Structure · Built 2021
Pinehurst Fire Station (2021)
The Pinehurst Fire Station at 832 Boston Road, on the southeast corner of Cardington Avenue, is Station 3 of the Billerica Fire Department. It was built in 2020 and 2021 and finished in 2022, on the lot where the Pinehurst Fire Station of 1955 had stood. The assessor describes it as a fire station building of about 2021 with a brick veneer exterior and a membrane roof, on 0.537 acres of town land.
The station of 1955 was a small two-door building put up for $45,000 when Pinehurst first got its own engine company, and by the 2010s it could not hold modern fire apparatus. The town meeting of 2017 voted $100,000 to study the locations and needs of all the fire stations, and in 2019 the Town Manager began two studies of a new station for Pinehurst, covering the department, a conceptual design and the logistics of siting it. At the annual fall town meeting of October 2019, under Article 26, the town voted 171 to 4 to borrow $10,000,000 "for the design, Owners Project Manager Services, site preparation and construction of a new Fire Department Pinehurst Sub-Station Facility." Town Manager John C. Curran told the meeting that the sum would cover the final design and construction of a new fire station in Pinehurst, and it was suggested that the sign on the new building should read "Pinehurst Fire Station."
Winter Street Architects drew up the program and the design, Brennan Consulting of Burlington prepared the site plan, and Left Field LLC, which had managed the building of the new Billerica Memorial High School, was hired as the owner's project manager. Neighbors met with the designers in February 2020 to ask about safety and about where a temporary station would go during construction. On February 12, 2020 the Board of Appeals heard that the town proposed "to take down the existing fire station and put up a more modern facility in the same location" and that the designers "tried to meet all the dimensional requirements but were unable to do so because of the size of the lot." Fire Chief Robert Cole said that the previous chief, Thomas Conway, had started the project about ten years earlier. The board voted 5 to 0 to grant variances to reduce the front and side setbacks, increase the lot coverage, narrow the green strip, reduce the parking and add a second driveway on the corner lot.
The trade bids for what the bid listings called the new Pinehurst Fire Station, with a total budget of about $7 million, were opened in July 2020, with work to start in August. The town held a groundbreaking for the community and the firefighters, the 1955 station was demolished, and the new building went up during the 2021 fiscal year. In July 2021 the town granted Massachusetts Electric Company an easement for the underground electric service to the station across lots 134 to 140 of the Pinehurst Manor plan. The Town Manager and Select Board reported in 2022 that "the Pinehurst Fire Station was completed on time and on budget." Town warrants have since been posted at the "Pinehurst Fire Station, 832 Boston Road."
The town has owned the land since July 7, 1953, when Marie Roy deeded it lots 134 to 140 of Pinehurst Manor, the block at the corner of Boston Road and Cardington Avenue, under a vote of the town meeting of March 1953. The lots had been part of the Francis Carter farm and of the hundred acres that Frank W. Coughlin laid out as Pinehurst Manor in 1910, and they stayed vacant until the first station was built on them in 1954 and 1955.
References
- Billerica assessor, 832 Boston Rd (parcel 99-189-0): fire station built about 2021, brick veneer, 0.537 acres
- ConstructConnect bid listing, Fire Department Facility - Pinehurst Branch, 832 Boston Rd: bids July 20, 2020, new Pinehurst Fire Station, $7M total budget
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 1824 | Deed | John Parker of Wilmington, yeoman, and his wife Rachel | Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman | 1818: John Parker sells Francis Carter half of the farm that included the lot | 256/482 (South) |
For $1600, "the one undivided half" of two tracts in the southeasterly part of Billerica on the county road from Billerica to Burlington: 29 acres "with the buildings thereon" on the westerly side, bounded by Jonathan and Benjamin Bowers, Shawshean river and Dixon's brook, and 200 acres on the easterly side, bounded by Ruel Goodwin, the heirs of Edward Farmer Jr., the Burlington line, James Bennett and Francis Cook. Signed May 28, 1818, recorded Nov 4, 1824. Billerica town book 13, pages 302-303. Margin cross references to town book 11 page 180 and 12 page 9 (Parker's title).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| April 2, 1825 | Quitclaim | Ruel Carter of Billerica, yeoman, and his wife Mary | Francis Carter of Wilmington, yeoman | 1824: Ruel Carter quitclaims the rest of the 230-acre farm to Francis Carter | 259/191 (South) |
For $1600, "all my right title and interest in and to the farm on which the said Ruel now lives situated in the southeasterly part of said Billerica on the great road leading from Billerica to Boston containing two hundred and thirty acres more or less with the buildings thereon standing", bounded by Ruel Goodwin, Francis Cook, James Bennett, Samuel Shed, Michael Crosby Jr., the great road, the widow Hannah Farmer's thirds, a brook and Shawsheen River, "being the same farm the said Ruel and Francis owned together". Signed Nov 22, 1824, recorded Apr 2, 1825. Billerica town book 13, pages 318-319.
