Structure · Built 1892
Talbot Textile Mill Worker Housing at 34-36 Old Elm St
Talbot Textile Mill Worker Housing at 34-36 Old Elm St
| Address | 34-36 Old Elm St |
| MACRIS ID | BIL.252 |
| Built | 1892 |
The Talbot Textile Mill Worker Housing at 34-36 Old Elm Street is a two-family company house on the southeast side of Old Elm Street (Elm Street until the street renamings of 1988-1991) in North Billerica, a short walk up the street from the Talbot Mills and next door to the Daniel Wilson House at the corner of Colson Street. It was built for the mill's workers in about 1888 to 1892: the assessor dates it about 1888, and the Historical Commission's 1981 survey, citing the Talbot Mills inventory of 1922, gives 1892 as the year the company "bought or built" it. It is a plain side-gabled duplex of the local company type, its clapboards now covered with aluminum siding.
The land was part of the mill grant at the falls of the Concord River that the town made to Capt. Christopher Osgood in 1708. Thomas Richardson bought about forty acres of it from the Carleton heirs in 1783 and sold it with the mills to the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal in 1794. On October 24, 1831 the canal proprietors sold Daniel Wilson, the village carpenter, lots 4 to 12 of their land "on the southerly side of the road" to the mills, and the next year he added part of the neighboring Mears homestead. Wilson built his house at the corner of the later Colson Street in 1848, and at his death in 1861 his homestead farm ran about twenty-eight acres from the road to the river.
His son-in-law Gardner Parker, the administrator, sold the farm at auction in 1863 and took it back from the buyer, James Faulkner, the next spring. Parker then sold it to Charles P. Talbot and Thomas Talbot piece by piece: ten acres at the river in 1869, a half-acre strip beside the house in 1876, and the remaining fourteen acres with the house, through J. M. G. Parker of Lowell, in 1883. This lot lies along the street directly beside the Wilson house lot. In October 1884 the Talbots conveyed their mill and village to the new corporation, The Talbot Mills, and this land was "a part of the second parcel" of those deeds.
The company rented the house to its operatives. Elias D. Hannon, a spinner and later a wool sorter and elevator man at the mill, lived at 36 Elm Street from at least 1901; he was the father of George W. Hannon, for whom Hannon Square at Elm Street, Lowell Street and Talbot Avenue is named. In 1931 Elias, Helen and Nellie V. Hannon, a textile worker, were all living in the house.
In 1936 the company had its village surveyed into house lots by J. C. and W. T. Monahan ("Plan of a Portion of Property belonging to The Talbot Mills, North Billerica, Mass., showing division into lots," Plan Book 60 Plan 25) and began selling the houses. This one became Lot 53 of Plan "A," 16,120 square feet with 108.82 feet on Elm Street, bounded on the southwest by the Mahoney land, the old Wilson house lot. On September 30, 1936 The Talbot Mills, by its treasurer Thomas T. Clark, sold it "with the buildings thereon" to Nellie V. Hannon of Billerica, keeping the right to the common sewer under the lot; the deed was recorded on January 16, 1937.
Nellie V. Hannon, listed as a mender in 1951, lived in the house for the rest of her life. In 1963 she deeded it to her brother Francis T. Hannon of Lynn, keeping a life estate for herself; he died that October, and in March 1964 his widow and children deeded it back to her. After her death it passed under her estate in 1978 to Alice E. Hannon of 36 Elm Street, who owned it when the house was surveyed in 1981 and recorded as the Hannon House. After Alice E. Hannon's death in 1992 her heirs sold it in 1994, ending almost a century of the family's life in the house, and it has belonged to private owners since. The house is a contributing building in the Billerica Mills National Register district (1983) and the local historic district (1992).
References
- MACRIS BIL.252
- Billerica assessor, 36 Old Elm St (parcel 9-113-0): Lot 53, Plan Book 60 Plan 25, two-family, built about 1888
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| March 31, 1794 | Deed | Solomon, Moses and Nathan Carleton, Jesse Manning, Thomas Todd, Thomas Laws and Thomas Mears, heirs of John Carleton, with their wives | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman | 1783 the Carleton heirs sell the Osgood mill land west of the river to Thomas Richardson | 115/271 (South) |
Billerica town book 9, pages 87-91. Dated April 17, 1783, recorded March 31, 1794. For 818 pounds "lawful Silver money", "about forty Acres of Land ... on the West side of Concord River ... Easterly on said River, Westerly on the highway it being about two thirds of the land which was granted by the Town of Billerica unto Capt. Christopher Osgood", two thirds "of the Mills commonly known by the name of Osgoods or Carletons Mills" and two thirds of the dam and stream with the buildings, "as the same was set off by the Committee for the Widows Thirds", "meaning to convey two thirds of the Homested and Mills and Buildings thereon standing and the Shop is wholley conveyed". Richardson takes on two thirds of the 1708 town conditions, the Ruggles agreement and the repair of "the Bridge or Road" below the dam. Richardson later bought the widow's dower interest (S.115/274 and others) and in 1794 sold the whole as Richardson's Mills to the Middlesex Canal.
