Structure · Built 1923 · Demolished 1958
Pinehurst School
Pinehurst School
| Address | Boston Road |
| Built | 1923 |
| Demolished | 1958 |
| Other Lot Structures |
Josiah Hardwick House (1915 -
1930)
Old Ditson School (1931 - 2021) Old Ditson School (First Addition) (1949 - 2021) Old Ditson School (Second Addition) (1953 - 2021) |
The Pinehurst School was a two-room wooden schoolhouse on the west side of Boston Road in Pinehurst, built in 1922 and opened in January 1923 for the young children of the fast-growing Shawsheen District, who until then had been carried by bus to the Centre schools. It stood on land that the deeds call "Ditson's plain" or "the Ditson Plain," a stretch of sandy pine plain named for the Ditson family, early settlers in the south part of town (Hugh and Seth Ditson sold land on the "Shawsheen Plain" in the 1740s). The site is now the town-owned parcel at 793 Boston Road, where the Old Ditson School later stood.
The earliest deed found for the land is from January 1758, when Ezekiel Walker and his wife sold William Bowers "ten acres and three quarters" of upland "in a place called Ditson's plain," bounded east on the highway, north on James Bennett and south on Ebenezer Beard (recorded only in 1778). Bowers owned it until his death. In March 1808 his sons, Dr. William Bowers and Jonathan Bowers, released to their brother Samuel "a piece of pine plain land ... known by the name of Ditson Plain," bounded north on the heirs of Edward Farmer, east on the highway, south on Isaac Beard and west on Benjamin Bowers. Samuel Bowers put "the Ditson place" in trust with his son-in-law Dr. Abraham R. Thompson in 1825, and Thompson sold it in 1828 to John and Henry Baldwin as nine and three quarter acres and twenty perches.
From the Baldwins the plain passed in 1834 to Harvey Crosby, then to John S. Edgerly and Henry Crosby, in 1850 to Lowell Jennison, in 1857 to Moses P. Greenwood and in 1865 to Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster. Their heirs sold it in 1896 to George W. McFarland of East Boston, who sold a 415-foot lot "with the buildings thereon" beside the new Pinehurst Annex house lots (Plan Book 19, Plan 42) to Mary A. Bolton of Lowell in 1912. Mary C. Bolton sold it in May 1913 to Josiah Hardwick of Everett, who made his home there.
In 1921 a town committee reported that 58 Pinehurst children were being carried to the Centre and recommended a school nearer home. On October 5, 1921 Hardwick sold the town, for $800, a lot 200 feet deep with 135 feet on the Boston Road, beginning at the corner of Lot 300 of Pinehurst Annex. The wooden school went up there in 1922, and within four years portable classrooms were added. In 1926 the town voted to straighten the line with Hardwick by trading Lot C for Lot B on a "Plan of Pinehurst School Lot," but Hardwick died in February 1927 and no deed of the swap was recorded. In July 1930 his daughters, Maude H. Brown, Annie H. Fuller and Mabell H. Freeman, sold the town his land around the school "with the buildings thereon" for $7,000 (Plan Book 55, Plan 28); the town sold the Hardwick buildings for $375, and the six-room brick Ditson School opened beside the old schoolhouse in 1931.
The Pinehurst School was damaged by fire in 1943, and its two first-grade rooms moved to the Talbot School. Because wartime materials were costly, the town repaired it rather than tear it down. The school grounds grew after the war: Alma R. Crowley sold the town Pinehurst Annex lots 294 to 300 along the south side in 1949, four more house lots behind the school were bought in 1950, and in July 1951 Frank P. Brennan sold Lot B of the "Plan of Pinehurst School Lot Additions" (Plan Book 80, Plan 92), released from his bank mortgage for the purpose. A twelve-room addition to the Ditson was built in 1949, and in 1950 the town voted to move the Pinehurst School from the east side of the Ditson to the south side and give it heat. It was held in reserve and reopened for overflow classes in 1954, and after further additions to the Ditson it was razed in 1958 at no cost to the town.
The town still owns the whole site, about 2.9 acres. The Ditson School buildings were demolished in 2021, and the grounds became a town park under agreements of 2024 and 2025.
Plans for the Pinehurst Elementary School by the architect Ralph Harrington Doane, a one-story building with a basement, were filed with the state Department of Public Safety on June 29, 1922.