Title from:
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| 1867 | Administration | Estate of Francis Carter of Billerica | His widow Harriet Carter and daughters Harriet E. Alley, Martha Higgins and Fanny M. Marion | 1867: estate of Francis Carter | Probate #28894 |
Francis Carter died May 7, 1867, intestate. Richard J. Alley of Burlington, husband of the daughter Harriet E., was appointed administrator June 11, 1867, "all parties interested request him to administer and that there are no creditors". The inventory filed Aug 27, 1867 (appraisers William Winn, George Winn and Ruel Carter) lists "Two hundred acres of Land with the Buildings thereon situated on the Easterly side of the Street" at $6950 and "twenty nine acres with the Buildings thereon situated on the west side of the Street called the Barn lot" at $1000, with a mill house, two horses, five cows and wood lots. Widow's allowance $400.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| December 4, 1889 | Warranty Deed | Richard J. and Harriet E. Alley of Burlington, Martha C. Higgins of Somerville, Henry S. and Fanny M. Marion of Burlington, heirs of Francis Carter | Henry Sheldon of Wilmington, James T. Eames of North Reading and Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H. | 1889: the Carter heirs sell the farm to Sheldon, Eames and McLaughlin | 211/154 |
"A certain farm, situated in the Southeasterly part of Billerica ... on the great road leading from Billerica to Boston, containing two hundred and thirty acres, more or less, with the buildings thereon", bounded by Ruel Goodwin, Francis Cook, James Bennett, Alford Carter, Samuel Shedd, Michael Berry Jr., the great road, a brook and Shawshin river. "Being the premises described in a deed from Ruel Carter to Francis Carter dated November 22, 1824 ... Book 259, Page 191, and the grantors are all the heirs at law of said Francis Carter". Signed Nov 23, 1889.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| January 4, 1893 | Quitclaim | Kimball M. McLaughlin of Salem, N.H. | Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading | 1893: McLaughlin releases his third to Sheldon and Eames | 240/252 |
For $100, his "undivided third part" of three tracts: "First. The Francis Carter place so called comprising about two hundred and thirty acres of land with buildings thereon, situated in Billerica", the premises of the 1889 deed (Book 211, Page 154); and two Wilmington tracts, "Ladder-pole Swamp" and part of Butters field (Book 216, Page 313) and "the Carter lot" (Book 216, Page 314).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1893 | Warranty Deed | Henry Sheldon of Wilmington and James T. Eames of North Reading | Clara N. Wonson, wife of Benjamin H. Wonson, of Gloucester, in her own right | 1893: the western 100 acres to Clara N. Wonson | 253/99 |
"One hundred (100) acres of land and the dwelling house thereon, taken from the westerly part of a certain farm formerly owned by one Francis Carter and situated in the Southeasterly part of Billerica ... on the great road leading from Billerica to Boston": 2602 feet along the road from the centre of a brook to land of one Beard, then by Beard, Gleason and Parker, "as shown on plan entitled Plan of land in Billerica surveyed for Sheldon and Eames dated Oct 23, 1893, James A. Bancroft surveyor" (Plan Book 10, Plan 27). Dated Nov 2, 1893 (per the next deed), recorded about April 1894.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| September 17, 1910 | Warranty Deed | Clara N. Wonson, widow, of Billerica | Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline | 1910: Wonson to Frank W. Coughlin, laid out as Pinehurst Manor | 456/384 |
"A certain parcel of land situated in Billerica ... together with the buildings thereon", beginning on "the great road leading from Billerica to Boston at the centre of a brook that crosses it", 2602 feet along the road to land of one Beard, then by Beard, Gleason and Parker, "the whole tract containing one hundred (100) acres", as on the 1893 Bancroft plan (Plan Book 10, Plan 27). "Being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Henry Shelden and James T. Eames ... dated November 2, 1893 ... Book 253, Page 99." Signed Sept 13, 1910. Coughlin laid the tract out as the Pinehurst Manor house lots.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1911 | Warranty Deed | Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline (Elizabeth A. Coughlin releasing dower and homestead) | Peter and Ellen Dignan, husband and wife, of Roxbury | 1911: corner lots 138-140 to Peter and Ellen Dignan | 462/128 |
