Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
| Buildings | 1, built 1970
100 Cook St |
Shawsheen Valley Technical High School stands on 91 3/4 acres north of Cook Street, between Alexander Road and the Shawsheen River, near the Burlington and Wilmington lines. It is the regional vocational and technical high school of five towns, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Tewksbury and Wilmington, and the land is owned by their school district, not by the Town of Billerica.
The campus is the old homestead of the College Farm, the farm on the Shawshin that Cambridge granted to Harvard College in the 1640s. Harvard leased it to tenants until Feb. 22, 1775, when it sold the whole farm of "about two hundred and thirty acres" to four Billerica men, who resold the 91 3/4 acres east of the river to William Gleason within a month. His son and grandson kept it until 1859, when William S. Gleason sold "one tract containing ninety one acres & three quarters," bounded by "the highway leading from Billerica to Wilmington" (Cook Street), the Shawsheen and "the road leading to Tewksbury" (Alexander Road). The same bounds run through every later deed. After a quick run of owners in the 1860s the farm passed to the Crosbys, then by foreclosure to the Trustees of Phillips Academy of Andover, who sold it in 1890 to Herbert B. Richardson and Frank H. Richardson of Woburn. It stayed in their family for 77 years, crossed by a 250-foot power line easement of 1928 and an oil pipeline of 1944, both still on the land, and in 1966 the Burlington Water and Sewer District took easements and a pumping station lot along the river.
Billerica's part in the school began with an article in the 1964 town meeting warrant to create a Regional Vocational School District Planning Committee of three members, which could join committees of neighboring towns to study "the advisability of establishing a Regional Vocational School District." Everett H. McCue, George M. Menezes and John T. Glavine served for Billerica. On Nov. 16, 1965 the Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational/Technical School District was "established by an affirmative vote of the five (5) towns," and the regional school committee, two members from each town, first met in the School Administration Building in Billerica, with Richard Keane of Wilmington as chairman. In 1966 it chose the architects Korslund, LeNormand and Quann, Inc., hired Benjamin Wolk as Superintendent-Director, and picked a site "central to the district and located on Cook Street in Billerica."
The district committee took the farm by eminent domain on Feb. 14, 1967, "for constructing thereon a school building and conducting a regional vocational/technical high school, for related recreational and athletic purposes and for other school purposes," taking the land "including the trees and structures thereon" and awarding $50,000 in damages. The 1967 report called it "the property at 92 Cook Street," the farmhouse's number; the owners gave a confirmatory deed on Nov. 26, 1968, after a settlement, and the old house was moved across Cook Street, where it still stands. All five towns approved bonds of $4,225,000 for the land, building and equipment. Bids were opened on Jan. 22, 1969, and the committee took the low bid of the James J. Welch Company, Inc. of Salem, $3,826,739; construction began in April 1969, delayed six weeks by a carpenters' strike, with Michael J. Boyle as clerk of the works. The state School Building Assistance Bureau approved a total cost of $4,863,238. Late in 1969 the committee voted that the school be named "SHAWSHEEN VALLEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL"; the district had taken the Shawsheen Valley name in December 1965, after the river that runs past the site.
The cornerstone was laid on May 27, 1970, and the school opened on Sept. 14, 1970 with about 340 students in grades 9 and 10, chosen from 627 applicants; it went to a full day on Oct. 26 as the shops were finished. About 5,000 people came to the dedication and open house on Mar. 28, 1971, when Kenneth L. Buffum of Billerica was chairman of the committee. The first class graduated in June 1973. The building was planned for about 700 students and could not take all who applied, so the district planned a second phase that doubled it to about 1,400, again with Korslund, LeNormand and Quann; the five towns approved $5,620,000 in bonds in 1973, construction began in 1974, and the addition opened in September 1975, adding twelve programs. It was dedicated on Nov. 2, 1975 to Joseph E. Bastable of Tewksbury, the school's guidance director and Phase II coordinator.
The district has held the whole 91.75 acres since 1967. The later records on the land are easements: a Burlington water main and a larger pumping station lot by the river (1972), Billerica sewer lines (1978 and 2000), telephone and electric lines (1988, 1997, 2017), and easements for widening Cook Street and Alexander Road with sidewalks, drainage and a detention basin (2006). The parking lot was rebuilt with rain gardens in 2013, and in 2016 the athletic campus was rebuilt with a synthetic turf field inside a six-lane track, a grandstand, a baseball and soccer turf field and tennis courts, partly within the old power line strip. The school also has the Kenneth L. Buffum Pool, used by several area high school swim teams, an adult evening school and a practical nursing school. In October 2024 it had 1,281 high school students.
