Structure · Built 1880 · Demolished 1967
Martin Lane House
Martin Lane House
| Address | 13 River St |
| Built | 1880 |
| Demolished | 1967 |
| Other Lot Structures | Jonathan Danforth House (1655 - 1879) |
The Martin Lane House stood on the north side of River Street, about 335 feet west of Boston Road, on land that had been the house lot of Capt. Jonathan Danforth, the town's first surveyor. After Danforth's death in 1712 his children sold the 60-acre homestead to Oliver Whiting Jr. (1714), and on Whiting's death in 1757 his son Jonathan Whiting sold the western 24 acres, "messuage" and all, to Benjamin Lewis (1760). Lewis sold to Elijah Danforth in 1764, and Danforth sold the 24 acres "with the buildings" to William Bowers in 1784. The bounds written into that deed (52 poles on the east, 75 3/4 on the north, 61 1/2 on the west and about 63 poles on "the road or way leading from the meeting house over the middle bridge") were copied word for word into every deed of the farm until 1945.
Dr. William Bowers, the town's physician, lived at the corner of the old West Street (now River Street) until his death in 1820, when the inventory listed "The homestead containing 25 acres with all the buildings thereon." His widow and unmarried daughters Priscilla, Mary and Fanny kept the place for half a century. Priscilla (d. 1869) left her share to the Baptist church, and Mary (d. 1870) and Fanny (d. 1871) left theirs to the town for the benefit of the poor. On May 25, 1871 the Town of Billerica sold its two thirds and the First Baptist Church and Society its one third to Martin Lane for a total of $2,900: "about twenty four acres with a dwelling house and barn thereon" on the highway leading to Middle Bridge. The deeds were not recorded until September 1880.
Martin Lane farmed the land for more than thirty years. In 1884 he granted the Boston and Lowell Railroad a right of way two rods wide across the farm for the Bedford and Billerica branch, on condition that the company build "a standard gauge railroad" over it within a year. He sold a small lot on River Street to his daughter Catherine and her husband Patrick Kennelly in 1885 (a house stood on it by that July), and half an acre plus a 40-foot strip to Mary N. Casey in 1886 and 1889. The house later known by his name is dated 1880, the year after the old Danforth house came down. Lane died on December 30, 1905, aged 77. His estate and that of his widow Bridget passed through the probate court, and in 1917 their daughters Annie Lane Riordon of Brockton and Catherine Lane Kennelly released "the Lane Homestead" to their sister Mary E. Lane.
Mary E. Lane kept the farm until December 31, 1945, when she deeded it to her nephews Martin Lane Kennelly Jr. and Charles Nuttall Kennelly. In 1953 they sold the town about 19.4 acres behind and beside the house (Lots A and C on the "Plan of Land for Proposed High School") for the new Billerica Memorial High School. The house itself, with about 2.8 acres and 152 feet on River Street, stayed in the family; the brothers mortgaged it to the Union National Bank of Lowell in 1955.
On August 31, 1966 the Billerica Housing Authority took the house lot by eminent domain for State-Aided Housing Project 667-1, housing for the elderly, awarding the Kennellys $27,500 for 123,377 square feet "with the buildings thereon." The Authority's survey of July 1966 (Plan Book 104, Plan 77) shows the old house, labeled "#13 River St," near the middle of the lot. It was torn down in 1967, and the Authority's apartment buildings at 13 River Street were built on the site in 1968.
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Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Recorded |
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| October 27, 1712 | Will | Estate of Capt. Jonathan Danforth of Billerica, surveyor | His widow Esther Danforth (use of the southerly part of the homestead) and his seven children | 1712 will of Capt. Jonathan Danforth: the homestead goes to his children | Probate #5891 |
Will of "Jonathan Danforth sen. aged 82 years": to his wife Esther, if she stayed in town, "the profit and income of that part of my estate which I have reserved for my self, that is the southerly part of my homestead, that is not granted by deed of gift to any other," with house room; the remainder of the estate "equally divided among my seven children, only my eldest son shall have a double share," counting the lands already given by deeds of gift (valued September 4, 1711). Executors his son Samuel and son-in-law Oliver Whiting (his son Jonathan having died). Proved at Cambridge October 27, 1712. The reserved homestead, running from the country road west to the Concord River, is the land the children sold to Oliver Whiting Jr. in 1714; its east end became the Locke house lot.
