Structure · Built 1750 · Demolished 1974
Kitchener Farm
Kitchener Farm
| Also Known As | Samuel Blanchard House |
| Address | 29 Lexington Rd |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.202 |
| Built | 1750 |
| Demolished | 1974 |
| Owners | William H. Odiorne (1843 - 1854) |
| Tenants | |
| Kitchener Farm Dairy, Inc. (1931 - 1958) | |
| Other Lot Structures | William Tay House (1656 - 1750) |
Kitchener Farm stood on the west side of Lexington Road, just north of Nuttings Pond, on one of the oldest homesteads in town. William Tay, who came to Billerica from Boston, was one of the first two settlers, with William Hamlet, to take a house lot on the town's common land in 1656. His 56 acres, "his house standing upon part of the same," lay west of Bare Hill, and town historian Henry Hazen placed them "near if not exactly where Dr. Noyes lives." Charles E. Stearns, who recorded the house for the Billerica Historical Commission in 1974, named the first settler Nathaniel Tay and wrote that the family went back to Woburn in 1675 and that a son sold the place to Simon Crosby in 1691.
Crosby's daughter Mary married John Blanchard in 1701. A local history credited John with the house, but Stearns doubted it, since John seems to have lived later in life on the Crosby homestead on Boston Road. The farm was certainly the homestead of John's son Samuel Blanchard, who married in 1747 and is credited with the house as it stood for the next two centuries. Stearns noted that the lack of facing and an originally tiny cellar hinted that 17th century work survived inside. Samuel passed the farm to his son Jeremiah in two deeds, the "West half of the house and Barn" in 1795 and the rest of the 70-acre homestead in 1800.
After Jeremiah Blanchard's death his executor sold "the homestead farm where the said Jeremiah last dwelt" to William Mann in 1820. Mann built it up to 132 acres "with the dwelling house, two barns and other buildings," then sold it in 1842 and moved to the Center. In 1843 it went to William H. Odiorne of Cambridge, one of the original trustees of the Howe School, along with the nursery trees and shrubbery. It passed to the Robinson family in 1854, to James S. Carey in 1865, and to Ann Eliza Hills in 1867, and in 1871 the Hillses sold the 84-acre farm to Dr. Francis V. Noyes, lately of Walton, Illinois, for $7,000. "Many of the elder residents will remember the great orchards and vineyards," a later local history recalled.
After Dr. Noyes died, his executors sold the farm in 1896 to his co-executor, Francis V. Balch, a Boston lawyer, and a 1908 survey labeled it the "Noyes Farm (Kitchener Farm)." Balch's trustees sold it to the Suburban Land Company in 1914, and in 1915 it went to Barbara T. Ring of Arlington. She and her husband ran Ring's Sanitarium in Arlington and considered the farm for a sanitarium, with a plan drawn by landscape architect Warren H. Manning, but nothing came of it. The Rings sold to F. Esther Howe in 1922, and in 1928 the Howes sold to Rosaline B. Hayden of Bedford.
Miss Hayden ran Kitchener Farm as a dairy for four decades. In 1974 Stearns wrote that older residents were "more apt to remember her prize Guernseys and magnificent milk; her prize spaniels; and her own forthright integrity," and for years the place was known as the Hayden House. After her death her executors sold the farm to Home Towne Builders in 1968 and 1969. The old house was badly damaged by fire in 1974, soon after Stearns recorded it. Its fate was at first uncertain, and new houses replaced it in 1976. A sign still marks the site of Kitchener Farm.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| January 12, 1715 | Deed | Nathaniel Tay of Billerica and Bathsheba his wife | Simon Crosby Sr. of Billerica | The Tay homestead, site of the later farm | 17/212 (South) |
Dated April 8, 1691, acknowledged at Boston the same day, recorded Jan. 12, 1714/5 (Billerica town book 1, pages 582-584). For "four score and Ten pounds," "the said Nathaniel Tayes Homestead where he at present Dwells," "Together wth the houses buildings Edifices," the orchard, meadow and upland, "and all that whole allotment Granted by the Town of Billerica To William Tay Decd (ffather of the said Nathaniel Tay) Containing about Sixty acres more or less," except what Tay had already sold to Crosby, with "a five acre Town Right" on the commons. Proviso that "ye angle of ye Land within the fence purchased of Wm Chamberlaine" is included. No earlier deed recited: title from the town grant.
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| June 17, 1745 | Deed | Solomon Crosby of Billerica, cordwainer, and Katharine his wife | John Blanchard Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | Blanchard land west of the Lexington road | 44/526 (South) |
Dated Feb. 9, 1743/4, recorded June 17, 1745 (Billerica town book 4, pages 449-450). For 6 pounds 10 shillings, 1 1/4 acres and 28 poles "lying on the west side of the Road leading to Lexington and on the easterly side of Sucker Brook," beginning at the road at the northeast corner of "the said Blanchards Land," south by Blanchard 22 poles, east about 18 poles to the road, north 26 poles by the road.