References
- Billerica assessor, 100 Cook St (parcel 82-115-0): Shawsheen Valley Regional Voc-Tech School District, 91.750 acres, school built about 1970, deed Book 1787 Page 345
- Billerica town report 1963: warrant article for a Regional Vocational School District Planning Committee
- Billerica town reports 1964-1967: planning committee; Shawsheen Valley district reports for 1966 (district established Nov. 16, 1965; architects; Cook Street site) and 1967 (92 Cook Street acquired; $4,225,000 bonds)
- Billerica town report 1968: district report (settlement with the owners; $3,925,000 borrowing; opening planned for September 1970)
- Billerica town reports 1969-1972: district reports (Welch contract $3,826,739; the name voted; cornerstone May 27, 1970; opening Sept. 14, 1970; dedication Mar. 28, 1971; Phase II planning)
- Billerica town report 1975: Phase II addition completed September 1975 and dedicated Nov. 2, 1975 to Joseph E. Bastable
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| October 30, 1744 | Agreement | President and Fellows of Harvard College (Edward Holyoke, Henry Flynt, Nathaniel Appleton, committee) | Jacob Walker of Billerica, yeoman | Harvard College fixes the east line of the College Farm, 1744 | 44/361 (South) |
Articles of agreement dated Oct. 15, 1744 "with respect to the Easterly bound of the Farm belonging to said College lying in the said Town of Billerica and bordering on the lands of the said Jacob Walker." Earlier plans by Jonathan and Samuel Danforth showed a straight line, but "late renewals" missed by 13 rods "when they come before the said Jacob Walker's house"; the parties fixed the line from a rock marked with three C's a little over two rods from the northeast bank of the Shawshin, past "the Close before the said Walker's door," to a hornbeam marked C and W. The copy ends with "A Plan of a tract of Land lying in Billerica at a Place called Shawshin, belonging to Harvard College ... containing near 230 acres," drawn by Caleb Brooks, surveyor, Sept. 25, 1744. Billerica town book 4, pages 434-437.
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| April 3, 1769 | Deed | Ebenezer Richardson of Billerica, yeoman | William Gleason of Billerica, yeoman | William Gleason buys land on the Woburn line next to the farm | 69/141 (South) |
For 46 pounds 8 shillings, 29 acres bounded by John Farmer, John Jaquith, "Woburn Line," Nathaniel Davidson, Ebenezer Beard and Samuel Richardson, reserving a bridle way to Davidson. No buildings. Dated Jan. 6, 1764, recorded 1769. Gleason's first recorded purchase, on the Woburn line south of the College Farm. Billerica town book 6, pages 353-354.
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| April 3, 1769 | Deed | John Jaquith Jr. of Wilmington, husbandman | William Gleason of Billerica, yeoman | William Gleason buys the messuage bounded by the College Farm | 69/143 (South) |
For 120 pounds, "one certain messuage or Tract of Land lying partly in Billerica and partly in Woburn," 31 acres 80 perches, bounded by James Twiss, Henry Read, the town line, Gleason's own land, John Farmer and Benjamin Johnson, "to a heap of stones by the College Farm then South Easterly by said Farm about one hundred and twenty one Poles," with a way to the house "that was formerly John Walker's" which Jaquith bought of Thomas Goodwin in 1757. Gleason's homestead next to the College Farm before he bought the farm itself. Billerica town book 6, pages 355-356.
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| December 28, 1776 | Deed | President and Fellows of Harvard College | Solomon Pollard, Jonathan Stickney, Samuel Kidder and Solomon Kidder, all of Billerica | Harvard College sells the College Farm, 1775 | 77/263 (South) |
Dated Feb. 22, 1775. For 606 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence, "a certain Farm in Billerica aforesaid containing about two hundred and thirty acres lying in three pieces being divided by the Highway and Shawshin River," bounded southeast on Woburn line, southwest on John Stearns, Nathaniel Pollard, Samuel and Josiah Richardson, northwest on William Tarbell and Ephraim Crosby, north on Samuel Richardson, and northeast on Paul and Sears Cook and William Carter, "being the same Tract of Land a Plan whereof was taken by Caleb Brooks Surveyor which is now on File among the College Papers and which is also pricked off in the College Book No. 3 Page 122," one undivided fourth to each grantee. The college's sale of the farm it had held since the 1640s; no buildings are named. Billerica town book 7, pages 131-133.