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| December 15, 1714 | Deed | Samuel Danforth, Thomas Danforth, Mary Parker, Simeon and Elizabeth Hayward, Edward and Lydia Wright, Oliver and Anna Whiting, William and Sarah French | Oliver Whiting Jr. | 1714: the Danforth children sell the 60-acre homestead to Oliver Whiting Jr. | 17/100 (South) |
The children of Jonathan Danforth sell for 230 pounds "one messuage or tenement ... containing about sixty acres ... being the Homestead or house Lot which belonged to our Honored Father Danforth late of said Billerica deceased," bounded east by the Country Road, north by John Baldwin, west by Concord River (excepting a bridle highway by the river), south by Enoch Kidder and partly by the highway from the Country Road to Enoch Kidder's well, with all the buildings; also 4 acres of meadow on the Shawshin River below Alewife Brook. Signed Nov. 29, 1714; recorded Dec. 15, 1714. Billerica town book 1, pages 561-564.
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| 1714 | Mortgage | Oliver Whiting Jr. | Andrew Belcher, Addington Davenport, Thomas Hutchinson, John White and Edward Hutchinson, Trustees of the Province | 1714 mortgage of the homestead to the Province loan trustees | 17/102 (South) |
Mortgage dated Dec. 10, 1714 securing 100 pounds in Province bills of credit (the 1714 public loan), on the same 60 acre tract bounded east by the Country Road, north by John Baldwin, west by Concord River and south by Enoch Kidder and the highway to Kidder's well, "together with all ye Edifices, buildings." Billerica town book 1, page 565.
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| July 14, 1724 | Quitclaim | Thomas, Jonathan, Samuel Jr., Jacob, Elizabeth, Sarah, Nicholas and John Danforth, and Thomas and Rebecca Parker | Oliver Whiting Jr. | 1715: the Danforth grandchildren release their interest to Oliver Whiting Jr. | 24/47 (South) |
Grandchildren of Jonathan Danforth release for 29 pounds 10 shillings their interest in "the Homestead or House Lott which belonged to our Honoured Grandfather Danforth of said Billerica deceased," about 60 acres "according to the butts and bounds of the same in Billerica Town Book of Records," plus about 5 acres of meadow on the Shawshin River. Signed Nov. 22, 1715; acknowledged 1716 to 1724; recorded July 14, 1724. Billerica town book 2, pages 513-515.
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| August 1, 1757 | Administration | Estate of Oliver Whiting of Billerica, intestate | Jonathan Whiting of Billerica, yeoman, administrator, for the heirs | 1757 estate of Oliver Whiting: the homestead of about 60 acres | Probate #24554 |
Oliver Whiting died intestate in 1757. His son Jonathan Whiting was admitted administrator August 1, 1757 (bond with William Stickney and David Osgood). The inventory taken July 29, 1757 by Capt. Enoch Kidder, Joshua Abbot Jr. and David Osgood lists "the Homstead containing about sixty acres bounded as followeth Esterly by the hyway North by land of William Baldwin West by Concord River on the South by land of Enoch Kidder and partly on the hyway," a 21-acre lot west of the Concord River, and two acres on Whortleberry Hill. This is the old Danforth homestead bought in 1714; its east end, on the country road, became the Locke house lot.
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| 1758 | Deed | Heirs of Oliver Whiting: John and Sarah Hagget of Boxford, Jonathan and Rebeccah Whiting, Elizabeth Whiting, Jonathan and Olive Pollard, Mary Whiting, and Joseph Whiting of Dunstable | Oliver Abbot of Billerica, trader | 1758: the Whiting heirs sell the east end (8 acres on the country road) to Oliver Abbot | 55/438 (South) |
For 108 pounds, "eight acres and ten poles" near the meeting house, bounded east by the highway 50 1/2 poles, north by William Baldwin 27 poles, west by "the Land which belonged to our Father" by a ditch, wall and stakes 52 poles, and south by the highway 25 1/2 poles. This is the east end of the Whiting (formerly Danforth) homestead, on the country road with the road to Carlisle on the south; the 24 acres sold to Benjamin Lewis in 1760 are bounded "easterly by Oliver Abbott." The southern part, by the town pound, is the later Locke house lot. Billerica town book 5, pages 427-428.