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| June 17, 1745 | Deed | Solomon Crosby of Billerica, cordwainer, and Katherine his wife | John Blanchard Jr. of Billerica, yeoman | Blanchard land west of the road to Nuttings Pond | 44/527 (South) |
Recorded June 17, 1745 (Billerica town book 4, pages 451-452). For "one hundred and Twenty pounds Old Tenor," about 20 acres bounded east by the country road leading to Lexington, south by Mr. William Crosby, west by Nutting's Pond and north by John Blanchard's land. The "26 acres" bounded by the road to Bedford, the heirs of William Crosby and Nutting's Pond in the 1756 inventory of John Blanchard Jr.
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| 1756 | Administration | Estate of John Blanchard Jr. of Billerica | Samuel Blanchard and David Blanchard, administrators; widow Elizabeth Blanchard (thirds) | Blanchard dwelling house and two barns, 1756 | Probate #1886 |
John Blanchard Jr. (Hazen BLANCHARD 2) died July 27, 1756. Appraisal: "the Dwelling House and Two Barns" 80 pounds; "Twenty two Acres of the Homestead Bounded Southwardly by the Road Leading to Nuttings Pond, Westerly partly by Land belonging to the Heirs of Josiah Richardson ... and partly by Thomas Stearns Land, Northwardly by William Bowers Land Eastwardly by Samuel Blanchard's Land"; 26 acres between the road to Bedford and Nutting's Pond; six acres formerly Samson Crosby's; real estate 388 pounds 13s 6d. The widow's thirds (east end of the house, back kitchen, little barn, land behind the house) set off by order of June 27, 1757. The General Court licensed the administrators to sell two-thirds of the real estate for debts; vendue 1761.
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| July 21, 1796 | Deed | Samuel Blanchard | Jeremiah Blanchard | Samuel Blanchard gives son Jeremiah the west half of the house | 121/307 (South) |
For 200 pounds, one half of about 70 acres beginning at the highway leading to Nuttings Pond at the north corner by Jonathan Bowers, westerly by Jonathan and Samuel Bowers and Isaac French about 140 rods, then by Josiah Bowers, John Blanchard and Josiah Richardson back to the highway, "with the one half of the Building thereon standing, viz. the West half of the house and Barn," and a 7 acre lot by the same highway. Billerica town book 9, pages 208-209.
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| July 23, 1803 | Deed | Samuel Blanchard | Jeremiah Blanchard | The rest of the Blanchard homestead to Jeremiah | 153/274 (South) |
Dated Feb. 12, 1800. For $1,000 from "my son Jeremiah," the other half of "the homestead containing seventy acres more or less, with all the buildings thereon standing, belonging to the said Samuel Blanchard," bounded at the highway leading to Nuttings Pond by Jonathan Bowers Esq., Samuel Bowers, Isaac French, Josiah Bowers, Francis Blanchard and Josiah Crosby; also "the plain" (14 acres), the Davidson land (12 acres) on Boston Road, the Minister lot and the Willoughby orchard swamp. Billerica town book 10, pages 198-199.
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| December 22, 1820 | Executor's Deed | Henry Carter, executor of Jeremiah Blanchard | William Mann | Blanchard homestead sold to William Mann | 235/328 (South) |
For $4,100, under Jeremiah Blanchard's will of April 27, 1819: "the homestead farm where the said Jeremiah last dwelt containing about seventy acres ... with all the buildings thereon as the same is described and bounded in the deed of Samuel Blanchard to the said Jeremiah, dated the twelfth day of February A.D. 1800"; also 14 acres near Nuttings Pond, 8 acres on the road to Lexington, the 8 acre Stearns pasture, and 28 acres of pond pasture crossed by the Middlesex Turnpike including part of Indian Hill. Billerica town book 12, pages 182-183.
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| April 1, 1842 | Deed | William Mann and Sophronia Mann | George W. White and Orrin Fairbanks | Mann to White and Fairbanks | 412/466 (South) |
For $5,100, "a certain farm situated in the southerly part of said Billerica" of three parcels, 132 acres "with the dwelling house, two barns and other buildings": the homestead (103 acres) beginning at the northeasterly corner at the road by the late Jonathan Bowers, by Cornelius Sweetser, Rev. Jacob Norton, Joseph Farmer, Joshua Simonds, Norton and George Bacon to the Middlesex Turnpike, John Merriam and Nuttings Pond; the south lot (19 acres) on the Lexington road; and the Pond lot (8 acres); reserving a right of way to the Jonathan Bowers land; subject to a $2,000 mortgage to Oliver Bacon. Hazen and Stearns: Mann then moved to the Center. Billerica town book 17, pages 249-251.
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| November 7, 1843 | Deed | Orrin Fairbank and Nancy W. Fairbank | William H. Odiorne of Cambridge | Fairbank to Odiorne | 434/360 (South) |
For $5,000, the same 132 acre farm of three parcels (homestead 103 acres, South Lot, Pond Lot) "with a Dwelling House, two Barns and other Buildings," as described in Mann's 1842 deed, with the right of way to the Jonathan Bowers land; subject to the Bacon mortgage and a $2,100 mortgage to William Mann. Conveys the nursery trees, plants and shrubbery, except the trees in the Peach Orchard lot. Signed Nov. 2, 1843. Odiorne was one of the original trustees of the Howe School. Billerica town book 16, page 446.
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| 1854 | Deed | William H. Odiorne | Rachel R. Robinson, wife of James Robinson of Dorchester | Odiorne to Robinson (cited) | 689/344 (South) |
Dated Sept. 6, 1854 (Billerica town book 20, pages 432-434). For $8,000, "a certain farm situated in the southerly part of said Billerica consisting of three distinct parcels containing in all one hundred and thirty two acres more or less with a dwelling house two barns and other buildings thereon standing": the homestead of 103 acres from the northeasterly corner at the road and land of Benjamin H. Heald, by Heald, land late of C. Sweetser, Jacob Norton, Francis H. Bowers, Joshua Simonds and George Bacon to the Middlesex Turnpike, by John Merriam to Nuttings Pond, then by a town way and the Lexington Road to the first bound; the south lot of 19 acres 109 rods; and the pond lot of 8 acres 112 rods. Grantee Rachel R. Robinson, wife of James Robinson of Dorchester.
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| 1865 | Deed | Rachel R. Robinson of Dorchester, widow | James S. Carey of Swampscott | Robinson to Carey | 41/19 |
For $4,200, "a certain farm situated in the southerly part of Billerica," about 80 acres "with a dwelling house, two barns and other buildings," beginning at the northeasterly corner at the road at land formerly of B. H. Heald, by C. Sweetser, the heirs of Jacob Norton, Francis H. Bowers deceased, Joshua Simonds, the late Charles Stearns, John Merriam and Edwin Crosby to the Lexington road; reserving the right of way to the Bowers land; subject to a $2,000 mortgage to the Trustees of the Howe School. Title from Odiorne, 1854 (S 689/344).
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| 1867 | Deed | James S. Carey | Ann Eliza Hills, wife of George H. Hills, of Arlington | Carey to Hills | 59/215 |
Dated Nov. 12, 1867. For $5,000, "a certain Farm situate in the Southerly part of said Billerica," about 84 acres with a dwelling house, two barns and other buildings, same bounds as the 1865 deed but running to Merriam, "Pond lane so called," and the Lexington road; subject to the Howe School mortgage. Title from Robinson (41/19) and Crosby (42/82).
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| January 11, 1872 | Deed | George H. Hills and Ann Eliza Hills | Francis V. Noyes, formerly of Walton, Illinois | Hills to Dr. Francis V. Noyes | 84/113 |
For $7,000, the same 84 acre farm "with a dwelling house, two barns, and other buildings," from the corner of B. H. Heald's land around to Pond Lane and the Lexington Road, subject to the right of way to the Bowers land. Signed Aug. 17, 1871. Noyes gave back a $7,000 mortgage the same day (Book 84 Page 114). "Many of the elder residents will remember the great orchards and vineyards" (Open House in Billerica). A 1908 plan of the "Noyes Farm (Kitchener Farm)" is Plan Book 32, Plan 10.
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| December 9, 1896 | Executor's Deed | Sarah E. P. Noyes and Francis V. Balch, executors of Francis V. Noyes | Harriet S. Withington of Boston | Noyes executors sell the farm (straw to Withington) | 279/374 |
Under the will of Francis V. Noyes, "a certain farm situated in the southerly part of said Billerica," about 84 acres "with a dwelling house, two barns and other buildings," with the same bounds as the 1871 deed from the Hillses (Book 84 Page 113), subject to the Bowers right of way and a $3,000 mortgage Noyes gave the Trustees of the Howe School, Dec. 22, 1882 (Book 157). Signed Dec. 1, 1896. A straw conveyance: Withington deeded the farm to Balch the same day.
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| December 9, 1896 | Quitclaim | Harriet S. Withington | Francis V. Balch of Boston | Withington to Francis V. Balch | 279/376 |
The same 84 acre farm with dwelling house and two barns, "being the same premises conveyed to me by Sarah E. P. Noyes and Francis V. Balch, Executors, by deed of even date." Signed Dec. 1, 1896. Lets Balch, the Boston lawyer who was Noyes's co-executor, take the farm himself.
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| November 6, 1914 | Trustee's Deed | Charles S. Rackemann and Laurence Minot, Trustees under the will of Francis V. Balch | Suburban Land Company, Inc., Boston | Balch trustees sell the Noyes Farm to Suburban Land Co. | 531/103 |
"A certain farm with the farmhouse, barn, and outbuildings thereon ... on the Lexington Road so called, near, but north of, Nuttings Pond, and commonly known as the Noyes Farm," in two parcels: 79.34 acres shown on "Plan of the F. V. Noyes Farm, Billerica, Mass.," April 1908, Smith and Brooks (Plan Book 32, Plan 10), crossed by the abandoned Billerica and Bedford narrow gauge railroad, and the 10 acre "Snake" or "Fifty" meadow bought from Carrie C. Corkum in 1914 (Book 519 Page 199). Title: Hills to Noyes (Book 84 Page 113), Noyes probate, Withington to Balch (Book 279 Page 375), Balch's will (Suffolk Probate 107033, proved Feb. 24, 1898), and a confirmatory deed from Catherine P. Noyes et al., Oct. 28, 1914. Signed Nov. 5, 1914; the company mortgaged it back to the trustees for $2,300 (Book 531 Page 107).
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| May 29, 1915 | Quitclaim | Suburban Land Company, Inc., Boston | Barbara T. Ring of Arlington | Suburban Land Co. to Barbara T. Ring | 536/477 |
Land beginning at an iron pipe in the westerly line of the Lexington Road at a cross wall, 840 feet along the road, bounded by Leonard, Morrissey, Joseph Morgan, Peter Dolan and Baker, part of land conveyed to Suburban Land Co. by Charles S. Rackemann and Laurence Minot, Trustees, Nov. 5, 1914 (Book 531 Page 103), subject to a $3,500 mortgage to them. Signed May 27, 1915. The Rings, of Ring's Sanitarium in Arlington, considered the farm for a sanitarium with a plan by Warren H. Manning. She also bought Nuttings Lake Park Extension lots 1-28 (Book 536 Page 479).
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| 1922 | Quitclaim | Arthur H. Ring and Barbara T. Ring of Arlington | F. Esther Howe of Arlington | Rings to F. Esther Howe | 655/552 |
The land in Billerica "with buildings thereon" in three parcels: the first beginning at an iron pipe in the westerly line of the Lexington Road at a cross wall, 840 feet along the road, bounded by Leonard, Morrissey, Joseph Morgan, Peter Dolan and Baker, being all the land conveyed to Barbara T. Ring by Suburban Land Co., May 27, 1915 (Book 536 Page 477); the second, Nuttings Lake Park Extension lots 1-28 (Plan Book 32 Plan 49; Book 536 Page 479); the third, lots 29-33 and 35-58. Dated Jan. 19, 1922.
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| January 10, 1928 | Warranty Deed | Charles E. Howe and F. Esther Howe | Rosaline B. Hayden of Bedford | Howe to Rosaline B. Hayden | 758/464 |
The land "with buildings thereon" in three parcels: the first beginning at an iron pipe in the westerly line of the Lexington Road at a cross wall, with the same bounds as the 1915 deed, conveyed to F. Esther Howe by Arthur H. and Barbara T. Ring, Jan. 19, 1922 (Book 655 Page 551); the second, Nuttings Lake Park Extension lots 1-28 (Plan Book 32 Plan 49); the third, lots 29-33 and 35-58. Hayden ran the Kitchener Farm Guernsey dairy here until her death.
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| March 12, 1969 | Executor's Deed | J. Lee Potter and Walter S. Robbins, executors of Rosaline B. Hayden | Home Towne Builders, Inc. | Hayden estate to Home Towne Builders | 1878/361 |
Under license of the Probate Court (Middlesex Probate No. 421039), four premises with buildings: the three parcels from the Howes (Book 758 Page 464) and lands from Charles W. Hawes (Books 823/459 and 930/411) and Nathaniel R. Jones (Book 1251/486), less lots Hayden had sold. Confirms a deed of Oct. 31, 1968 (Book 1865 Page 51). The builders subdivided the farm (house lots from 1976, e.g. Book 2205 Page 269); the house burned in 1974 and was replaced in 1976.
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| November 13, 1975 | Quitclaim | Home Towne Builders, Inc. of Billerica | Private owners | Lot 2 of the divided farm sold, 1975 | 2173/423 |
Document 16492. Lot 2 on "Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass., dated June 17, 1975, Dana F. Perkins & Sons, Inc." (Plan Book 121, Plan 6): easterly by Lexington Road 200 feet, by Lot 1 and Lot 3, "Containing 3.10 acres," "with the buildings thereon," subject to a sewer easement. "For Grantors title see Deed dated March 7, 1969 ... Book 1878, Page 361." The house at 29 Lexington Road was built on the lot about 1976; the same owners still held it at last check of the assessor (parcel 79-301-0).
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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.