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| April 21, 1794 | Deed | Thomas Richardson of Billerica, gentleman (Judith Richardson releasing dower) | Ebenezer Hall of Medford and Samuel Jaques of Wilmington, a committee for the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal | 1794 Richardson sells about forty acres at the mills to the Middlesex Canal | 115/259 (South) |
For 1350 pounds, "about forty acres of Land" bounded easterly by Concord River, westerly by the highway and northerly and southerly by the road; the reversion of half the dower of the widow Hannah Carlton, conveyed to him by Solomon, Moses and Nathan Carlton; five sixths of a small piece at the northeast end of the mill dam, bounded easterly "by Timothy Sprague's Ditch that conveys Water to the Fulling mill"; "together with all the Buildings ... including the Mills Mill priviledges ... commonly known by the name of Richardson's Mills being the same which was formerly granted by the Town of Billerica to Christopher Osgood together with the Mill Dam and Stream", on the conditions of the town's vote of October 4, 1708, a passage for fish, and his 1791 agreement with Timothy Sprague. Dated March 25, 1794; recorded April 21, 1794. Billerica town book 9, pages 81-82. The Canal Mills land from which the proprietors sold their small house lots.
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| April 21, 1832 | Deed | Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal (Peter O. Thacher, president) | Daniel Wilson of Billerica | 1831 the Canal sells Daniel Wilson his lots on the south side of the road | 313/21 (South) |
The Canal Proprietors sell Wilson about two and three quarter acres "on the southerly side of the road" from Oliver Farmer's house to the mills owned by the Canal, bounded by land sold to John Mixer and land of the late Nathan Mears, being lots 4 to 12 on Samuel Whiting's plan of the Canal's mill land of May 27, 1816. This is the land on the south side of Elm Street at the corner of the later Colson Street where Wilson built his house in 1848 (MACRIS cites it as the purchase of the house lot). Signed October 24, 1831; recorded April 21, 1832. Billerica town book 16, pages 91-92.
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| April 21, 1832 | Guardian's Deed | John Baldwin of Billerica, Esq., guardian of Lucy Ann, Nathan and Elbert Mears, minor children of Nathan Mears | Daniel Wilson of Billerica | 1832 Wilson adds part of the Mears homestead | 313/22 (South) |
Licensed by the Supreme Judicial Court, sold at public vendue on the premises March 20, 1832, for $1,428.06, three undivided fifth parts of part of the Mears homestead farm (11 acres 25 1/2 rods, lots 3-5 on S. Livingston's plan) and of "the Z. Shed Lot so called, containing six acres and one hundred and forty three rods", from the northeasterly corner at the road from the "old Mears place" to William Rogers', westerly by the widow Lydia Mears's dower land 58 rods 15 links to William Pollard, southerly by Pollard to the road "leading from the corner so called, to said old Mears place," northeasterly by that road to the corner of the roads about 54 rods, and northerly by the road about 19 poles. Signed March 20, 1832, recorded April 21, 1832. Billerica town book 16, pages 93-95.
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| 1861 | Administration | Estate of Daniel Wilson of Billerica, who died November 29, 1861 intestate | Gardner Parker of Billerica, administrator; widow Mary Wilson and eight children | Daniel Wilson estate, 1861 | Probate #44864 |
Gardner Parker, husband of Wilson's daughter Adeline, petitioned December 11, 1861 that Daniel Wilson had died November 29, 1861 intestate, leaving his widow Mary and children Mary J. Wilkins, Adeline M. Parker, Horace N. Wilson, Daniel A. Wilson (at Rattlesnake Bar, California), Israel N. Wilson (a captain then serving in Virginia), Frances A. Faulkner and Charles H. Wilson; he was appointed administrator at Cambridge December 24, 1861. The license of April 7, 1863 led to the sale of Wilson's third of the Mears Tavern stand.
