Old Town Hall
Old Town Hall
| Address | 15 Concord Rd |
| Built | 1845 |
| Demolished | 1893 |
| Other Lot Structures |
Billerica Town Hall (1895)
(Built 1895)
Billerica Police Station (1959 - 1998) Billerica Public Library (Built 1999) |
The Old Town Hall was Billerica's second town hall, a Greek Revival building that stood on the west side of the Common at the corner of Concord Road, where the Billerica Town Hall (1895), now the public library, stands today. It replaced the old Town House of 1797 across the road and served the town for nearly half a century, until it burned on November 3, 1893.
The land was part of the old Ruggles and Parker homestead south of the meeting house. Col. John Parker had sold the corner by the meeting house to the trustees of the Billerica Academy in 1821, and by 1842 his daughter Ann Parker owned the rest of his twelve-acre house lot. On February 24, 1845 she sold John Baldwin, who already owned the Academy building, the "Academy Lot" of about an acre on the westerly side of the Common, and a month later, on March 24, 1845, Baldwin sold the inhabitants of the town for $325 "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica on the westerly side of the Common, containing about seven thousand square feet," seventy feet on the Common and a hundred feet deep, bounded south by Ann Parker's land, "it being understood between the parties that said premises are now to be occupied for a school house." The same year the town sold the old Town House, which had also held the centre school, to Henry Baldwin.
The new hall went up on the lot in 1845; a bronze plaque on the present building says "Second built in 1845 near spot of present Town Hall." It appears on the 1853 map of the town. Town meetings were held there, and in 1861 the hall was thrown open for the meetings that raised Billerica's first Civil War volunteers. After the fire of November 1893 the town decided to rebuild on the same site. On July 16, 1894 the town meeting voted to take two adjoining lots "for the enlargement of the Town Hall lot, and as a place for the erection of a new Town Hall": a lot of the heirs of Mary B. Parker on the south, a hundred feet along the highway, and a strip of Frederic A. Morey's land behind the old lot, so that the enlarged lot was not more than an acre. The town paid $75 to Morey and $1,100 to the Parker heirs, a settlement the selectmen called "unsatisfactory to all parties," and put the $1,500 of insurance on the old hall toward the new one. The brick Town Hall, built for about $37,000, was dedicated in November 1895; it is now the public library.
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| July 31, 1713 | Deed | John Rogers Jr. of Billerica | The Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica | 1712: the Rev. Samuel Ruggles buys the nine-acre messuage by the highway | 16/343 (South) |
For 26 pounds, "one Messuage or Tenement situate in Billerica abovesaid Containing about nine acres be it more or less, bounded on the East by the High way, on the North by the Land of Samuel Ruggles & Enoch Kidder, on the West by the Land of Nathaniel Rogers, and on the South by the Land of Saml. ffassett with all the buildings, with all the Fences and Trees thereon standing (Excepting Nathaniel Rogers his orchard which is Contained within the bounds abovesaid)." Dated Dec. 8, 1712 (11 Anne), signed by the mark of John Rogers Jr., witnessed by Samuel Fassett, Thomas Ball and Jacob Danforth; acknowledged Jan. 16, 1712/13 before Jonathan Tyng; recorded at Charlestown July 31, 1713. Ruggles, the town's second minister, already owned the land to the north; with this purchase his homestead ran along the road south from the meeting house to the Fassett (later Danforth) line, the sixteen acres "Bounded Easterly on the Country Road ... westerly on Land of Capt. Enoch Kidder" of his 1749 inventory. Billerica town book 1, pages 518-519.
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| 1749 | Will and Inventory | Rev. Samuel Ruggles of Billerica, clerk | His sons Joseph Ruggles and William Ruggles; his daughters | 1749: will of the Rev. Samuel Ruggles | Probate #19569 |
Will dated June 29, 1748: to "my Beloved Son Joseph Ruggles the one half of my house viz. that half which stands towards the south," half the barn and yard and about seven or eight acres "lying between my Orchard and Mr. Jacob Danforth's land," with his silver tankard, Joseph to pay the debts and be sole executor; to his son William Ruggles "the other half of my house & barn and the other part of my Homestead Land," reserving to his daughters Lucy and Sarah the right to live in the north chamber while single; bequests to his daughters Elizabeth Rogers (wife of Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton), Martha (wife of John Whiting of Littleton), Dorothy (wife of Rev. Mr. Morrill of Wilmington), Lucy and Sarah Ruggles, and the sale of his "Negrowoman (Phillis)" with the money divided among three daughters. Witnesses Joshua Abbott, Jacob Danforth and John Chandler. The inventory of April 1749 lists his library at 228 pounds and, last, "the Real Estate to about Sixteen acres of Land Consisting of pasturing mowing & orcharding Bounded Easterly on the Country Road Northerly on a high way westerly on Land of Capt. Enoch Kidder Southerly on land of Lt. Jacob Danforth together with a Large Mansion House and other the Buildings thereon standing," at 2,300 pounds old tenor. Middlesex probate case 19569.