References
- Pinehurst School Fire, October 13, 1943
- Pinehurst School Reopened, September 1954
- Pinehurst School Removed, 1958
- Billerica assessor, 793 Boston Rd (parcel 99-96-0): "Earlier site of the Pinehurst School"
- Mass. Dept. of Public Safety plan record, June 29, 1922, No. 17149: Pinehurst Elementary School, school purposes; architect Ralph Harrington Doane
Deed References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| March 22, 1778 | Warranty Deed | Ezekiel Walker of Billerica, yeoman, and his wife | William Bowers of Billerica, yeoman | Walker to William Bowers: the Ditson Plain, earliest deed found for the school land | 79/114 (South) |
Billerica town book 7, pages 217-219. For 17 pounds 3 shillings 4 pence, "one certain Tract or parcel of up Land situate in Billerica aforesaid in a place called Ditson's plain containing ten acres and three quarters by measure," beginning at the highway next to James Bennett's land, north on Bennett 46 1/4 poles, west on "Land we sold to Josiah Bowers" 33 poles, by land of Ebenezer Beard 58 1/4 poles to the highway, and east on the highway, "reserving Liberty for Josiah Bowers and Benj[amin] Johnson and ourselves" to pass and carry off grain and hay along the north side. Signed Jan. 16, 1758, acknowledged Feb. 20, 1758 before Thomas Kidder; witnesses Joseph Walker and Josiah Bowers. Recorded March 22, 1778. The earliest deed found for the land of the later Pinehurst and Ditson schools.
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| November 8, 1822 | Quitclaim | Dr. William Bowers, physician, and Jonathan Bowers, Esq., of Billerica (Priscilla Bowers releasing dower) | Their brother Samuel Bowers of Billerica, yeoman | Bowers brothers release the Ditson Plain to Samuel Bowers | 244/270 (South) |
Billerica town book 12, pages 264-266. For five dollars the brothers release all their interest in lands "which our honoured father William Bowers late of Billerica aforesaid died seized and possessed of," first "a piece of pine plain land situated in the south easterly part of said Billerica containing about eight acres and known by the name of Ditson Plain bounded north on land of the heirs of Edward Farmer deceased, east on the highway, south on land of Isaac Beard and west on land of Benjamin Bowers"; also about three acres called the Valy Orchard, about four acres of Snake meadow and three acres of woodland at Fox Hill. Signed and acknowledged March 1, 1808 before James Abbot; recorded Nov. 8, 1822. These are the bounds of the "Ditson place" Samuel Bowers put in trust in 1825.
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| 1825 | Deed in Trust | Samuel Bowers of Billerica, yeoman | His son-in-law Dr. Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician, in trust | Samuel Bowers puts the Ditson place in trust | 261/524 (South) |
Samuel Bowers, "being advanced in years and infirm of body" and "desirous of relieving myself from the cares incident to the management of my worldly substance and of settling my estate in my life time", in consideration of Thompson's bond of $10,000 for the trusts and "of love and affection to my wife Sarah and to all my children and to my granddaughter Caroline W. Little", conveys his pew in the meeting house and all his lands, first "all the lands which I purchased of William Bowers by his deed dated the twenty third day of May ... one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight that is to say, all the homestead where I now live, containing about twenty acres of land", with many other pieces in Billerica, Lynesborough, N.H., and Maine, and his livestock and chattels, the trustee to pay his debts and support the family. Dated Aug. 25, 1825 (date from the 1830 deed to Cheever). Billerica town book 12, pages 400-404. The homestead is the later Cheever place.
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| November 11, 1828 | Warranty Deed | Abraham R. Thompson of Charlestown, physician (Elizabeth Thompson releasing dower) | John Baldwin Esq. and Henry Baldwin, gentlemen, of Billerica | Thompson to the Baldwins: the Ditson place, 9 3/4 acres 20 perches | 284/362 (South) |
Billerica town book 14, pages 106-107. Dated April 25, 1828, recorded Nov. 11, 1828. For $103.69, "a certain piece of Land lying in Billerica bounded as follows Easterly on the County road to Boston Southerly on land of Isaac Beard Westerly on land of Benjamin Bowers Northerly by land of Farmers heirs containing nine acres three quarters and twenty perches and known by the name of the Ditson place, being the same land conveyed to me by Samuel Bowers by Deed dated August 25th 1825 ... Book 261 Page 524."