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| October 29, 1800 | Deed | Samuel Kidder, Solomon Pollard, Solomon Kidder and Jonathan Stickney of Billerica | Jacob Marshall of Billerica, yeoman | the west-of-river part of the farm sold; Gleason had bought the east part | 137/511 (South) |
Dated Mar. 20, 1775, recorded 1800. For 111 pounds, 22 1/2 acres "on the Westerly side of Shawshin river it being a part of the Colledge farm, so called," bounded by William Tarbell, Ephraim Crosby, Samuel and Josiah Richardson and the river, with "liberty to transport the produce ... to and from the Colledge ford way across the land we lately sold to William Gleason." The only recorded resale by the four buyers; it proves they had sold Gleason the farm east of the river by March 1775 (his will dates that deed Mar. 18, 1775; it was never recorded). Billerica town book 10, pages 54-56.
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| 1818 | Will | Estate of William Gleason of Billerica, yeoman (d. Feb. 3, 1818) | His son William Gleason (1763-1844), executor and devisee | will of William Gleason: the 91 3/4-acre homestead to his son | Probate #9226 |
Will dated Feb. 12, 1794, proved at Woburn Apr. 28, 1818. "I give to my sone William Gleason & to his heirs & assigns forever the one half of my lands & building lying in Billerica as butted & bounded in two deeds from Samuel Kidder & others, one of ninety one acres & three quarters more or less dated March eighteenth one thousand seven hundred & seventy five, the other is of twenty two acres & forty nine rods ... dated the thirtieth day of May one thousand seven hundred & seventy six," with the stock, tools and residue; son Joseph 100 pounds; daughters Mary Pitman, Hannah Walker, Rebeckah Howard and Salley Gleason legacies. Witnesses Isaac Stearns, John Farrar, Samuel Hopkins Jr. The only surviving record of Gleason's unrecorded 1775 and 1776 purchases.
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| 1841 | Quitclaim | Josiah B. Gleason of Billerica | William S. Gleason of Billerica | Josiah B. Gleason releases the home place to William S. Gleason | 417/325 (South) |
For $800, "all my right title and interest to a certain farm in Billerica owned and occupied by William Gleason and called the home place, and also a wood lot situated in Bedford in said County near the Middlesex turnpike, with all the personal property belonging to said estate," warranting only against his own acts. Dated and acknowledged Dec. 10, 1841 before Silvanus Wood; the grantee index gives 1842 for the recording ("Int. in William Gleason's Home Place"). Billerica town book 17, page 317 (Southern Registry Book 417 Page 325). The "home place" is the College Farm, which William Gleason (d. 1818) had bought from Harvard College and his son William (d. 1844) occupied; William S. Gleason kept it until he moved to the village in 1850.
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| 1845 | Will | Estate of William Gleason (1763-1844) of Billerica, yeoman (d. Sept. 26, 1844) | His sons William S. Gleason and Josiah B. Gleason, executors and residuary devisees | will of William Gleason (d. 1844): the homestead farm | Probate #32734 |
Will dated Oct. 29, 1838, proved at Cambridge Jan. 14, 1845. To wife Sarah "the one undivided half of my Homestead Farm, where I now live, situate in said Billerica, consisting of about one hundred acres, with the easterly half of the Dwelling house thereon, together with a right to use, in common, the front entry, kitchen, oven, well-room, cellar and out buildings, with the one undivided half of the Barn on said farm," for life; unmarried daughters Mary Ann and Louisa a home and "the east chamber"; the rest of the estate to sons William S. and Josiah B. Gleason. Witnesses Marshall Preston, Reuel Goodwin, Joseph Gleason.
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| May 19, 1859 | Warranty Deed | William S. Gleason of Billerica, yeoman, and his wife Mary B. Gleason | Norton Newcomb of Medford | William S. Gleason sells the 91 3/4-acre farm, 1859 | 19/353 |
Dated Apr. 28, 1859. For $4,500, "one tract containing ninety one acres & three quarters," beginning at "the highway leading from Billerica to Wilmington" at a stone wall, bounded southwest by George Bennett about 98 rods to "Shawshin River," northwest by the river to John Crosby, northeast by Crosby and "the road leading to Tewksbury," southeast by the highway, "with a dwelling house and barn thereon standing being my homestead"; also ten acres on the south side of the highway bounded by Abel W. Harrington and J. B. Gleason; reserving one year to remove wood already cut. The Gleason family's sale of the College Farm homestead after 84 years. Witnesses Dudley Foster, Sarah Gleason.
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| September 8, 1865 | Warranty Deed | Norton Newcomb of Medford and his wife Lydia | John B. Cross of Boston | Newcomb to Cross | 44/252 |
Dated Sept. 7, 1865. For $3,500, "a certain piece or parcel of land together with the Buildings thereon standing," the same 91 3/4 acres between the Billerica-Wilmington highway, the road to Tewksbury and the Shawshin, and the ten acres south of the highway, "being the same premises conveyed to me by Wm. S. Gleason by deed dated April 28th 1859 ... Lib. 19 Fol. 353."