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| April 10, 1773 | Deed | Jonathan Whiting | Benjamin Lewis | Earlier title to the Lane lot | 74/273 (South) |
Messuage and 24 acres for 253 pounds 6 shillings 8 pence, bounded easterly by Oliver Abbott 52 poles to William Baldwin; northerly by Baldwin 75 3/4 poles to John Parker; westerly by Parker 61 1/2 poles to Capt. Enoch Kidder; southerly by Kidder 52 poles to a town gate, then 13 poles by the highway to the first bound; excepting a bridle way two rods wide. Jonathan Whiting (b. 1723) was the son of Oliver Whiting Jr.; no deed to him was found, so he probably inherited it. Signed March 24, 1760; recorded April 10, 1773. Billerica town book 6, pages 532-534.
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| September 24, 1784 | Deed | Benjamin Lewis | Elijah Danforth | Earlier title to the Lane lot | 81/440 (South) |
Messuage and 24 acres "near the Center of the Town" for 266 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence, with the same bounds as the 1760 deed (Oliver Abbott, William Baldwin's heirs, John Parker, Capt. Enoch Kidder, town gate and highway), excepting the bridle way. Elijah Danforth, a blacksmith and a descendant of Jonathan Danforth, brought the old homestead back into the family. Signed Aug. 28, 1764 with Elizabeth Lewis; recorded Sept. 24, 1784. Billerica town book 7, pages 312-314.
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| September 4, 1784 | Deed | Elijah Danforth | William Bowers | Earlier title to the Lane lot | 85/528 (South) |
24 acres with the buildings for 328 pounds: beginning at the southeasterly angle by the highway near the pound at Oliver Abbot's land, northerly by Abbot 52 poles to the heirs of William Baldwin, westerly by Baldwin 75 3/4 poles to John Parker, southerly by Parker 61 1/2 poles to "the road or way leading from the meeting house over the middle bridge," easterly by that way about 63 poles to the first bound. Signed March 4, 1784 with his wife Elizabeth; recorded Sept. 4, 1784. Hazen lists William Bowers at the "Old Danforth place, on West St." His daughters Priscilla, Mary (Molly) and Fanny later left it to the First Baptist Church and the town, who sold it to Martin Lane in 1871. Billerica town book 7, pages 414-416.
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| May 29, 1821 | Administration | Estate of Dr. William Bowers of Billerica, physician (d. Nov. 17, 1820) | Heirs: widow Priscilla (Goodrich) Bowers; children William, Fanny, Priscilla and Mary Bowers | 1821 estate of Dr. William Bowers: the homestead with all the buildings | Probate #2314 |
Dr. William Bowers "died, seized of Estate, both real and personal" on Nov. 17, 1820, intestate, "leaving his widow, your memorialists and Pricilla Bowers and Mary Bowers his only Heirs". His son William and daughter Fanny were appointed administrators May 29, 1821. The inventory of June 27, 1821 begins with "The homestead containing 25 acres with all the buildings thereon", $3500, out of $5585 in real estate, and lists his "medicine drawers", books and phials. No division of the real estate is in the file.
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| March 16, 1869 | Will | Estate of Priscilla Bowers of Billerica, singlewoman (d. Feb. 22, 1869) | The First Baptist Church in Billerica (remainder, after the deaths of her sisters Mary and Fanny Bowers) | 1869 will of Priscilla Bowers: her third to the Baptist church | Probate #27759 |
Will of December 9, 1862, allowed at Lowell March 16, 1869, Dudley Foster executor: after a $500 legacy, "to the Baptist Church in Billerica all the remainder of my Property, Real, Mixed or Personal, to be by the Chh. kept as a fund, the interest of which to be expended for the support of Preaching in the Baptist Meeting house", the legacy "not to [be] paid till after the decease of my Sisters Mary & Fanny Bowers". Her heirs at law were those two sisters. The May 1869 inventory lists "1/3 of Homestead undivided 1 1/2 acres" at $1000 and "1/3 of Old Homestead 24 acres" at $800 among $3650 of real estate.