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| April 22, 1843 | Warranty Deed | John Baldwin and Henry Baldwin of Billerica, traders (Clarissa and Anne Baldwin releasing dower) | Harvey Crosby of Billerica | Baldwins to Harvey Crosby: the Ditson Plain | 427/124 (South) |
Billerica town book 17, page 464. Dated April 17, 1834, recorded April 22, 1843. "A certain piece of land situate in said Billerica containing nine acres three quarters and twenty perches more or less and known by the name of the Ditson Plain and bounded as follows viz. easterly on the County road leading from said Billerica to Boston southerly on land of Francis Carter westerly on land formerly of Benjamin Bowers and northerly on land formerly of the Farmer Heirs being the same conveyed to us by Abraham R. Thompson dated April 25 1828 ... Book 284 Page 362."
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| October 9, 1849 | Quitclaim | Harvey Crosby of Billerica, yeoman | John S. Edgerly of Somerville, trader, and Henry Crosby of Billerica, trader | Harvey Crosby to Edgerly and Henry Crosby | 567/298 (South) |
Dated Oct. 8, 1849. For one dollar and other consideration, eight pieces "with all the buildings thereon standing," among them "a certain farm situated about one mile south of the Unitarian Meeting house ... known by the name of the Hill Farm containing thirty three acres" (bought of Joseph Bowers) and "a certain tract of land containing thirty acres more or less bounded by the lands now or late of Isaac Hurd, of Zadock Allen, of Walter Carr Jr., of Benjamin Bowers and by the County road and a certain piece of land containing eight acres ... bounded by land now or late of Benjamin Bowers and by the County Road, the last two named being the premises to me conveyed by Josiah Crosby Jr. administrator of Isaac Kendall ... and by Joseph Bradley Deputy Sheriff"; with the Valley Orchard, a sheep pasture, 16 acres from Bernard Tufts, 10 acres from Sereno Fiske and the northerly half of the Bowers Foster Place, "said eight pieces ... being parts of the Home Place so called," and lots in Chelmsford, on the Concord and Shawsheen rivers and on Gibson's Hill, and his quarter of the estate of Seth Crosby. Subject to mortgages to Betsey Crosby, to the heirs of Kendall Crosby ($5,300), to Blaney Abbott and to Rhodes G. Lockwood. In effect a transfer of all of Harvey Crosby's real estate to a trustee for his creditors and a family member; Harvey went on living on the farm. Billerica town book 20, pages 331-339.
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| 1850 | Warranty Deed | John S. Edgerly of Somerville and Henry Crosby of Billerica, traders | Lowell Jennison of Billerica, yeoman | Edgerly and Crosby to Lowell Jennison | 618/562 (South) |
Billerica town book 19, pages 151-152. Dated 1850 (index), recorded 1851. For $100, "a certain piece or parcel of land situated in said Billerica containing nine acres three quarters & twenty perches more or less known as the 'Ditson Plain' being the premises conveyed to Harvey Crosby by John and Henry Baldwin by deed recorded ... Book 427 page 124, and by said Crosby to us by deed recorded as aforesaid Book 567 page 298."
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| May 25, 1857 | Warranty Deed | Lowell F. Jennison of Billerica (Lucy A. Jennison, his wife, releasing dower) | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman | Jennison to Moses P. Greenwood | 9/512 |
Signed May 11, 1857 before Dudley Foster, recorded May 25, 1857 (pages 512-513). For $125, "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing nine acres & three quarters and twenty Rods more or less known as the Ditson Plain being the premises conveyed to Harvey Crosby by John and Henry Baldwin by deed recorded in Middlesex Registry of Deeds Book 427, page 124, and by said Crosby to John E. Edgerly by deed recorded as aforesaid Book 567, p. 298, and by said Edgerly to me by deed recorded in Middlesex Registry of Deeds Book 618, Page 562."
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| March 19, 1866 | Warranty Deed | Moses P. Greenwood of Billerica, yeoman (Lucy Greenwood, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster, both of Billerica | Greenwood to Haynes and Foster | 47/337 |
Dated and acknowledged Dec. 2, 1865 before Charles H. Parker, recorded March 19, 1866. For $100, "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica containing nine acres three quarters and twenty rods more or less known as the Ditson Plain," with the same recital of title from the Baldwins through Harvey Crosby, John S. Edgerly and L. F. Jennison "to me ... Book 9, Page 512."