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| November 9, 1865 | Warranty Deed | John B. Cross of Billerica and his wife Harriet | Robert H. Logan of Roxbury | Cross to Logan | 45/82 |
Dated Nov. 6, 1865. For $5,000, the 91 3/4 acres "with a dwelling house and Barn thereon standing being the homestead formerly of Wm. S. Gleason," and the ten acres south of the highway, "being the same premises conveyed to one Norton Newcomb by Wm. S. Gleason ... Lib. 19 Fol. 353." Logan gave Cross two mortgages back (Book 45, pages 84 and 88), discharged in 1869 and 1879.
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| January 11, 1866 | Warranty Deed | Robert H. Logan of Billerica | Lucia S. Little, wife of Elbridge G. Little of Middleborough | Logan to Lucia S. Little | 46/202 |
For $6,000, the 91 3/4 acres "with a Dwelling house and barn thereon standing being the homestead formerly of Wm. S. Gleason" and the ten acres south of the highway, "being also the same premises conveyed to me by John B. Cross by his deed dated November 6th A.D. 1865," to her "sole and separate use"; the grantee assumed Cross's two mortgages ($1,450 and $427).
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| July 4, 1866 | Warranty Deed | Lucia S. Little of North Middleboro in her own right, and Elbridge G. Little in right of his wife | Francis A. Fogg of Boston | Little to Fogg | 50/320 |
Dated May 29, 1866. For "One dollar and other valuable considerations," land "with the buildings thereon": the 91 3/4 acres "with the dwelling house and barn thereon standing being the homestead formerly of Wm. S. Gleason" and the ten acres, subject to the two Cross mortgages and a $623 mortgage to George V. Leicester (Book 49, page 351). The farm changed hands five times in seven years after the Gleasons sold it.
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| January 9, 1867 | Quitclaim | Francis A. Fogg of Boston and his wife A. P. Fogg | John S. Barry of Medford | Fogg to Barry | 54/58 |
Dated Dec. 13, 1866. For $1,500, land "with the Buildings thereon": the 91 3/4 acres "with the dwelling house and barn thereon standing Being the Homestead formerly of W. S. Gleason" and the ten acres south of the highway, "being the same premises conveyed to me by Lucia S. Little by deed dated 29th of May 1866 ... Book 50 Fol. 320," subject to the Cross and Leicester mortgages.
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| January 9, 1867 | Warranty Deed | John S. Barry of Medford and his wife Louisa | David P. West of Boston | Barry to David P. West | 54/60 |
Dated Dec. 18, 1866 and recorded the same day as Barry's own purchase. For $2,000, land "with the Buildings thereon": the 91 3/4 acres "with the dwelling house and barn thereon standing. Being the Homestead formerly of William S. Gleason," and the ten acres south of the highway, "conveyed to me by deed of F. A. Fogg and wife dated December 13th 1866," subject to three mortgages totalling $2,500 which the grantee assumed.
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| January 9, 1867 | Warranty Deed | David P. West of Boston, gentleman | Gustavus L. West of Tisbury, Dukes County | David P. West to Gustavus L. West | 54/62 |
For "One Hundred Dollars and other valuable considerations," the 91 3/4 acres "with the dwelling house and barn thereon standing and other buildings. Being the Homestead formerly of William S. Gleason," and the ten acres south of the highway, "conveyed to me by deed John S. Barry and wife dated December 18th 1866," subject to the three mortgages ($2,500).
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| March 6, 1867 | Mortgage | Gustavus L. West of West Tisbury | Florentine W. Pelton of Newton | G. L. West mortgage | 54/207 |
For $500, the same 91 3/4 acres "with the Buildings thereon ... the dwelling house and barn thereon, being the former estate of W. S. Gleason," and the ten acres, "being estate conveyed to me by John S. Barry," subject to $2,500 of earlier mortgages. Later assigned and then discharged by John Crosby on the margin.
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| May 21, 1867 | Warranty Deed | Gustavus L. West of Tisbury | John Crosby of Billerica | G. L. West to John Crosby | 56/249 |
Dated Apr. 23, 1867. For "four hundred dollars and other valuable considerations," land "with the buildings thereon": the 91 3/4 acres bounded northwest by the Shawsheen River "to land of said Crosby," northeast partly by Crosby's land and partly by the road to Tewksbury, "with the dwelling house and barn thereon standing being the homestead formerly of William Gleason," and the ten acres, "conveyed to me by David P. West of Boston by deed dated Jan. 8, 1867," subject to three mortgages ($2,500) that Crosby assumed. Crosby already owned the land next door; he is the "Crosby" of local tradition.
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| March 28, 1868 | Warranty Deed | John Crosby of Billerica, yeoman, unmarried | Francis L. Crosby of Billerica | John Crosby to Francis L. Crosby | 60/552 |
Dated Mar. 9, 1868. For $2,500, land "with the buildings thereon": the 91 3/4 acres, bounded northwest by the river "to land of my own" and northeast "by my own land and partly by road leading to Tewksbury," "with the dwelling house and barn thereon standing, being the homestead formerly of Wm. Gleason," and the ten acres, "being the same premises conveyed to me by Gustavus L. West's deed dated April 23rd 1867 ... Book 56, Page 249," subject to mortgages of $2,073 (John B. Cross $1,450, George V. Leicester $623). Witness Dudley Foster.
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| 1869 | Mortgage | Francis L. Crosby of Billerica | Trustees of Phillips Academy, Andover | Crosby mortgage to Phillips Academy | 71/61 |
Dated Nov. 17, 1869. For $1,500, the 91 3/4 acres "with the dwelling house and barn thereon being formerly the homestead of William Gleason" and the ten acres, "Being the same premises conveyed to me by John Crosby ... Book 60 Page 552," to be repaid at the Treasurer's office in Andover one year from Apr. 1, 1870 at seven per cent, the buildings to be kept insured for $1,500, with power of sale. The margin refers to the entry for foreclosure in Book 133, page 442.
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| September 17, 1874 | Warranty Deed | Francis L. Crosby of Billerica and his wife Mary E. | Nancy K. Bishop of Providence, R.I. | Crosby to Nancy K. Bishop | 105/190 |
Dated Aug. 20, 1874. For $3,500, land "with the buildings thereon": the 91 3/4 acres "with the dwelling house and barn thereon standing, being the homestead formerly of William Gleason," and the ten acres, "being the same premises conveyed to me by John Crosby deed dated March 9th 1868," subject to a $1,500 mortgage "in favor of Andover Institution at Andover" (the Phillips Academy mortgage) at seven per cent, which Bishop assumed.
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| May 9, 1879 | Entry to Foreclose | Francis L. Crosby (mortgagor); Nancy K. Bishop, owner | Trustees of Phillips Academy, Andover | Phillips Academy enters to foreclose | 133/442 |
Certificate by Holbrook Chandler and Nathan H. Richardson that on May 3, 1879 they saw the Trustees of Phillips Academy, by Edward Taylor their Treasurer, "make an open, peaceable and unopposed entry on the premises" described in Francis L. Crosby's mortgage of Nov. 17, 1869 (Book 71, page 61) "for the purpose ... of foreclosing said mortgage for breach of the condition thereof." Sworn before Dudley Foster.
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| June 21, 1887 | Warranty Deed | Nancy K. Bishop | Charles Blake of Billerica | Bishop to Charles Blake | 189/126 |
Dated and acknowledged at Cambridge Dec. 1, 1883, recorded June 21, 1887 with Blake's deed to the academy. The 91 3/4 acres "with the dwelling-house & barn thereon being formerly the homestead of William Gleason," and the ten acres south of the highway, citing John Crosby's 1868 deed (Book 60, page 552); warranted against all but the $1,500 mortgage to the Trustees of Phillips Academy (Book 71, page 61). Witnesses Fanny W. Bishop and J. C. Thurston. Blake is the "Blake" of local tradition.
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| June 21, 1887 | Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure | Charles Blake of Billerica, yeoman, and his wife Leonora P. Blake | Trustees of Phillips Academy, Andover | Blake to Phillips Academy | 189/127 |
Dated June 20, 1887. For "One Dollar and other valuable considerations," land "with the buildings thereon": the 91 3/4 acres "with the dwelling-house and barn thereon, being formerly the homestead of William Gleason," and the ten acres, "intending to convey the same premises as conveyed to me by Nancy K. Bishop by deed dated December 1, 1883," subject to the academy's own $1,500 mortgage of 1869. Witness John F. Kimball. With the academy's 1879 entry, this gave the school full title.