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| 1754 | Deed | William Ruggles of Billerica, clothier | His brother Joseph Ruggles of Billerica | 1754: William Ruggles to his brother Joseph | 53/455 (South) |
For 146 pounds 13 shillings 8 pence, "a Certain peice or parcel of Land & orcharding ... Containing by Estimation Eight acres," bounded northerly on a highway, easterly on a highway and Joseph Ruggles's land, southerly on Ruggles's land and westerly on land of Capt. Enoch Kidder, "together with the one half of a Mansion house & Barn being premises that were given to me the said William Ruggles in my Honrd Father's Last will & testament." Dated 1754 and recorded 1756 (per the index). With this deed Joseph Ruggles, who already had the south half of the house under the will, owned the whole house. Billerica town book 5, pages 365-366.
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| July 14, 1756 | Deed | Joseph Ruggles of Billerica, clothier, and Sarah his wife | The Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton, clerk | 1755: Joseph Ruggles sells the homestead near the meeting house to the Rev. Daniel Rogers | 54/451 (South) |
For 266 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence, "a Tract of Land lying in Billerica aforesaid near the Meeting House containing twelve acres be it more or less consisting of Orcharding Plowland Mowing and Pasturage with the Buildings thereon Viz. a Dwelling House which was my Father Ruggles's in which I now dwell also a Barn and a Shop," beginning at a stake and stones at the southeast corner of Mr. John Chandler's land, southerly by the Common and highway to the southeast corner, westerly by land of David and Timothy Danforth to the wall at a corner of Capt. Enoch Kidder's lot, then northerly, easterly and northerly by Kidder's land, and easterly by Mr. Chandler's land to the beginning; Sarah released dower. Dated Nov. 13, 1755, witnessed by Saml. Whiting and Oliver Abbot, acknowledged the same day before Thos. Kidder, recorded at Cambridge July 14, 1756. Rogers, minister of Littleton, was married to Joseph's sister Elizabeth. How the house then came to John Parker the tanner is not recorded: no deed from Rogers is in the Billerica books, and the inventory of Rogers's estate in 1782 lists land only in Littleton and Cambridge. Billerica town book 5, pages 393-395.
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| 1782 | Will and Inventory | The Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton, clerk | His son Daniel Rogers (executor) and daughters Sarah and Lucy Rogers | 1782: estate of the Rev. Daniel Rogers (no Billerica land) | Probate #19447 |
Will dated Oct. 25, 1779: five shillings each to his sons Jeremiah Dummer Rogers and Samuel Rogers and his daughter Elizabeth Willard, who "are now absent and their Return prohibited"; 200 pounds each to his unmarried daughters Sarah and Lucy with the use of half the dwelling house; the residue to his son Daniel and to Sarah and Lucy, with a share for the absent children if they are ever allowed to return; his son Daniel executor with power to sell real estate. Witnesses William Henry Prentice, Abraham Patch Jr. and Joseph Sawtell. Proved Dec. 11, 1782 before Judge Oliver Prescott. The inventory of Dec. 9, 1782 lists as real estate only "The Mantion House out Buildings and farm in Littleton containing about 115 acres," a small house with about ten acres, and "A Farm in Cambridge ... about 200 Acres": the Billerica house Rogers bought from Joseph Ruggles in 1755 was no longer his. Middlesex probate case 19447.
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| 1803 | Will | John Parker of Billerica, gentleman (tanner) | His sons Stephen Parker and John Parker (executors) and his other children | 1803: will of John Parker; the Ruggles farm to his son Stephen | Probate #16643 |
Will dated March 27, 1801, with a codicil of Feb. 28, 1803. To his son John the tan-house and tan-yard and a strip from the Common westward to the wall of the orchard, among other land; to his son Stephen "my dwelling-house, and the land adjoining" on the south side of the Common, on condition he support his sister Abigail, and "I also bequeath to my said son, Stephen, the whole of my farm on the west side of Concord road, commonly called the Ruggles farm, except that small parcel of it which I have given to my son, John. This bequest is to be understood as including the barn, and all other appurtenances belonging to said farm." Legacies to sons Daniel and Samuel and daughters Sarah Bowers, Anne Prichard and Elizabeth Breed. Witnesses Henry Cumings, Jacob Richardson and John Richardson Jr. Proved at Woburn Sept. 20, 1803 before Judge Oliver Prescott. This is the first record of the house in Parker hands. Middlesex probate case 16643.