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| 1896 | Warranty Deed | Heirs of Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster: Cyrus H., Charles R., William H. and John Haynes, Abby Haynes, Caroline H. Jenkins, Adeline H. Hickey, John H. Foster, Frank D. Foster and Mary A. Foster | George W. McFarland of East Boston | Haynes and Foster heirs to George W. McFarland | 280/585 |
Signed Dec. 2, 1896, acknowledged Dec. 3 and (Mary A. Foster) Dec. 12, 1896 (pages 585-586; recorded December 1896, day not read). The heirs of Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster (Cyrus H., Charles R., William H. and John Haynes of Springfield, Abby Haynes of Boston, Caroline H. Jenkins of New York, Adeline H. Hickey of Boston, John H. Foster of Billerica, Frank D. Foster of North Andover and Mary A. Foster of Pasadena), for $450, "a certain parcel of land situate in said Billerica, containing nine and three quarters acres and twenty rods more or less, known as the Ditson Plain, being all and the same premises conveyed to Lyman Haynes and Dudley Foster by Moses P. Greenwood by deed dated December 2nd A.D. 1865 ... Book 47 Page 337"; also ten acres of meadow and upland bounded westerly by the Shawsheen River, conveyed to Dudley Foster by Lyman Haynes April 21, 1865 (Book 42, Page 307).
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| March 12, 1912 | Warranty Deed | George W. McFarland of Billerica (Anna L. McFarland, his wife, releasing dower and homestead) | Mary A. Bolton of Lowell | McFarland to Mary A. Bolton, with the buildings | 483/186 |
Signed March 12, 1912 (pages 186-187). For one dollar and other consideration, "a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings thereon": from the northeasterly corner of Lot 300 on the "Plan of land in Billerica belonging to E. E. Varnum, surveyed September 1902, O. F. Osgood surveyor" (Plan Book 19, Plan 42), "on the westerly side of the Boston road," westerly 415 feet to Lots 286 and 287, northerly along Lots 281 to 270, 343.25 feet, easterly 217 feet, southerly 75 feet, easterly 150 feet to the Boston road, and southeasterly along the road 275 feet to the beginning. "Being part of the same premises conveyed to me by Cyrus H. Haynes et al, by their deed dated December 24, 1896 ... Book 280, Page 585."
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| 1912 | Quitclaim Deed | Mary A. Bolton of Lowell | Mary C. Bolton of Lowell | Mary A. Bolton to Mary C. Bolton | 490/598 |
Dated July 31, 1912 (per the 1913 deed), recorded about August 1912 (pages 598-599). For one dollar and other consideration, quitclaim of the same lot on the westerly side of the Boston road at Lot 300 of the Varnum plan, 415 by 343.25 feet, with the buildings. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by George W. McFarland, by his deed dated March 12, 1912 ... book 483 page 186."
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| 1913 | Quitclaim Deed | Mary C. Bolton of Lowell, unmarried | Josiah Hardwick of Everett | Bolton to Josiah Hardwick | 505/475 |
Signed May 26, 1913, witness J. Joseph O'Connor (pages 475-476; recorded late May 1913). For one dollar and other consideration, "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon, situated in Billerica," the same lot on the westerly side of the Boston Road at Lot 300 of the Varnum plan. "Being the same premises conveyed to me by Mary A. Bolton by her deed dated July 31, 1912 ... Book 490 Page 598." Subject to the 1913 taxes and a $500 mortgage held by Fred M. Barney of Lowell, which the grantee assumes.
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| October 5, 1921 | Quitclaim Deed | Josiah Hardwick of Billerica, unmarried | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | Hardwick sells the town the school lot, 135 by 200 feet, $800 | 649/585 |
Signed and recorded Oct. 5, 1921, before Thomas Higgins, notary. "For consideration paid" (the Pinehurst Schoolhouse Committee reported the price as $800), with quitclaim covenants, "the land in said Billerica situated on the westerly side of the Boston Road": from the northeast corner of Lot 300 on the "Pinehurst Annex" plan of E. E. Varnum (Plan Book 19, Plan 42), westerly along Lots 300 to 293, 200 feet; northerly by other land of Hardwick 135 feet; easterly 200 feet to the Boston Road; southerly along the road 135 feet. "Containing twenty-seven thousand (27,000) square feet, more or less, and being a part of the same premises conveyed to me by Mary C. Bolton by her deed dated May 26, 1913 ... Book 505, Page 475." The Pinehurst School lot.