Dated January 10, 1911, for one dollar and other valuable considerations, "lots numbered 138, 139 and 140 on a plan of land Pinehurst Manor, H. A. Millhouse Civil Engineer, Sept. 1910": northerly on Cardington Avenue 140 feet, easterly on lot 141 75 feet, southerly on lot 137 135.6 feet, westerly on the Boston road 75.3 feet, 10,331 square feet, "being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Clara N. Wonson by her deed dated Sept. 13, 1910" (Book 456, Page 384). The corner lots of the later fire station block.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1912 | Warranty Deed | Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline (Elizabeth A. Coughlin releasing dower and homestead) | Rose A. Canney of South Boston | 1912: lots 134-135 to Rose A. Canney | 485/75 |
Begins at the foot of page 75; dated April 15, 1912 (as recited in 1948). For one dollar and other valuable considerations, "Lots numbered 134 and 135 on a plan of land Pinehurst Manor": northerly on lot 136 132.8 feet, easterly on lots 141 and 127 50 feet, southerly on lot 133 130 feet, westerly on the Boston road 50.2 feet, 6,573 square feet, "being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Clara N. Wonson" (Book 456, Page 384); excepting taxes for 1912. The south end of the later fire station lot.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1914 | Quitclaim Deed | Frank W. Coughlin of Brookline | James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee under an agreement and declaration of trust of February 6, 1914 | 1914: Coughlin to James E. Burke, trustee, the unsold lots | 517/129 |
Dated February 10, 1914, with quitclaim covenants, Coughlin's unsold lots in eight developments in Wilmington, Billerica and Tewksbury. The fifth parcel is "those lots or parcels shown on a Plan called Pinehurst Manor, drawn by H. A. Millhouse, C.E. dated September 1910" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), "being the same premises conveyed to me by deed of Clara N. Wonson, dated September 13, 1910", subject to the mortgage of record. The trust is recorded in Suffolk, Book 3788, Page 161.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| September 29, 1914 | Warranty Deed | James E. Burke of Lexington, Trustee under an agreement and declaration of trust of February 6, 1914 | Anna Eklind of Winthrop Highlands | 1914: lots 136-137 to Anna Eklind | 527/570 |
Dated September 25, 1914, for one dollar and other valuable considerations, "Two (2) certain parcels of land situated in Billerica ... being lots numbered 136, 137 on a plan of Pinehurst Manor, made by H. A. Millhouse, C.E. dated September, 1910" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), under the powers of the trust recorded in Suffolk, Book 3788, Page 161. The middle of the later fire station lot.
Title from:
|
|||||
| December 23, 1931 | Quitclaim Deed | Ellen Dignan of Centerville (Barnstable), unmarried | Charles F. Bruen of Centerville | 1931: Ellen Dignan to Charles F. Bruen, lots 138-140 | 810/59 |
Dated December 19, 1931, with quitclaim covenants, lots 138, 139 and 140 of Pinehurst Manor, northerly on Cardington Avenue 140 feet, easterly on lot 141 75 feet, southerly on lot 137 135.6 feet, westerly on the Boston Road 75.3 feet, 10,331 square feet. "My title being derived by inheritance from my husband, Peter Dignan, and by deed from Frank W. Coughlin to the said Peter Dignan and me dated January 10th 1911" (Book 462, Page 128).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| June 29, 1936 | Deed | Anna Eklind of Winthrop Highlands | Anna C. Larson and her husband Hilding Larson | 1935: Eklind to the Larsons, lots 136-137 | 883/122 |
Indenture of June 20, 1935, acknowledged in New York, recorded June 29, 1936, for one dollar, "Two (2) certain parcels of land situated in Billerica ... being lots numbered 136-137 on a plan of Pinehurst Manor, made by H. A. Millhouse, C. E. dated September 1910" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), with full warranty covenants and the New York lien-law trust-fund clause. No title recital.