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| December 11, 1837 | Warranty Deed | Stephen Parker of Billerica, gentleman, and Sibel his wife | His brother John Parker of Billerica, Esq. | 1819: Stephen Parker to his brother Col. John Parker | 368/529 (South) |
For $1,200, "the following described piece of land containing five acres & the same more or less," beginning "at an Elm tree near the said John Parker's dwelling house," westerly by John Parker's land about twenty rods to a stone wall running south, southerly by the wall seven or eight rods, westerly again by John Parker's land about twenty rods, southerly by Stephen Parker's land about eighteen rods to land of the Revd. Nathl. Whitman, easterly by Whitman "by the wall as it now stands to the road leading south from the meeting house" about forty rods, and by the road to the beginning, "the said piece of land being now enclosed with a stone wall all round with all the buildings thereon standing." Dated Oct. 13, 1819, witnessed by M. Preston and Elizabeth Parker, acknowledged Oct. 30, 1819 before Blaney Abbot, recorded Dec. 11, 1837. By 1819 John Parker Jr. was living in the Ruggles house; this completed the twelve-acre house lot of his will. On the same page is Stephen's 1829 release to John of half the "City Farm." Billerica town book 15, pages 487-488.
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| 1832 | Will | John Parker of Billerica (d. 1832) | His wife Susan Parker and daughter Ann Parker; other children and grandchildren | 1832: will of Col. John Parker; the twelve-acre house lot by the Academy and the Common | Probate #16646 |
Will dated Dec. 20, 1831: to his wife Susan Parker "two undivided third parts of my House Lot in Billerica, consisting of about twelve acres of land, with a Dwelling House, Barn & outbuildings thereon: bounded easterly on the road, southerly on land of the Rev. N. Whitman, westerly on land of Gardner Parker, and northerly on land late of Stephen Parker & Samuel Foster to said road," with a wood lot and the Oliver Abbot lot for life; to his daughter Ann Parker "one undivided third part of my House Lot containing about twelve acres of land, with Dwelling House, Barn & out buildings"; to his son David half the tanyard; to his daughter Maria, wife of Marshall Preston, the Minister Lot; to his grandsons Francis James Parker, Charles Henry Parker and Frederic Augustus Parker and granddaughter Henrietta Parker, other land and money; son-in-law Marshall Preston executor. Witnesses Phineas How, Tilly Merrick and Nathan Brooks. Proved at Lowell June 5, 1832. Middlesex probate case 16646.
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| 1841 | Will | Susan Parker of Billerica, widow of John Parker | Her son George Parker; her daughter Maria Preston | 1841: will of Susan Parker | Probate #38954 |
Will dated Oct. 11, 1841: to "my son George Parker, two undivided third parts of the Homestead where I now live, consisting of about twelve acres of land, with a Dwelling house, barn and out buildings thereon, bounded Easterly on the road, Southerly on land of George Bacon, westerly on land of Gardner Parker and Northerly on land of said Gardner Parker, and of Samuel Foster, to said road"; to "Ann Parker the daughter of my late Husband, John Parker," a wood lot for life and furniture; the residue to her daughter Maria Preston, wife of Marshall Preston, the executor. Witnesses Thomas Shed, Chas. E. Parker and Mary Wilson. Proved at Concord Nov. 9, 1841, with George Parker's assent. Middlesex probate case 38954.
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| April 14, 1842 | Deed | George Parker of Clinton, Oneida County, N.Y., merchant, and Catharine Ann his wife | Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esq., and Maria Preston his wife, as joint tenants | 1842: George Parker to the Prestons, two thirds of the homestead | 414/358 (South) |
For $2,000, "two undivided third parts of a certain messuage the homestead of the late Susan Parker deceased mother of the said George and Maria situate in said Billerica containing twelve acres more or less," bounded easterly on the Concord road and the Common, southerly by George Bacon, westerly by Gardner Parker, and northerly on the widow Sybil Parker's dower land, Capt. Samuel Foster, the heirs of Doct. Wm. Bowers and in part the Billerica Academy, "being the same devised to me in the last will & testament of my said mother." Dated March 22, 1842, witnessed by John Baldwin, John Baldwin Jr. and Rufus Mills, acknowledged the same day, recorded April 14, 1842. Billerica town book 17, pages 275-276.