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| July 7, 1930 | Quitclaim Deed | Maude H. Brown of Manchester, New Hampshire, Annie H. Fuller of Billerica and Mabell H. Freeman of Medford (Samuel J. Freeman, her husband, releasing curtesy), heirs of Josiah Hardwick | Inhabitants of Billerica | Hardwick heirs sell the town the land around the school, $7,000 | 792/182 |
Signed and recorded July 7, 1930, acknowledged at Lowell before John B. Boudreau (pages 182-183). For consideration paid (the town paid $7,000 for the "Hardwick Property"), with quitclaim covenants, "the land in said Billerica, in that part thereof called Pinehurst, with the buildings thereon, situated on the westerly side of the Boston Road," beginning "at the northeasterly corner of the Pinehurst School lot already owned by the Inhabitants of Billerica," along the road 140 feet to McFarland, by McFarland and Riverbank Acres Lots 5 to 14, southerly along Lots 269 to 281 and 286 of the Varnum plan (Plan Book 19, Plan 42) 343.25 feet, and around the town's school lot back to the start. "Containing 93,658 square feet, and being a part of the land conveyed to Josiah Hardwick by deed of Mary C. Bolton dated May 26, 1913 ... Book 505, Page 475. Our title is derived as heirs of said Josiah Hardwick, Middlesex Probate records #161747." Shown on "Plan of Pinehurst School Lot and Josiah Hardwick Estate Billerica, Mass.," June 21, 1930, John T. Brown, Surveyor (Plan Book 55, Plan 28).
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| May 27, 1949 | Quitclaim Deed | Alma R. Crowley of Charlestown (Timothy J. Crowley, her husband, releasing curtesy) | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | Pinehurst Annex lots 294-300 south of the school land | 1115/498 |
For consideration paid ($1.65 in revenue stamps), with quitclaim covenants, "seven (7) certain lots of land numbered 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, and 300" on the Pinehurst Annex plan of E. E. Varnum, surveyed September 1902 by O. F. Osgood (Plan Book 19, Plan 42): "Easterly by the Boston Road, Northerly by land of said Town of Billerica, Westerly by lot 293 on said plan, and Southerly by Shawsheen Street." Part of the land conveyed to her by Mary E. Green by two deeds of Sept. 1, 1938 (Book 936, Pages 507 and 509). Signed and acknowledged May 3, 1949; recorded May 27, 1949. The lots lie along the south side of the school land, room for the 1949 Ditson addition.
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| August 16, 1950 | Deed | James F. Power, unmarried | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | school land addition, 1950 | 1148/586 |
For consideration paid, lots 14 and 15 "as shown on a plan of Riverbank Acres made by C. A. Thayer" (Plan Book 30, Plan 19), on Grove Street behind the Pinehurst (Ditson) School, subject to restrictions of record. "Being all and the same premises conveyed to me by John D. Cooke by his deed dated September 30, 1948 ... Book 1102, Page 564." Bought under Article 33 of the 1949 annual town meeting ($3,500 "for the purpose of acquiring land for school purposes as shown on plan of Pinehurst School lot and Josiah Hardwick Estate"). Recorded Aug. 16, 1950.
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| August 16, 1950 | Deed | Mildred Carroll | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | school land addition, 1950 | 1148/587 |
Mildred Carroll grants to the Inhabitants, for consideration paid, lots 12 and 13 on the Riverbank Acres plan (Plan Book 30, Plan 19), on Grove Street behind the Pinehurst (Ditson) School, subject to restrictions of record. "Being all and the same premises conveyed to me by Aaron Adelman by his deed dated February 13, 1922 and recorded with said Deeds, Book 657, Page 573." Bought under Article 33 of the 1949 annual town meeting. Recorded Aug. 16, 1950 (the grantor index gives the grantor as Mildred Carroll).
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| August 16, 1950 | Deed | Ernest F. Pearson | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | school land addition, 1950 | 1148/588 |
Ernest F. Pearson of Medford, married (Elsie E. Pearson releasing dower and homestead), for consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, "two certain lots of land numbered 292 and 293 as shown on a plan known as 'Pinehurst Annex' surveyed for E.E. Varnum by O.F. Osgood, C.E., dated September 1902" (Plan Book 19, Plan 42), "Containing in all according to said plan 2430 square feet of land. For my title see Probate of the will of Elizabeth G. Keay, late of Medford, Massachusetts, Middlesex Probate # 256,545." Lots on Shawsheen (now Sheridan) Street behind the school, bought under Article 33 of 1949. The 2024 PARC project agreement gives this deed as the town's title to the 2.73-acre park. Recorded Aug. 16, 1950.