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| May 17, 1870 | Will | Estate of Mary Bowers of Billerica, singlewoman (d. 1870) | The Town of Billerica, for the benefit of the poor | 1870 will of Mary Bowers: her share to the town for the poor | Probate #27756 |
Will of December 9, 1862, allowed at Lowell May 17, 1870, Dudley Foster executor: "I give and bequeath to the Town of Billerica, all the Property Real, Mixed or Personal of which I may be possessed at the time of my decease, for the benefit of the poor of said Billerica. This legacy not to be paid untill after the decease of my Sisters Priscilla and Fanny Bowers." The town sold the two-thirds of the Bowers Homestead it received from Mary and Fanny Bowers to William H. Osborn in 1871.
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| September 11, 1880 | Quitclaim | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | Martin Lane | Lot on which Lane built his house after 1878 | 141/370 |
Two undivided third parts of about 24 acres with a dwelling house and barn, for $1,933.33. Bounded beginning at the southeasterly corner at the wall on the highway leading to Middle Bridge at land of Josiah Richardson; northerly by Richardson, the heirs of Joel Richardson, and land of Dudley Foster and Mrs. Parker to land of the heirs of Joshua Bennett; westerly by Bennett about 75 3/4 poles to land of Phebe Hutchins; southerly by Hutchins to the highway about 81 1/2 poles; easterly by the highway to the first bound about 83 poles. Part of the real estate devised to the town by Molly (Mary) Bowers and Fanny Bowers, daughters of Dr. William Bowers. Signed May 25, 1871 by Dudley Foster, Israel A. Colson and David L. Mason, a committee authorized by town meeting vote of May 2, 1871; recorded Sept 11, 1880.
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| September 11, 1880 | Quitclaim | Members of the First Baptist Church and Society of Billerica | Martin Lane | Lot on which Lane built his house after 1878 | 141/371 |
The remaining undivided third part of the same 24 acres with dwelling house and barn on the highway leading to Middle Bridge, same bounds as Book 141 Page 370, for $966.67. Part of the real estate devised to the church by Priscilla Bowers (1781-1869), daughter of Dr. William Bowers. Signed May 25, 1871 by Edward Spaulding and George C. Gilman, a committee authorized at a meeting of the church and society May 1, 1871; recorded Sept 11, 1880.
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| October 24, 1884 | Grant of Right of Way | Martin Lane of Billerica, and his wife Bridget Lane (dower) | The Boston and Lowell Railroad Corporation | 1884: Martin Lane grants the Boston and Lowell a two-rod right of way for the Bedford and Billerica branch | 170/14 |
Signed Oct. 15, 1884 and acknowledged before Dudley Foster; recorded Oct. 24, 1884. For $75 Lane grants "the right of way across all my land in said town of Billerica which is included within the location of the Bedford and Billerica branch of the Boston & Lowell Railroad Company," as on the "Location Plan" dated Oct. 1, 1884, "said location being two rods in width," on condition that within a year the corporation "construct and operate over my said land a standard gauge railroad" between its tracks in Bedford and Billerica, otherwise void. Witness Catherine Kennelly. The 1917 Riordon deed conveys the homestead subject to this right of way.
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| July 27, 1885 | Warranty Deed | Martin Lane of Billerica; Bridget Lane releases dower and homestead | Catherine Kennelly of Billerica, wife of Patrick Kennelly | 1885: Martin Lane sells a River Street lot to his daughter Catherine Kennelly | 175/357 |
Signed June 4, 1885, acknowledged June 30 before Dudley Foster, recorded July 27, 1885 (pages 357-358). For one dollar and other valuable consideration, a lot on River Street "beginning at the southeast corner of the premises on River street," north by "my other land" 126 feet, west 80 feet, south 120 feet by "my other land" to River Street, and 80 feet on River Street. Catherine was Martin Lane's daughter; she and her husband at once mortgaged the lot "with a dwelling-house thereon" to Francis D. Foster for $1,000 (page 358). The 1945 deed excepts this lot, citing it as "Book 175 Page 257."
