Richardson School

Richardson School
Richardson School
Circa 1973 by MACRIS
Also Known As District Number 7 Schoolhouse / Pattenville School
Address Salem Road
MACRIS ID BIL.149
Built 1791
Moved 1854
New Address 1 DeMolay Ct
Demolished 1974


When the District Schools were laid out in 1791, the east ward's location was not defined. Officially, this was the District Number 7 School. Hales (1831) and Walling (1853) both show the schoolhouse on the west side of Salem Rd, midway between Andover and Baldwin, approximately where Georgiana Rd is now. In 1854, School District No. 7 bought a parcel of land on the other side of the road (Bk 20 Pg 474), and erected the new building. By 1875, Beers shows the school on the east side of Salem Rd, closer to Andover Rd. In 1885, the Annual Report called it the Pattenville School. In 1890, it's called the Richardson School and maintains that name into the 20th century. Miss Annie J. Page was a long-time teacher at the school, but needed a two-year absence for health reasons. She returned for the 1898 school year to everyone's relief. She died Oct 26, 1909 and was recognized as having a 33-year teaching career in town.

In 1916, the school closed, when only 11 pupils would be enrolled there. It was the last of the 10 district schools to close, in favor of sending the children to the much larger Talbot and Pollard Schools. In 1932, it was sold to the East Billerica Community Club on the condition that if they give up the building, it would revert back to the town. The Historical Commission recorded its loss in 1974, calling it "last survivor of the district schools of that era."

YearTeacherEnrollment
1888Annie Page33
1889Annie Page33
1890Annie Page37
1891Annie Page?
1892Annie Page?
1893Annie Page?
1894Annie Page38
1895Annie Page48
1896Lottie McClellan
Edith Arnold
43
1897??
1898Annie Page45
1899Annie Page26
1900Annie Page25
1901Annie Page24
1902Annie Page26
1903Annie Page25
1904Annie Page21
1905Annie Page21
1906Annie Page17
1907Annie Page21
1908Annie Page26
1909Annie Page
Edith Mason
23
1910Nellie O'Hare31
1911Edith Mason21
1912Edith Mason23
1913Thurza McElman?
1914Thurza McElman27
1915Anna Masterson22


Richardson School
King's Pines, 1914 (Plan 32/4)
Richardson School
Salem Road (Andover Rd to Baldwin Rd), 1967 (Plan 910/34)


References

  1. MACRIS BIL.149
  2. Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), pp. 256-257: the 1791 report on the squadron school-houses


Title References

Date Type Grantor Grantee Summary Recorded
May 20, 1741 Deed George Brown of Billerica, husbandman His son Samuel Brown (Lt. Samuel Brown, 1701/2-1779) 41/496 (South)
1738 Will Estate of Capt. George Brown of Billerica (died Sept. 28, 1738) His son Samuel Brown, executor and residuary devisee Probate #3022
July 8, 1777 Deed Lt. Samuel Brown of Billerica, gentleman His son Samuel Brown Jr. of Billerica, yeoman (1733-1790) 78/161 (South)
1779 Will Estate of Lt. Samuel Brown of Billerica, gentleman (died July 6, 1779) His son Samuel Brown, executor and residuary devisee Probate #3181
1791 Inventory and Division of Real Estate Samuel Brown of Billerica, yeoman, deceased intestate (d. 1790) Sarah Brown, widow (dower); Samuel Brown, only son; daughters Sarah, Mary and Susanna Probate #3183
1835 Will (probate) Samuel Brown of Billerica, yeoman, deceased Samuel Brown 2nd, executor Probate #3196
June 19, 1837 Quitclaim Heirs of Samuel Brown: Timothy W. Brown of South Reading (Mahala Brown releasing); Jeremiah and Ruby Hartshorn; Sarah P. Brown; Leonard and Mary Stratton; Joseph and Elizabeth Cram; James and Lucy B. Cram Their brother Samuel Brown 2d of Billerica, yeoman 365/283 (South)
1853 Guardianship Mary E. Brown and George Brown, minors under fourteen, of Billerica Their father Samuel Brown of Billerica, guardian Probate #28251
December 6, 1854 Deed Samuel Brown of Billerica, yeoman ("my wife being deceased") School District No. 7 of Billerica, "a corporation" 697/283 (South)
June 16, 1866 Deed Albert R. Richardson of Billerica, yeoman (no wife living) Nathan Fletcher Jr. of Haverhill 50/30
June 16, 1866 Deed George Brown and Mary E. Brown, single woman, of Billerica Albert R. Richardson of Billerica 50/32
June 26, 1873 Declaration of Homestead Nathan Fletcher of Billerica Nathan Fletcher (homestead exemption) 94/552
September 4, 1880 Deed Nathan Fletcher of Billerica (Mary Fletcher releasing dower and homestead) Herbert A. King of Billerica 141/281
September 20, 1887 Warranty Deed Samuel H. King of Billerica (Lucetta J. King releasing dower and homestead) Herbert B. Kitchen (Ketchen) of Lowell 190/157
June 2, 1898 Mortgage Herbert B. Kitchen Lowell Co-operative Bank 298/23
February 18, 1938 Quitclaim Emma B. Ketchen of Somerville, unmarried Chester B. Ketchen of Lowell 909/498
February 18, 1938 Quitclaim Chester B. Ketchen of Lowell His wife Gertrude E. Ketchen 909/499
June 10, 1953 Administrator's Deed Estate of Gertrude Emma Ketchen, by its administrator with the will annexed A family member (private) 1225/426
March 27, 2003 Judgment (Quiet Title) Middlesex Superior Court, C.A. MICV2000-03130: seven descendants of Samuel Brown v. Town of Billerica and unknown heirs The heirs of Samuel Brown (seven living descendants) 14870/205
March 27, 2003 Quitclaim Deed Town of Billerica, by its Board of Selectmen (James F. O'Donnell Jr., chairman) The heirs of Samuel Brown, as tenants in common 14870/208
April 9, 2003 Quitclaim Deed The heirs of Samuel Brown (seven descendants) Jeffrey J. Mazzone, Trustee of Salem Realty Trust 14966/118
October 28, 2003 Quitclaim Deed Jeffrey J. Mazzone, Trustee of Salem Realty Trust, of 2 DeMolay Court Private owners 16443/298

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.