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| September 30, 1842 | Mortgage | Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman | Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esq. | 1842: Ann Parker's mortgage of the homestead to Marshall Preston | 416/559 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, pages 310-311. Dated September 9, 1842, the day the Prestons conveyed their two thirds to her (S.421/4). For $2,000, mortgage of "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica late the Homestead of Col. John Parker decd and containing twelve acres more or less", from the corner at the Billerica Academy and "the Common so called", south by the Common and "the Concord Road so called to land of George Bacon", west by Bacon to Gardner Parker, and around by the widow Sybil Parker's dower, Capt. Samuel Foster, the heirs of Dr. William Bowers, the horse stables and the Academy lot back to the Common. To be void if $2,000 with interest is paid within five years. Discharged by Preston, "received full satisfaction", October 20, 1846 (recorded November 24, 1846).
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| October 11, 1842 | Warranty Deed | Marshall Preston of Billerica, Esq., and Maria Preston his wife in her right as joint tenant | Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman | 1842: the Prestons to Ann Parker; she owns the whole homestead | 421/4 (South) |
For $2,000, "two undivided third parts of a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica late the homestead of Col. John Parker deceased & containing twelve acres more or less," from the northeast corner at the Billerica Academy and the Common, southerly by the Common and the Concord road to George Bacon, westerly by Bacon to Gardner Parker, northerly by Gardner Parker to the widow Sybil Parker's dower, then by the dower, Capt. Samuel Foster and the heirs of Wm. Bowers to the horse stables, and by the stables and the Academy land back to the Common. Dated Sept. 9, 1842, witnessed by Lovice M. Preston and John Baldwin, recorded Oct. 11, 1842. With her own third under her father's will, Ann Parker now owned the whole house lot. Billerica town book 17, pages 388-389.
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| March 18, 1845 | Warranty Deed | Ann Parker of Billerica, singlewoman | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esq. | 1845: Ann Parker sells John Baldwin the Academy Lot west of the Common | 458/79 (South) |
For $500, the "Academy Lot," one acre and 48 rods "on the westerly side of the Common," from its southeast corner "at said Common and said Ann's mansion house lot," westerly by the stone wall of the mansion-house lot 13 rods 13 links to the widow Sybil Parker's thirds, northerly by Sybil's thirds and Capt. Samuel Foster, easterly by the Bowers heirs to the First Parish, and back by the Parish and Baldwin's own Academy lot to the Common. Dated Feb. 24, 1845, witnessed by Mrs. Martha A. Lyman and Marshall Preston, recorded March 18, 1845; the Prestons quitclaimed the same lot to Ann Parker the same day (next deed). The lot behind the Common north of the house was excepted from every later deed of the house lot. Billerica town book 17, pages 572-573.
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| 1845 | Deed | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esquire | The Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | 1845: John Baldwin sells the town the 70 by 100 ft lot on the Common for the new town hall | 458/303 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, page 575. For $325, "a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Billerica on the westerly side of the Common, containing about seven thousand square feet", 70 feet on the Common by 100 feet deep, south by land of Ann Parker, "it being understood between the parties that said premises are now to be occupied for a school house". The new centre schoolhouse lot that replaced the school room in the old Town House, sold the same year.
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| August 28, 1894 | Order of Taking | The heirs of Mary B. Parker and Frederic A. Morey (owners of the land taken) | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | 1894: after the fire, the town takes land south and west of the old Town Hall lot for a new hall | 256/391 |
Notice of taking under the vote of the town meeting of July 16, 1894, which "voted to take and by vote did take under the authority of the Public Statutes, for the enlargement of the Town Hall lot, and as a place for the erection of a new Town Hall," two lots "adjoining the old Town Hall lot": a lot of the heirs of Mary B. Parker south of the town lot, 100 feet along the highway and 150 feet back from the present stone wall, to land of F. A. Morey; and a lot of Frederic A. Morey "in the rear or westerly of the old Town Hall lot," 69.73 feet by about 52 feet; "said Town Hall lot so enlarged does not exceed one acre in extent." Signed August 27, 1894 by the selectmen John E. Rowell, Edward B. Haskell and Franklin Jaquith. The town report for 1894 records damages of $75 to Morey and $1,100 to the Parker heirs, "unsatisfactory to all parties." The new Town Hall, now the Billerica Public Library, was built on the enlarged lot and dedicated on November 14, 1895.
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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.