Title passed to:
Related:
|
|||||
| June 11, 1942 | Tax Taking | Patrick J. Mahoney, Collector of Taxes for the Town of Billerica (taxes assessed to Charles F. Bruen) | Town of Billerica | 1942: collector's deed of lots 138-140 to the town for 1940 taxes | 978/432 |
Collector's deed of April 25, 1942, for $17.10, "10,330 square feet of land, more or less being lots numbered 138 to 140 inclusive on a plan of land entitled Pinehurst Manor" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), offered at auction on April 24, 1942 for the 1940 taxes assessed to Charles F. Bruen, demand made October 31, 1941; no bid being made, the town became the purchaser, subject to the right of redemption.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1946 | Assignment of Tax Title | Robert H. Fowler, Treasurer of the Town of Billerica | Richard H. Jollymore of Pinehurst | 1946: tax title of lots 138-140 assigned to Richard H. Jollymore | 1038/122 |
Dated February 18, 1946, for $80.72, under General Laws chapter 60, section 52, the town "assign and transfer" the tax title it acquired by the collector's deed of April 25, 1942 (Book 978, Page 432) to 10,330 square feet, lots 138 to 140 on "Pinehurst Manor" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95). Notice of the intended assignment was sent on February 6, 1946 to the owner of record, "Charles F. Bruen, Box 75, Centerville, Cape Cod."
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| June 13, 1946 | Quitclaim Deed | Anna C. Larson and Hilding Larson, husband and wife, of Floral Park, Long Island, N.Y. | Charles Webber of Billerica | 1946: the Larsons to Charles Webber, lots 136-137, "a vacant lot of land" | 1046/237 |
Dated May 27, 1946, acknowledged at Richmond, Virginia, with quitclaim covenants, "Two (2) certain parcels of land ... being lots numbered 136-137 on a plan of Pinehurst Manor" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95). The grantors state under the New York lien law "that the property was purchased by us as a vacant lot of land." "Being the same premises conveyed to us by Anna Eklind by deed dated June 20, 1935" (Book 883, Page 122).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 14, 1948 | Quitclaim Deed | Rose A. Canney of Boston | Rose Ann Donaghy of Boston (Charlestown District) | 1948: Rose A. Canney to Rose Ann Donaghy, lots 134-135 | 1091/150 |
Dated May 13, 1948, with quitclaim covenants, lots 134 and 135 of Pinehurst Manor, 6,573 square feet, by the bounds of 1912. "For my title see deed of Frank W. Coughlin to Rose A. Canney, dated April 15, 1912" (Book 485). "The consideration for this deed is less than $100.00." The grantee is the same owner under her married name; her 1950 deed recites this one.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1950 | Quitclaim Deed | Rose Ann Donaghy of Boston | Roy Brothers, Incorporated, of Billerica | 1950: Donaghy to Roy Brothers, Inc., lots 134-135 | 1138/545 |
Dated April 14, 1950, acknowledged at Lowell April 26, 1950, with quitclaim covenants, "lots numbered 134 and 135 on a plan of land, Pinehurst Manor, H. A. Millhouse, Civil Engineer, September 1910": northerly on lot 136 132.8 feet, easterly on lots 141 and 127 50 feet, southerly on lot 133 130 feet, westerly on the Boston Road 50.2 feet, 6,573 square feet. "For my title see deed of Rose A. Canney to Rose Ann Donaghy, dated May 1948" (Book 1091, Page 150).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| September 5, 1950 | Quitclaim Deed | Roy Bros., Inc., otherwise described as Roy Brothers Incorporated, of Billerica | Marie Roy of Billerica | 1950: Roy Bros. to Marie Roy, lots 134-135 | 1150/344 |
Dated July 27, 1950, with quitclaim covenants, lots 134 and 135 on "Pinehurst Manor, Billerica, Massachusetts, owned by Frank W. Coughlin, September 1910, H. A. Millhouse, Civil Engineer" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), 6,573 square feet, subject to the 1950 taxes. "Being the same premises conveyed to the said grantor by deed dated April 14, 1950" (Book 1138, Page 545). One of three deeds of the same day by which Marie Roy assembled lots 134 to 140.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| September 5, 1950 | Quitclaim Deed | Charles Webber of Billerica (Muriel F. Webber releasing) | Marie Roy of Billerica | 1950: Webber to Marie Roy, lots 136-137 | 1150/346 |
Dated July 27, 1950, with quitclaim covenants, lots 136 and 137 of Pinehurst Manor (Plan Book 27, Plan 95): westerly on the Boston Road 50.2 feet, easterly on lot 141 50 feet, 6,711 square feet, subject to the 1950 taxes. "Being the same premises conveyed to the said grantor by deed dated May 27, 1946" (Book 1046, Page 237).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| September 5, 1950 | Quitclaim Deed | Richard H. Jollymore of Billerica | Marie Roy of Billerica | 1950: Jollymore to Marie Roy, lots 138-140 | 1150/347 |
Dated July 27, 1950, with quitclaim covenants, lots 138, 139 and 140 of Pinehurst Manor (Plan Book 27, Plan 95): northerly on Cardington Avenue 140 feet, easterly on lot 141 75 feet, southerly on lot 137 135.6 feet, westerly on the Boston Road 75.3 feet, 10,331 square feet. "Being the same premises conveyed to the said grantor by deed dated February 18, 1946" (Book 1038, Page 122, the assignment of the tax title).
