Richardson Cottage
When John O. Richardson bought land on Andover Rd from Ichabod Kimball in 1877, he was the proprietor of an active sawmill in East Billerica. During the next twenty years, he arranged for the building of several houses around the center village, presumably at least in part as an outlet for his lumber; and at least in part as an investment.
The house next east he may have built as a residence for he sold it within a few years at the time he had built another house on Boston Rd, which he did occupy as a residence for the rest of his life.
This house, however, he presumably built on spec. Its generally plain style is highly reminiscent of three houses on Concord Rd which he also built and held as rental property.