston; recorded November 10, 1846; Billerica town book 18, pages 228-230.
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| September 7, 1847 | Quitclaim | Anthony Jones of Billerica, yeoman (wife Judith Jones releasing dower) | Sarah Stearns of Billerica, widow | Anthony Jones sells the lot to the widow Sarah Stearns, 1847 | 517/51 (South) |
For $137, "a certain tract of land situate in said Billerica containing about one third of an acre", beginning at the northwest corner "at the road leading from the Boston and Lowell road to the Canal Mills so called and land of Abbott Russell at a stake and stones", south by that road (Treble Cove Road) to the Boston and Lowell road (Boston Road) about 7 rods, east by the Boston and Lowell road about 6 rods to Russell, north by Russell about 10 rods to "a great stone", west by Russell about 5 rods; "also the use in common of the piece of land on the northerly side of said premises bounded by a line running from said great stone about twelve rods to a pair of bars at said Canal Mills road forming a heater piece the same not to be encumbered by either parties of the adjoining lands". No buildings are mentioned. Witnesses Marshall Preston and Emily Stearns. Dated August 3, 1847; recorded September 7, 1847; Billerica town book 18, pages 387-388.
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| August 17, 1871 | Warranty Deed | Sarah Stearns of Billerica, widow | Her daughter Emily Farwell of Billerica, widow | Sarah Stearns sells the house to her daughter Emily Farwell, 1864 | 81/435 |
For $1,000, the same one-third acre at the corner of "the road leading from the Boston & Lowell Road to the Canal Mills" and the Boston and Lowell road, bounded by "land formerly of Abbot Russell" and the great stone, with the use in common of the heater piece, "Being premises conveyed to me by Anthony Jones deed dated August 3d 1847 ... Book 517 Page 51. with all the buildings thereon standing" (the first deed to mention the house). Sarah released dower and homestead. Dated December 7, 1864, before Dudley Foster; recorded only on August 17, 1871.
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| May 13, 1907 | Warranty Deed | Lizzie R. Jones of Billerica, widow | Arthur Switzer of Billerica | Lizzie R. Jones sells the house to Arthur Switzer, 1907 | 403/364 |
For "One dollar and other valuable considerations", "a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Billerica containing about one third of an acre", with the same bounds as the 1847 deed (the road to the Canal Mills, the Boston and Lowell Road, land of Abbot Russell, the great stone) and the use in common of the "heater piece" on the north. "Being the same premises conveyed to Sarah Stearns by Anthony Jones by deed dated August 3d 1847 ... Book 517 Page 51. My title to the above described premises is derived under the will of Emily Stearns Farwell, which will is on file in the Probate Court for said County." Dated and recorded May 13, 1907.
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| May 13, 1907 | Mortgage | Arthur Switzer of Billerica | Lizzie R. Jones of Billerica | Switzer's purchase mortgage, 1907 | 403/365 |
Purchase-money mortgage of the same one-third acre "with the buildings thereon" and the use of the heater piece, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Lizzie R. Jones by her deed of even date", to secure $700 in three years at 5 per cent. Discharged in the margin by Lizzie R. Jones on June 1, 1911. Recorded May 13, 1907.
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| February 19, 1917 | Taking | Middlesex County Commissioners | The County of Middlesex (Boston Road) | county takes a 500 sq ft strip for the relocation of Boston Road, 1917 | 568/36 |
"In the matter of the relocation of the Boston Road, so called, in the town of Billerica", on the commissioners' return of November 17, 1916, land was "taken for highway purposes from the parties named in this certificate": among them "Arthur Switzer 1 parcel abt. 500 Sq. ft." (the five-foot strip along the front of the house lot, as later deeds describe it) and two parcels of Mary A. Ellis next door, shown on the county plan (Plan M105, sheet 6). Certificate of January 1917; recorded February 1917.
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| July 19, 1920 | Quitclaim | Herbert B. Ellis and his wife Mary E. Ellis of Billerica | Arthur Switzer of Billerica | Switzer gets a 20-foot strip of the heater piece, 1920 | 630/454 |
Division of the old "heater piece" north of the house lot, which the 1846 and 1847 deeds had left in common use: "the land in said Billerica situated on the easterly side of Treble Cove Road", 20 feet on the road, 63.60 feet along "land conveyed to the grantee by Lizzie R. Jones" (the house lot), 20 feet on the Ellises' land on the "Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass. Surveyed for Herbert B. Ellis" of July 12, 1919 by Smith and Brooks (Plan Book 36 Plan 74), and about 60 feet on "a passageway thirteen (13) feet wide which is forever to be kept open for the use and benefit of the abuttors". The Ellises held under the heirs of Mary A. Ellis, widow of James Ellis (deed of May 1, 1920). Dated July 10, 1920; recorded July 19, 1920.