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| 1953 | Quitclaim Deed | Marie Roy of Billerica (Arthur J. Roy, her husband, releasing curtesy) | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | 1953: Marie Roy to the Town, lots 134-140 for the fire station | 1230/374 |
Dated and acknowledged July 7, 1953, with quitclaim covenants, "Several lots of land located in that part of Billerica called Pinehurst, being lots 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139 and 140" on "Pinehurst Manor, H.A. Millhouse, C.E., Sept. 1910" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95): "Northerly by Cardington Street 140 feet; Easterly by Lot 141 on said plan, 165 feet, and also easterly by a small portion of Lot 127 on said plan, about 10 feet; Southerly by Lot 133 on said plan, 130 feet, and Westerly by Boston Road 175 feet more or less", 23,615 square feet, being the land of the three deeds of July 27, 1950 (Book 1150, Pages 344, 346 and 347). Bought under Article 48 of the annual town meeting of March 1953 ($4,500) for the Pinehurst fire station.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| March 9, 1977 | Quitclaim Deed | Town of Billerica, by its Board of Selectmen | A private owner of Pinedale Avenue | 1977: mistaken town deed of lots 138-139 of this block | 2234/646 |
Dated February 7, 1977, for $210.04, "all it's right, title and interest" in "Lots 138 and 139 on a Plan of Pinehurst Manor" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), "Containing, according to said plan, 4,862 square feet of land", "Being the same premises conveyed to the Town of Billerica by deed of Marie Roy, dated July 7, 1953" (Book 1230, Page 374). A mistake: the lots meant were lots 138 and 139 of the Pinedale Park plan, which the town corrected in 1979.
Title from:
Title passed to:
|
|||||
| May 2, 1979 | Quitclaim Deed | Town of Billerica, by its Board of Selectmen | The same private owner of Pinedale Avenue | 1979: corrected deed of the Pinedale Park lots | 2361/340 |
Dated May 1, 1979, for one dollar, the town's right, title and interest in "Lots 138 and 139 on a Plan of Pinedale Park" (Plan Book 26, Plan 22), 4,862 square feet, "Being the same premises conveyed to the Town of Billerica by deed of Robert H. Fowler, dated March 4, 1952" (Book 1191, Page 128), formerly owned by Volberg M. Hansen. The correct deed for the lots meant to be sold in 1977.
Related:
|
|||||
| August 13, 1979 | Quitclaim Deed | The private owner of Pinedale Avenue | Town of Billerica | 1979: lots 138-139 quitclaimed back to the town | 2379/210 |
Recorded August 13, 1979 (indexed as a discharge), for one dollar, with quitclaim covenants, "Lots 138 and 139 on a Plan of Pinehurst Manor" (Plan Book 27, Plan 95), 4,862 square feet, being the premises the town had deeded to the grantor on February 7, 1977 (Book 2234, Page 646). Returns the fire station lots to the town.
Title from:
|
|||||
| December 11, 2020 | Variance | Billerica Zoning Board of Appeals | Brennan Consulting, Inc. (for the Town of Billerica) | 2020: variance for the new station | 35034/155 |
Case 2020-04-V, hearing and decision February 12, 2020, 832 Boston Road, Plate 99 Parcel 189, Book 1230, Page 374: variances (front and side yard setbacks, lot coverage, green strip, parking, a second driveway on a corner lot) "to construct a new fire station located in a General Business Zone." The engineers proposed "to take down the existing fire station and put up a more modern facility in the same location"; Fire Chief Robert Cole said former Chief Thomas Conway had started the project about ten years before. Granted 5-0, with the Brennan Consulting site plan for Winter Street Architects (January 2020).
Related:
|
|||||
| July 1, 2021 | Easement | Town of Billerica | Massachusetts Electric Company | 2021: underground electric easement for the new station | 35954/105 |
Grant of easement for one dollar, recorded July 1, 2021: the perpetual right to install and maintain an "UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM" with manholes, conduits and transformers on the land on the easterly side of Boston Road and the southerly side of Cardington Avenue, "Lots 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, and 140" of Plan Book 27, Plan 95, for the service to the new fire station.
Related:
|
|||||
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.