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| April 6, 1864 | Administrator's Deed | Gardner Parker of Billerica, administrator of the estate of Daniel Wilson | James Faulkner of Billerica | 1863 administrator's auction of the Wilson homestead farm | 37/357 |
Under a license of the Probate Court at Lowell of April 7, 1863, after three weeks' notice in the Lowell Daily Courier, the administrator sold at public auction on December 7, 1863, to James Faulkner, the highest bidder, for $4,000, all Wilson's right at his death in "a certain piece or parcel of land situate in said Billerica, containing about twenty-eight acres being the homestead farm of the late Daniel Wilson", bounded west by the road from Billerica to North Billerica, north by that road and lands of Easty, I. N. Wilson, Foster, Lane and C. P. Talbot & Co., east by Easty, Foster, Lane and the Concord River, and south by the Concord River and the Common. Dated December 7, 1863; acknowledged April 5, 1864; recorded April 6, 1864.
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| April 6, 1864 | Quitclaim | James Faulkner of Billerica (Fanny A. Faulkner releasing dower and homestead) | Gardner Parker of Billerica | 1864 the farm passes to Gardner Parker | 37/358 |
For $4,000, the same twenty-eight acres "being the homestead farm of the late Daniel Wilson of said Billerica deceased", same bounds, "subject to a right of way over a portion of said premises, and to the dower of Mary Wilson, widow". Faulkner (husband of Wilson's daughter Frances) passed the farm to the administrator Parker (husband of his daughter Adeline) the day after the sale deed was acknowledged. Dated April 5, 1864; recorded April 6, 1864.
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| March 30, 1876 | Deed | Gardner Parker of Billerica (Adeline M. Parker releasing dower and homestead) | Charles P. Talbot of Lowell and Thomas Talbot of Billerica | 1876 Parker sells the Talbots the half-acre strip beside the Wilson house | 116/432 |
For $300, "a certain tract of land situate in North Billerica containing one half acre", beginning at a corner in the road leading from North Billerica to Lowell at land of the Talbots, about 18 rods south by their land to "my own land", then north by Parker's land to the road and 6 1/3 rods by the road, "as per plan of Samuel Sage A.D. 1876"; free of incumbrances "except a mortgage held by the grantees". A vacant strip of the Wilson farm east of the house, which Parker kept. Dated March 30, 1876.
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| July 28, 1882 | Warranty Deed | Gardner Parker of Billerica (Adeline M. Parker releasing dower and homestead) | J. M. G. Parker of Lowell | 1882 the rest of the Wilson farm to J. M. G. Parker | 154/208 |
For $6,600, "a certain parcel of land situate in North Billerica, containing about fourteen acres more or less, with all the buildings thereon, being a part of the Homestead farm of the late Daniel Wilson of said Billerica, deceased", bounded west by "the old road from Billerica to North Billerica", north by that road, and east and south by lands of C. P. Talbot & Co., the School House lot and Wilson Street, as on a plan by Osgood & Snell. The rest of the Wilson farm, with the 1848 house. Dated and acknowledged July 8, 1882, before Dudley Foster; recorded July 28, 1882.
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| August 10, 1883 | Quitclaim | John M. G. Parker of Lowell (D. Maria Parker releasing dower and homestead) | Charles P. Talbot of Lowell and Thomas Talbot of Billerica | 1883 the rest of the Wilson farm to the Talbots | 162/3 |
For $7,000, "a certain parcel of land situate in North Billerica containing about fourteen acres more or less with all the buildings thereon, being a part of the Homestead farm of the late Daniel Wilson of said Billerica deceased", bounded west by the old road from Billerica to North Billerica, north by that road, and east and south by lands of C. P. Talbot & Co., the School House lot and Wilson Street, per the Osgood & Snell plan; "Said premises were conveyed to me by Gardner Parker the eighth day of July A.D. 1882 by deed recorded ... Book 154 Page 208". In October 1884 the Talbots conveyed their North Billerica property to the new Talbot Mills corporation (Book 169 Pages 468 and 472). Dated and acknowledged August 1, 1883; recorded August 10, 1883.
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| October 16, 1884 | Guardian's Deed | Harriet Talbot et al., by their guardian | The Talbot Mills, Billerica | 1884 Talbot heirs (by guardian) to The Talbot Mills, the second parcel, which included Lot 53 | 169/468 |
Known from the grantee index 1881-1900 (Talbot Mills-Billerica, index page 82): received October 16, 1884, "N Billerica. Several parcels, water rts, mill privileges &c, see record", recorded with the deed of Thomas Talbot et al. (Book 169 Page 472). Book 169 images are unavailable at the registry; not read.
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| October 16, 1884 | Deed | Thomas Talbot et al. | The Talbot Mills, Billerica | 1884 Thomas Talbot and others to The Talbot Mills, the second parcel, which included Lot 53 | 169/472 |
Known from the grantee index 1881-1900 (Talbot Mills-Billerica, index page 82): received October 16, 1884, "N Billerica. Several parcels, water rts, mill privileges &c, see record." Later Talbot Mills deeds cite it with Book 169 Page 468 as the deeds "from the Talbot heirs" to the new corporation (one recites a deed of Thomas Talbot et als. dated Oct. 15, 1884). The registry shows "Image is Unavailable" for Book 169, so the deed itself was not read; that it covered the land of the future Oval, part of the C. P. Talbot and Company property west of Wilson Street on the 1881 plan, is inferred.
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| January 16, 1937 | Quitclaim | Talbot Mills, by Thomas T. Clark, Treasurer | Nellie V. Hannon of Billerica | 1936 The Talbot Mills sells the house as Lot 53 to Nellie V. Hannon | 895/301 |
Dated Sept. 30, 1936 ($2.00 in stamps), recorded Jan. 16, 1937. "The land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the southeasterly side of Elm Street": NW by Elm Street 108.82 feet, NE by Lot 52 147.99 feet, SE by Lot 51 108.82 feet, SW by land of Bridget A. and Annie F. Mahoney 147.99 feet, 16,120 square feet, Lot 53 on Plan "A" (Plan Book 60 Plan 25). "Being a part of the second parcel of land described in two deeds to the grantor" of Oct. 15, 1884 (Book 169 Pages 468 and 472). The mill kept the common sewer.
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| May 13, 1963 | Quitclaim | Nellie V. Hannon of Billerica, unmarried | Her brother Francis T. Hannon of Lynn | 1963 Nellie V. Hannon deeds the house to her brother, keeping a life estate | 1600/194 |
For a nominal consideration, Lot 53 on Plan "A", "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the southeasterly side of Elm Street", with the 1936 bounds, 16,120 square feet; the 1936 recital of the second parcel of the 1884 deeds and the Talbot Mills sewer reservation are copied. "The grantor reserves for herself a life estate in said premises." Acknowledged in March 1963.
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| June 9, 1964 | Quitclaim | The widow and three children of Francis T. Hannon, his heirs at law | Nellie V. Hannon of Billerica | 1964 the heirs of Francis T. Hannon deed the house back to Nellie V. Hannon | 1651/11 |
Dated March 13, 1964 (under $100, no stamps). Lot 53 on Plan "A", the land "with the buildings thereon" on the southeasterly side of Elm Street, 16,120 square feet. "Being the same premises conveyed by Nellie V. Hannon the grantee herein to her brother Francis T. Hannon" (Book 1600 Page 194). Francis T. Hannon died in Lynn on October 25, 1963, and the grantors are "all of the heirs at law".
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| May 19, 1978 | Quitclaim | A niece of Nellie V. Hannon, under the Estate of Nellie V. Hannon (Essex probate 319916) | Alice E. Hannon, 36 Elm Street, Billerica | 1978 under the estate of Nellie V. Hannon the house passes to Alice E. Hannon | 2303/287 |
Acknowledged March 27, 1978. Lot 53 on Plan "A", "the land in said Billerica with the buildings thereon situated on the southeasterly side of Elm Street", same bounds, 16,120 square feet. "For my title, see Estate of Nellie V. Hannon, Essex Probate No. 319,916 and deed of Harriet Hannon, et al, to said Nellie V. Hannon dated March 13, 1964" (Book 1651 Page 11).
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| April 8, 1994 | Deed | The heirs of Alice E. Hannon | Private buyers | 1994 the Hannon heirs sell the house; later private conveyance summarized | 7027/268 |
For $98,000, "the land with the buildings thereon situated on the southeasterly side of Elm Street", 34/36 Old Elm Street, Lot 53 on Plan "A" (Plan Book 60 Plan 25), same bounds, 16,120 square feet. "For our title see Estate of Alice E. Hannon dated October 27, 1992, Middlesex Probate and Family Court Docket No. 92P 1088 E." In 2026 the buyers' estate conveyed the house within the family (Book 40102 Page 267).
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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.