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| June 9, 1890 | Quitclaim | Trustees of Phillips Academy (by Alpheus H. Hardy, Treasurer) | Herbert B. Richardson and Frank H. Richardson of Woburn | Phillips Academy to the Richardsons, 1890 | 216/30 |
Dated May 31, 1890. For $1,500, "a certain tract or parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in Billerica," from the highway to Wilmington at a stone wall, by George Bennett about 98 rods to the Shawsheen River, by the river to land now or formerly of John Crosby, and by Crosby and the road to Tewksbury, "containing ninety one & three quarters acres," with the parcel south of the highway, "intending to convey the same premises ... as conveyed to the above named corporation by Chas. Blake ... Book 189 Leaf 127 and also as conveyed to said corporation by Francis L. Crosby by mortgage deed dated November 17, 1869 ... Book 71 Page 61 now foreclosed by possession taken May 3, 1879." The Richardson purchase of local tradition ("about 1890").
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| May 8, 1928 | Easement | Herbert B. Richardson, Florence B. Shinquin, Gertrude M. Waldron, Bertha R. Richardson, Katherine F. Richardson and Edith C. Richardson | New England Power Construction Company | power line easement across the farm (still on the campus) | 762/314 |
Dated Apr. 25, 1928. A perpetual easement for high and low voltage lines and telephone wires on towers or poles "over, across and upon a strip of our land 250 feet in width, in Billerica," from land of Nathaniel R. Jones to land of Daniel Gage, "crossing the highway," with the right to keep the strip cleared. Signed by the Richardson heirs then owning the farm; witness Clifton A. Shinquin. The power line still crosses the old farm.
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| November 3, 1944 | Easement | Edith C. Richardson and Bertha R. Richardson, both single, and Florence B. Shinquin, widow, all of Billerica | Colonial Beacon Oil Company | oil pipeline easement across the farm | 1015/393 |
Dated May 25, 1944. A perpetual 30-foot right of way for a pipeline "for the transportation of refined petroleum products" through their land "Extending northerly from lands now or formerly of Dominick Flaherty to lands now or formerly of the Town of Billerica at the Shawsheen River, crossing intervening highway called Cook Street," within the westerly edge of the 1928 power line strip. Herbert B. Richardson signed a separate grant the same day.
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| March 30, 1966 | Taking | Owners of record (private) and others | Burlington Water and Sewer District | water easements by the school site | 1744/251 |
Order of Taking adopted Feb. 28, 1966 by the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners of the Burlington Water and Sewer District: easements "for the collecting, storing, purifying, preserving and conveying of water and for the building of a dam and reservoir," and one parcel in fee, on the Shawsheen in Billerica, shown on a September 1965 plan. Two parcels were taken from the owner of the old College Farm, who was awarded $1,000 and $2,000; other parcels belonged to the Town of Billerica, New England Power Company and neighbors.
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| March 8, 1967 | Taking | The supposed owners of record (private) and Woburn Cooperative Bank, mortgagee | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District | taking of the school site | 1787/345 |
Order of Taking adopted by the Regional School District Committee at Burlington Feb. 14, 1967: "taken in fee by the exercise of the power of eminent domain ... certain land in the Town of Billerica ... including the trees and structures thereon, situated on Cook Street and Alexander Road," bounded by Cook Street 680 and 1,200 feet, Alexander Road 1,400 feet, Lots 1 to 68 of Shawsheen Pines, the Shawsheen River, and lots of The Pines and the end of Montrose Street, "for constructing thereon a school building and conducting a regional vocational/technical high school." Damages of $50,000 were awarded to the supposed owners, the heirs of Florence B. Shinquin, and their mortgagee. Secretary Wallace B. Haigh. This is the land north of Cook Street on which the farmhouse stood.
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| December 12, 1968 | Confirmatory Deed of Taking | The owners of record (private) | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District | School district takes the College Farm land for its campus | 1870/212 |
Confirmatory quitclaim of "a certain parcel of land in the Town of Billerica," bounded southerly by Cook Street 680 feet, southeasterly by Cook Street 1,200 feet, by Alexander Road 1,400 feet, by Lots 1 to 68 of the Shawsheen Pines plan of 1927 (Plan Book 50 Plan 61) 1,780 feet, by the Shawsheen River, by lots of The Pines plan of 1912 (Plan Book 30 Plan 13), and by the end of Montrose Street, "being the same property described in the Order of Taking adopted by the Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational/Technical School District Committee on February 14, 1967 and recorded ... on March 8, 1967 in Book 1787, Page 345," subject to power line, oil pipeline and Burlington water district easements. "This deed is given to confirm the aforesaid taking." Acknowledged Nov. 26, recorded Dec. 12, 1968. The owners were relatives of the Richardson family, who had owned the farm since about 1890; the farmhouse was moved across Cook Street to its present site and the school opened in 1970.