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| August 24, 1950 | Deed | John J. Danine | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | school land addition, 1950 | 1149/358 |
John J. Danine of Boston, unmarried, for consideration paid, with quitclaim covenants, "three certain lots of land numbered 270, 271 and 272 on a plan known as 'Pinehurst Annex' surveyed for E.E. Varnum by O.F. Osgood C.E., dated September 1902" (Plan Book 19, Plan 42), on A Street behind the school, bought under Article 33 of 1949. Recorded Aug. 24, 1950.
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| July 13, 1951 | Partial Release of Mortgage | Reading Co-operative Bank | Frank P. Brennan | bank releases Lot B for the school addition | 1172/394 |
The bank, holder of Brennan's mortgage of Aug. 5, 1946 (Book 1050, Page 46), "for consideration paid, release[s] to the said Frank P. Brennan" Lot B on the "Plan of Pinehurst School Lot Additions," J. B. Monahan, Surveyor, July 12, 1950 (Plan Book 80, Plan 92), 4,380 square feet, so that he could sell it to the town. Signed July 3, 1951 by H. Raymond Johnson, Treasurer; recorded July 13, 1951 (No. 432).
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| July 13, 1951 | Warranty Deed | Frank P. Brennan of Malden, unmarried | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | Brennan sells the town Lot B, Plan 80/92 | 1172/395 |
For consideration paid ($1.10 in revenue stamps), with warranty covenants, Lot B on the "Plan of Pinehurst School Lot Additions" (Plan Book 80, Plan 92): from a stake 88.83 feet west of a stone bound on the Boston Road, northwesterly 75.60 feet to Lot 1 of Riverbank Acres (Plan Book 30, Plan 19), westerly along Lots 1 and 5 60.20 feet "to a stone bound at land of the Town of Billerica," southeasterly 75 feet and easterly 61.17 feet by other land of the town; "4,380 square feet of land, more or less." "Being a part of the premises conveyed to me by Tahue Dadekian et als by their deed dated August 5, 1946 ... Book 1050, Page 45." Signed July 9, 1951; recorded July 13, 1951 (No. 433).
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| April 30, 2021 | Board of Health Decision | Billerica Board of Health | Town of Billerica | Board of Health approval to demolish the Ditson School | 35693/273 |
Covenant for variance and stormwater management approval, "793 Boston Road - Old Ditson School", Assessor's Plate 99, Parcel 96-0. Heard and approved April 5, 2021: the town "proposes to demolish buildings and remove pavement. Approximately 22,700 square feet of roof and 35,000 square feet of pavement will be removed and converted to grass surfaces," following the plan "The Old Ditson School Demolition Project" by BETA, April 13, 2021. No further encroachment into the flood plain, "deemed a deed restriction". Pages 273-277.
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| July 25, 2025 | Project Agreement | Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs | Town of Billerica | park project agreement for the old school site | 39405/184 |
Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Program project agreement, made in November 2024. Premises: "Approximately 2.73 acres of land including any buildings thereon located at 793 Boston Road ... For Participant's Title, see Book 1148, Page 588." "Ditson Park, PARC #11: The project will include the construction of a perimeter trail and pavilion and renovations to the existing basketball court and playground," with a state grant of $449,500. The town covenants that the property "shall be devoted to park, recreation and/or conservation purposes in perpetuity, within the meaning of Article 97", and will revert to the Commonwealth if not. Three pages.
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| July 31, 2025 | Agreement | Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs; Billerica Board of Selectmen | Town of Billerica | park agreement for the old school site | 39422/54 |
A second recording of the PARC project agreement for Ditson Park (793 Boston Road, about 2.73 acres; title Book 1148, Page 588; $449,500), signed for the Commonwealth and by the Select Board, with the town clerk Donna J. McCoy's certified copy of Article 31 of the annual fall town meeting of October 1, 2024: $800,000 for the Ditson Park Project, "being assessors map No. 99, lot No. 96"; the "presently town owned Ditson land described as 793 Boston Road ... consisting of 2.93 acres more or less" transferred to the Select Board as Park Commission; "dedicated now and forever as parkland for public use, as a park, and a recreational facility, to be named 'Old Ditson Park or such other name for the Park as the Select Board may from time to time establish'"; carried 163 to 1. With the park boundary map. Seven pages.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted.