Structure · Built 1915
Dr. Neil K. Forhan House
Dr. Neil K. Forhan House
| Address | 44 Colson St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.263 |
| Built | 1915 |
The house at 44 Colson Street in North Billerica stands on lot 7 of section 9 of Colson Heights, a small lot of 5,730 square feet on the west side of the street, 137 feet south of the Lowell Road. The land was part of the old Sprake, Farmer and Colson homestead farm, which passed from Israel A. Colson to his son George F. Colson in 1884. After George F. Colson's death his heirs, George R. Colson, Clara E. Colson and Edgar F. Twombly, put the farm in trust with Charles H. McIntire of Lowell in April 1914, and that July the trustee recorded the plan "Colson Heights, North Billerica, Mass., owned by the Heirs of George F. Colson," drawn by the surveyor Fred W. Stowers to a layout by the landscape architect Warren H. Manning (Plan Book 31, Plan 88).
Lot 7 was still bare land on July 24, 1917, when McIntire as trustee sold it for one dollar to Dr. Neil K. Forhan, a North Billerica physician who had been living and practicing at 11 Colson Street. The deed describes only "a certain lot of land," bounded north by land "of one Holt," west by lots 5 and 6 and south by lot 9. The same month Forhan borrowed $4,000 from the Lowell Co-operative Bank on the lot, a building loan, and the 1919 directory lists Dr. Forhan and his wife Clara B. at their home on Colson Street. The house was therefore built in 1917 or 1918 for the Forhans, a little later than the date of about 1915 given by the 1980 MACRIS survey and the assessor. It is a shingled bungalow with numerous dormers and a stained glass window over the door.
By April 1923 the Forhans had moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and they sold "the land ... with the buildings thereon" to Arthur W. Holden, superintendent of the North Billerica Company and a longtime member of the town's Board of Registrars, who took over the bank mortgage and paid it off in 1929. In 1930 Holden deeded the house to his wife Beatrice, and in June 1947, a widow, she sold it to James Gray Jr. and Edith B. Gray, who sold it in 1952 to a Lowell couple. At that time the house was numbered 3 Colson Street; by that couple's sale to private owners at the end of 1965 it was "now known as and numbered 44 Colson Street." That family still owned it in 1980 and transferred it to a family realty trust in 2012. The owners told the 1980 survey that Dr. Solomon G. Hajjar had his first office off the side porch; the 1941 and 1942 directories place his office at "rear 1 Colson," the Holden address, before he moved to Talbot Avenue.
The house is a contributing building in the North Billerica Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1983, and in the local historic district created in 1992.
References
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| November 8, 1884 | Warranty Deed | Israel A. Colson of Billerica, unmarried | George F. Colson of Billerica | Israel A. Colson to George F. Colson: the homestead farm later laid out as Colson Heights | 170/272 |
For "Two Thousand Dollars and other valuable consideration," "my Homestead Farm situated in that part of Billerica called North Billerica," beginning "at the dwelling house on said premises and road leading to Billerica Centre," running by the road and the old back road to the Lowell road, by land formerly of T. F. Farmer, the heirs of Betsy Richardson and Bernard Kearney "to the old Middlesex Canal," west by the canal to the Chelmsford line, by Ready, the late John Barrett and Patrick Meehan back to the Lowell road, across it by Mixer and Kearney "to Concord River," then south on the river to C. P. Talbot and Co. and the road, "with all the buildings thereon. Reserving all the public roads." Also the stock, hay, grain, wagons, carts, farming tools and household furniture. Dated Jan. 23, 1884 (Dudley Foster, witness and justice); recorded Nov. 8, 1884. Middlesex North Book 170, pages 272-273.
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| July 13, 1914 | Administrator's Deed | Edgar F. Twombly of Billerica, administrator of the estate of George F. Colson | Charles H. McIntire of Lowell (trustee for the Colson heirs) | administrator of George F. Colson to Charles H. McIntire | 525/316 |
By license of the Middlesex Probate Court, a private sale for $6,000 of "The Homestead Farm situated in that part of said Billerica called North Billerica, containing about sixty (60) acres and being the same premises described in a deed given by Israel A. Colson to George F. Colson, dated Jan. 23, 1884 ... Book 170, Page 272, excepting those portions thereof heretofore conveyed by said George F. Colson in his lifetime," with four other lots (the Jones and Dix meadow, the Burrows and Baldwin wood lot, the Cowdry lot and the Wood-Pollard wood lot), "being all the real estate of which George F. Colson died seized and possessed." Dated May 12, 1914; acknowledged June 1, 1914; recorded July 13, 1914. Middlesex North Book 525, pages 316-318.
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| July 13, 1914 | Deed in Trust | George R. Colson, Clara E. Colson and Edgar F. Twombly of Billerica (heirs of George F. Colson), with Elizabeth E. Colson and Sabina G. Twombly | Charles H. McIntire of Lowell, trustee | Colson heirs to McIntire in trust: the farm laid out as Colson Heights | 525/318 |
For $1, "five certain lots of land with the buildings thereon situated in the Town of Billerica in and about the North Village thereof," the first being "the Homestead Farm of the late George F. Colson, containing about sixty (60) acres, with the house, barn and poultry house thereon, being all of the premises not heretofore conveyed, described in a deed from Israel A. Colson to George F. Colson dated January 23, 1884 ... Book 170, Page 272," in trust to insure the buildings, pay the taxes, sell the land "for the best interest of the grantors" and divide the proceeds equally among them. The wives released dower and homestead. Dated Apr. 16, 1914; recorded July 13, 1914. Middlesex North Book 525, pages 318-320. The barn named here is the building now at 36 Colson Street.
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| October 24, 1914 | Declaration of Trust | Charles H. McIntire of Lowell, with Martha J. McIntire | The heirs of George F. Colson (beneficiaries) | McIntire declaration of trust, recited in the 1917 deed of lot 7 | 528/79 |
McIntire, grantee in the administrator's deed of Edgar F. Twombly (Book 525, Page 316) and in the deed of George R. Colson and others (Book 525, Page 318), declares that he holds "the premises described in both said Deeds as Trustee and not for my own benefit, according to the Trust declared in the second above named deed"; his wife disclaims dower and homestead. Dated Oct. 19, 1914; recorded Oct. 24, 1914. Middlesex North Book 528, page 79. The trustee then laid the farm out as "Colson Heights" (Plan Book 31, Plan 88) and sold it by lots.
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| July 26, 1917 | Trustee's Deed | Charles H. McIntire of Lowell, trustee under the Colson deed of trust of April 16, 1914 | Dr. Neil K. Forhan of Billerica | the house lot, still vacant, sold to Dr. Neil K. Forhan | 577/128 |
"In consideration of the sum of One Dollar," McIntire, trustee under the deed of trust of April 16, 1914 (Book 525, Page 318) and the declaration of trust of October 19, 1914 (Book 528, Page 79), conveys "a certain lot of land situated in the Northerly Village of said Billerica on the Westerly side of Colson Street": beginning 137.28 feet southerly from the Lowell Road at land "now or formerly of one Holt," westerly by Holt land 120.30 feet to lot 5, southerly by lots 5 and 6 fifty-three feet, easterly by lot 9 118.40 feet to Colson Street, and northerly by Colson Street forty-three feet; "five thousand seven hundred thirty square feet ... lot numbered 7 in Section 9" on the Colson Heights plan (Plan Book 31, Plan 88), "being a part of the farm of which the late George F. Colson died seized and possessed." No buildings are named. Dated and acknowledged at Lowell July 24, 1917; recorded July 26, 1917. Middlesex North Book 577, pages 128-129.
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| July 26, 1917 | Mortgage | Neil K. Forhan of Billerica (wife Clara B. Forhan releasing dower) | Lowell Co-operative Bank | $4,000 building loan for the house | 577/129 |
To secure $4,000 "as provided in my note of even date," with twenty shares in the bank's sixty-fifth series pledged as collateral, Forhan mortgages "the land in said Billerica in that part thereof called North Billerica, on the westerly side of Colson Street and being lot 7, section 9" on the Colson Heights plan (Plan Book 31, Plan 88): easterly by Colson Street 43 feet, southerly by lot 9 118.40 feet, westerly by lots 5 and 6 fifty-three feet, northerly by land "of owner unknown" 120.30 feet, 5,730 square feet, "Being the same premises to me conveyed by Charles H. McIntire, Trustee, by his deed to be recorded herewith." Dated July 13, 1917, acknowledged July 25, recorded with the deed. A $4,000 loan on a lot bought for a dollar was the building loan for the house. Discharged March 18, 1929 (Book 775, Page 11). Middlesex North Book 577, pages 129-130.
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| April 16, 1923 | Quitclaim | Dr. Neil K. Forhan of New Haven, Connecticut (wife Clara B. Forhan releasing dower) | Arthur W. Holden of Billerica | Forhan sells the house to Arthur W. Holden | 679/510 |
For consideration paid ($3.00 in revenue stamps, about $3,000 above the mortgage), "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated in the Northerly Village of said Billerica on the Westerly side of Colson Street," the same bounds, 5,730 square feet, lot 7 in section 9 of Colson Heights (Plan Book 31, Plan 88), "and being a part of the farm of which the late George F. Colson died seized and possessed. Being the same premises conveyed to me by Charles H. McIntire Trustee by deed dated July 24, 1917 ... Book 577, page 128." Conveyed "subject to a mortgage to the Lowell Co-operative Bank which the grantee assumes and agrees to pay," and to the 1922 and current taxes. Dated and acknowledged at New Haven April 12, 1923; recorded April 16, 1923. Middlesex North Book 679, pages 510-511. The first deed to name the house.