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| January 13, 1972 | Taking | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational/Technical School District, supposed owner | Town of Burlington (Board of Selectmen acting as Board of Public Works) | Burlington water pipeline easement across the campus, 1972 | 1994/682 |
Order of Taking under Chapter 635 of the Acts of 1949 as amended and G.L. c.79, recorded Jan. 13, 1972: a permanent easement "for the purpose of installing and maintaining a pipe line for the conveying of water" over "A New 40' Easement To Be Acquired" running from Cook Street across the school land (50.18 feet on Cook Street, about 1,042 and 1,131 feet long), 43,589 square feet, on an "Easement Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass." of Feb. 5, 1971 by Whitman and Howard Inc.; the old 40-foot easement of 1966 was abandoned. Owner named as the District, title "Book 1870 Page 212 - confirmatory deed and ... Book 1787 Page 345 Order of Taking." Damages $2,179.
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| January 13, 1972 | Taking | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational/Technical School District, supposed owner | Town of Burlington (Board of Selectmen acting as Board of Public Works) | Burlington pumping station lot on the Shawsheen, 1972 | 1994/684 |
Order of Taking recorded Jan. 13, 1972, taking "in fee for a pumping station" the "Additional Fee Area" on the same Whitman and Howard plan: northwesterly by the Shawsheen River 228 feet, southeasterly by the "Existing Fee Area" (the 1966 pumping station lot) 210 feet and southwesterly 113 feet, 7,900 square feet, from the District (title Book 1870 Page 212 and Book 1787 Page 345). Damages $1.00.
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| October 11, 1978 | Taking | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District, owner | Town of Billerica (Board of Sewer Commissioners) | Billerica sewer easement across the campus, 1977-78 | 2330/719 |
Order of Taking passed Nov. 25, 1977 under the vote of the annual town meeting of Apr. 17, 1975, recorded Oct. 11, 1978: a permanent sewer easement over "A parcel of land owned by Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District, being part of Parcel 115 as shown on Assessor's Plate 82," about 47,200 square feet, from the westerly line of Cook Street along the northeast side of the Town of Burlington water easement about 1,166, 721 and 328 feet to the Shawsheen River, with temporary construction easements of about 82,725 square feet; shown on "Plan of Easements for New Sewage Works in Billerica, Mass." (Fay, Spofford and Thorndike, February 1976), sheet 7 of 7, Plan Book 127 Plan 74. Award: "The property owner shall be tied into the public sewer system at no cost to it."
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| May 12, 1988 | Easement | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District, 100 Cook Street | New England Telephone and Telegraph Company | telephone manhole easement on Cook Street, 1988 | 4502/306 |
For $1.00, the exclusive easement for telephone and electric lines, conduits, a power pedestal and "one (1) controlled environmental manhole with above ground hatch" in a 30 by 20 foot area "on the northwesterly side of COOK STREET," per a sketch of Dec. 16, 1987; Lot 115 on Assessors Map 82. The company was to plant shrubs to "conceal the controlled environmental manhole and beautify the easement area." "For Grantor's Title, see Book 1787, Page 345 and Book 1870, Page 212." The District is described as "a body politic and corporate, organized and existing under and pursuant to Chapter 71."
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| January 21, 1997 | Easement | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational/Technical School District Committee | Massachusetts Electric Company and New England Telephone and Telegraph Company | pole line easement on Cook Street, 1996-97 | 8399/77 |
Signed late in 1996 by a majority of the District Committee, recorded Jan. 21, 1997 (property address Cross Street): the perpetual right to build and maintain a pole line "on the westerly side of Cook Street," from existing pole P.7-53/1 westerly over the District's land to new pole P.7-53/2 and others, on lot 115 of Assessor's Map 82. "For Grantors title see Order of Taking dated February 14, 1967 ... Book 1787, Page 145" (a misprint for page 345).
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| September 20, 2000 | Taking | Owners of record, including the Shawsheen Valley Regional Voc-Tech School District | Town of Billerica (Board of Selectmen acting as Sewer Commissioners) | Billerica sewer easements, Contract 31, 2000 | 11066/97 |
Order of Taking for sewer Contract 31, voted Sept. 18, 2000 under G.L. c.83 s.1: permanent and temporary sewer easements over parcels on four Noonan and McDowell "Compiled Easement Plan" sheets (1999-2000), one of them "Dustin Young Lane to Shawsheen Technical High School." Parcels P115, T115 and T115A belonged to the "Shawsheen Valley Regional Voc-Tech school District ... 100 Cook Street ... Book 1787, Page 345"; the other parcels were private house lots on the streets between Dustin Young Lane and Garnet Road.