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| July 19, 1920 | Quitclaim | Arthur Switzer of Billerica (wife Alice releasing) | Thomas A. Ellis, Herbert B. Ellis, Mary A. Rollins, Charles H. Ellis and Arthur H. Ellis | Switzer releases the rest of the heater piece to the Ellis heirs, 1920 | 630/455 |
The other half of the 1920 division: Switzer released to the Ellis heirs the rest of the heater piece on the east side of Treble Cove Road, north of the 13-foot passageway (whose line runs "parallel with and thirty-three (33) feet distant from" his house lot), about 60 feet on the passageway and 177.41 feet on Herbert B. Ellis's land and land formerly of Sarah J. Ellis on Plan Book 36 Plan 74, citing his 1907 deed from Lizzie R. Jones. Recorded July 19, 1920.
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| October 29, 1923 | Quitclaim | Frances Masterson of Lowell, unmarried (straw) | Arthur Switzer and his wife Alice Switzer of Billerica, as tenants by the entirety | straw deed putting the house in Arthur and Alice Switzer, 1923 | 693/388 |
A straw transfer made the same day as Arthur Switzer's deed to her (Book 693 Page 387), to put the place in the names of husband and wife: "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon, situated at the intersection of the Northerly side of the Boston and Lowell Road and the Easterly side of Treble Cove Road, formerly called Canal Mills Road", by the 1847 Abbot Russell bounds; also the small parcel on the east side of Treble Cove Road (20 feet on the road, 63.60 feet on the house lot, 20 feet on Herbert B. Ellis's land on Plan Book 36 Plan 74, and about 60 feet on a 13-foot passageway "to be forever kept open for the use and benefit of the abuttors"), part of the old heater piece, which Switzer bought from Herbert B. and Mary E. Ellis on July 10, 1920 (Book 630 Page 454). Dated October 27, 1923; recorded October 29, 1923.
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| April 13, 1953 | Deed | Grace Ellen Blaisdell of Chelmsford, Gladys Tucker of Billerica and Clarice Evelyn McCoy of Manchester, devisees of Arthur Switzer | Joseph A. Bunker and his wife, of Billerica | Switzer devisees sell to the Bunkers, 1953 | 1220/482 |
"The land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated at the intersection of the northerly side of Boston Road, formerly called the Boston & Lowell Road and the easterly side of Treble Cove Road, formerly called Canal Mills Road", with the 1847 bounds, "Containing 1/3rd of an acre", less a strip five feet wide (about 500 square feet) taken by the County Commissioners for the relocation of Boston Road (Book 568 Page 36, Plan M105 sheet 6). Recites the 1907 deed from Lizzie R. Jones, a 1923 straw deed of Frances Masterson to Arthur and Alice Switzer as tenants by the entirety (Book 693 Page 388) and Alice Switzer's death in November 1948. Also a small parcel on the east side of Treble Cove Road (20 by 63.60 feet) on a 13-foot passageway, "a portion of the 'Heater Piece', so called", bought by Switzer from Herbert B. Ellis in 1920 (Book 630 Page 454; Ellis plan, Plan Book 36 Plan 74). Title: the will of Arthur Switzer, Middlesex probate docket 301050 (allowed April 9, 1951). Recorded April 13, 1953, with the buyers' mortgage to City Institution for Savings (Book 1220 Page 484).
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| June 2, 2016 | Quitclaim | Two private owners | NSD Real Estate LLC | sold to NSD Real Estate LLC; house demolished 2018 | 30098/254 |
For $795,000 (with 44 Treble Cove Road), Parcel II, "186 Boston Road": "The land in Billerica, with the buildings thereon situated at the intersection of the Northerly side of Boston Road, and the Easterly side of Treble Cove Road", still described by the 1847 bounds "at land formerly of Abbot Russell", 7, 6, 10 rods "to a great stone" and 5 rods, "one-third acre more or less", with the small Treble Cove parcel on the Ellis plan (Plan Book 36 Plan 74). The 1953 owners kept it until 1981 (straw deeds Book 1601 Page 45 and Book 1676 Page 193, 1964; widow's sale Book 2498 Page 679, 1981, to a realty trust); then private sales in 1986 (Book 3672 Page 72), 1992 (Book 6045 Page 204, to a nominee trust) and 1994 (Book 7299 Page 298), with a 1991 state taking of 1,180 and 645 square feet (Book 5359 Page 88). In 2017-2018 the lot was combined with its neighbors into parcel 15-248-2 (188 Boston Road) and the house was demolished for a restaurant and bank building. Recorded June 2, 2016.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.