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| March 30, 1929 | Discharge of Mortgage | Lowell Co-operative Bank, by Charles C. Drew, treasurer | Neil K. Forhan (mortgage assumed by Arthur W. Holden) | the 1917 building loan paid off | 775/11 |
Lowell Co-operative Bank, "holder of a mortgage from Neil K. Forhan to it, dated July 13, 1917, and recorded with Middlesex North District Deeds, Book 577, Page 129, acknowledges satisfaction of the same." Dated March 18, 1929; recorded March 30, 1929. The building loan, assumed by Arthur W. Holden in 1923, was paid off. Middlesex North Book 775, page 11.
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| November 3, 1930 | Quitclaim | Arthur W. Holden of Billerica | His wife, Beatrice Holden | Arthur W. Holden to his wife Beatrice | 796/567 |
"For consideration paid," Holden grants "to my wife, Beatrice Holden of said Billerica with QUITCLAIM COVENANTS the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated in the northerly village of said Billerica on the westerly side of Colson Street," beginning 137.28 feet southerly from the Lowell Road at land "now or formerly of one Holt," the same bounds, 5,730 square feet, lot 7 in section 9 of Colson Heights (Plan Book 31, Plan 88), "being the same premises to me conveyed by Neil K. Forhan by deed dated April 12, 1923 ... Book 679, Page 510." Dated and acknowledged at Lowell November 1, 1930 before Francis M. Qua; recorded November 3, 1930. Middlesex North Book 796, pages 567-568.
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| June 6, 1947 | Quitclaim | Beatrice Holden of Billerica, unmarried (widow of Arthur W. Holden) | James Gray Jr. and Edith B. Gray, husband and wife | Holden estate period ends: sold to the Grays | 1069/160 |
For consideration paid ($7.15 in revenue stamps, about $6,500), "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon, situated in the north village thereof on the westerly side of Colson Street," the same bounds, 5,730 square feet, lot 7 in section 9 of Colson Heights (Plan Book 31, Plan 88), "Intending to convey and hereby conveying all the same premises conveyed to me by my husband Arthur W. Holden, since deceased, by his deed dated November 1, 1930 ... Book 796, Page 567." Dated, acknowledged and recorded June 6, 1947. The Grays mortgaged it the same day to the Middlesex Co-operative Bank of Lowell for $5,500 over fifteen years at five percent (Book 1069, page 161). Middlesex North Book 1069, pages 160-161.
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| May 26, 1952 | Quitclaim | James Gray Jr. and Edith B. Gray of Billerica | Private buyers of Lowell, husband and wife, tenants by the entirety | Grays sell; house then No. 3 Colson Street | 1196/149 |
For consideration paid, "the land in that part of said Billerica called North Billerica, situated on the westerly side of Colson Street, the buildings thereon being numbered 3 on said Street, containing 5730 square feet, being shown as lot numbered 7 on section #9" on the Colson Heights plan (Plan Book 31, Plan 88): easterly by Colson Street 43 feet, southerly by lot 9 118.40 feet, westerly by lots 5 and 6 fifty-three feet, northerly by land "supposed to belong now or formerly, to one Holt" 120.30 feet. "Being the same premises to us conveyed by Beatrice Holden by deed dated June 6, 1947 ... Book 1069, Page 160." Subject to the 1952 taxes. Dated and recorded May 26, 1952. Middlesex North Book 1196, page 149.
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| December 31, 1965 | Quitclaim | The 1952 buyers, husband and wife, of Billerica | Private buyers of Somerville, husband and wife | sold to the owners of 1965-2012; house now numbered 44 | 1733/435 |
For consideration paid ($22 in federal stamps, about $20,000), "the land in Billerica, called North Billerica ... with the buildings thereon, being situated on the westerly side of Colson Street, containing 5,730 square feet," Lot 7 on section 9 of Colson Heights (Plan Book 31, Plan 88), the same bounds; "For our title see deed of James Gray, Jr. et ux dated May 26, 1952 ... Book 1196, page 149." "The above described premises are now known as and numbered 44 Colson Street." Dated December 30, 1965; recorded December 31, 1965. Middlesex North Book 1733, pages 435-436. The buyers were the owners recorded by the 1980 MACRIS survey; in 2012 the property passed by a nominal family transfer to a realty trust (Book 26600, Page 298), the present owner.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.