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| April 17, 2001 | Assent Agreement | New England Power Company | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational/Technical School District and the Town of Billerica | power company assent to the sewer in the power line strip, 2001 | 11541/147 |
Agreement dated Feb. 20, 2001. New England Power holds the 1928 transmission line easement granted by "Herbert B. Richardson, Florence B. Shinquin, Gertrude M. Waldron, Bertha R. Richardson, Katherine F. Richardson and Edith C. Richardson" (Book 762 Page 314), assigned to it by New England Power Construction Company in 1932; the District owns the site under the 1968 confirmatory deed and the 1967 Order of Taking; the Town holds the 2000 sewer easements (Book 11066 Page 97). The company assents to the Town's 10-inch sewer line, a manhole frame and cover and grading within the power line strip, which the 1947 Colonial Beacon Oil pipeline also crosses.
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| August 16, 2006 | Taking | Owners of land on Cook Street and Alexander Road, including the School District | Town of Billerica (Board of Selectmen) | Cook Street and Alexander Road reconstruction easements, 2006 | 20410/39 |
Order of Taking under G.L. c.81 and c.79 (vote of July 17, 2006), recorded Aug. 16, 2006 (18 pages; also registered for the registered parcels): easements "to reconstruct Cook Street and Alexander Road," shown on a plan of July 2006, "Plan of Road in the Town of Billerica ... Showing the Location of Easements for the Purpose of Reconstructing Cook Street & Alexander Road," with Baseline C in Cook Street from Boston Road (Route 3A).
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| November 10, 2006 | Easement | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational/Technical School District, owner of 100 Cook Street | Town of Billerica | road, drainage and detention basin easements, 2006 | 20688/52 |
Easement Agreement for Road Improvements, Drainage and Detention Basin, made Oct. 31, 2006, following the August taking (Book 20410 Page 39): for $1.00 the District, "as owner of the land and buildings at 100 Cook Street," grants the Town perpetual easements over Parcels E-43, E-45 and E-50 for widening Cook Street and Alexander Road, slopes and sidewalks, D-1 to D-3 for drainage lines and swales and DS-1 for a detention basin, with five-year temporary easements TE-63 to TE-67, all on the MassHighway "Plan and Profile of Reconstruction Cook Street and Alexander Road" of March 2006.
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| July 31, 2013 | Order of Conditions | Billerica Conservation Commission | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School, applicant and owner | wetlands order for the parking lot rehabilitation, 2013 | 27543/156 |
MassDEP file 109-1214, WPA Form 5 issued July 25, 2013 (notice filed June 5, hearing closed July 24) for 100 Cook Street, Assessors Map 82 Parcel 115, title Book 1787 Page 345: "the rehabilitation of the existing parking lot and associated installation of storm water management improvements," with a wooden guardrail between the parking and the wetlands, a bioretention area (rain garden) and a lawn turned to wildflower meadow; plans "Shawsheen Tech Phase II" by Bergman and Associates, July 22, 2013.
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| April 15, 2016 | Order of Conditions | Billerica Conservation Commission | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District | wetlands order for the athletic campus improvements, 2016 | 29958/1 |
MassDEP file 109-1284, "Athletic Campus Improvements - 100 Cook Street" (34 pages): reconstruction of "the existing six (6) lane track and field with a synthetic turf field inside the track, seating grandstand; a combination baseball and soccer synthetic turf field; a tennis court complex; and reconstruction and restoration of existing natural turf fields," with athletic lighting, walkways and drainage, near the bank of the Shawsheen River and its 200-foot riverfront area; plans by Gale Associates Inc., Dec. 30, 2015, revised Feb. 17, 2016.
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| June 10, 2016 | Assent Agreement | New England Power Company | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School | power company assent for the practice field and tennis courts, 2016 | 30118/154 |
Agreement (19 pages) under which New England Power, owner of the 1928 Richardson easement (Book 762 Page 314) over part of the site, assents to the athletic campus improvements within the power line strip shown on Gale Associates drawing C103, "Layout and Materials Practice Field and Tennis Area Phase 2" (rev. Feb. 17, 2016). The District's title is recited as the 1968 deed (Book 1870 Page 212) and the 1967 Order of Taking (Book 1787 Page 345).
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| September 12, 2017 | Easement | Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District | Massachusetts Electric Company | electric pole and transformer easement at 8 Alexander Road, 2017 | 31460/1 |
Grant of Easement for $1.00, recorded Sept. 12, 2017 (property address 8 Alexander Road): an overhead line from Pole 3-35 on the south side of Alexander Road across the road to Pole 3-53 on the District's land, with underground lines, a pad-mounted transformer and other equipment, on the land "situated on the westerly side of Alexander Road ... described in a deed recorded ... in Book 1870 Page 212"; sketch "8 Alexander Rd Billerica Shawsheen Tech," Mar. 25, 2015.
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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.