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| December 20, 1886 | Warranty Deed | Martin Lane of Billerica; Bridget Lane releases dower and homestead | Mary N. Casey of Billerica, a married woman | 1886: Martin Lane sells half an acre on River Street to Mary N. Casey | 186/596 |
Signed and acknowledged Dec. 7, 1886 before Dudley Foster, recorded Dec. 20, 1886. For $300, a tract on River Street beginning at its southwest corner "at land of Mrs. Lucy M. King," north by King about sixteen rods, east 85 feet "by my other land," south parallel about sixteen rods to River Street and west 85 feet on the street, "containing about one half acre. The grantee is to build all fences and keep them in repair." Witnesses Dudley Foster and Patrick Kennelly. Excepted from the Lane Homestead in 1917 and 1945.
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| May 9, 1889 | Warranty Deed | Martin Lane of Billerica; Bridget Lane releases dower and homestead | Mary N. Casey of Billerica | 1889: Martin Lane sells Mary N. Casey a 40-foot strip beside her lot | 205/544 |
Signed and acknowledged April 30, 1889 before Dudley Foster, recorded May 9, 1889 (pages 544-545). For $200, a strip beginning on River Street at Mrs. Casey's land, east on River Street 40 feet "to a bound at my other land," north 40 feet from the Casey land 234 feet, west 40 feet to Casey and south by her land to the beginning. Witnesses Dudley Foster and Eunice Lane. Excepted from the Lane Homestead in 1917 and 1945.
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| August 9, 1917 | Quitclaim Deed | Joseph T. Riordon and Annie Lane Riordon his wife, in her right, of Brockton | Mary E. Lane of Billerica | 1917: Annie Lane Riordon, Martin Lane's daughter, releases the Lane Homestead to Mary E. Lane | 576/383 |
The "Lane Homestead" of 24 acres "with the dwelling house and barn thereon" on the highway to Middle Bridge (bought by Martin Lane in 1871) and the three acres at the road to the Widow French's gate (Book 141 Page 372), subject to the Boston and Lowell Railroad right of way (1884), with all property devised to Annie under the will of Bridget Lane. "For the title of said Annie Lane Riordon, see Probate of Martin Lane, deceased, No. 67,037 ... and estate of Bridget Lane, No. 98,290 ... said Annie Lane Riordon being the daughter of said Martin and Bridget Lane". Signed 5 July 1917, recorded 9 August 1917.
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| August 9, 1917 | Quitclaim Deed | Patrick Kennelly and Catherine Lane Kennelly his wife, in her right, of Billerica | Mary E. Lane of Billerica | 1917: Catherine Lane Kennelly releases her share of her mother's estate to Mary E. Lane | 576/385 |
Releases all their interest in the estate devised to Catherine under the will of Bridget Lane (probate 98290) and in two tracts of six and eight acres that Dudley Foster had sold to Martin Lane. Recorded 9 August 1917. With the Riordon deed it gathered the Lane estate in Mary E. Lane.
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| July 27, 1921 | Grant of Easement | Mary E. Lane of Billerica, "Land Owner" | Lowell Electric Light Corporation | 1921: Mary E. Lane grants an electric pole easement off River Street | 647/333 |
Signed and acknowledged July 26, 1921 before Frank H. Jones. For one dollar, "the right to erect and maintain one (1) pole on private property off River Street in the Town of Billerica" with two guy wires and such apparatus as may be needed, per the company's plan "R-887." The only recorded instrument on the Lane Homestead between the 1917 heirs' releases and the 1945 deed.
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| December 31, 1945 | Quitclaim | Mary E. Lane | Martin Lane Kennelly Jr. and Charles Nuttall Kennelly | Lane Homestead passes to the Kennellys | 1035/298 |
Four parcels in Billerica to the two Kennellys as tenants in common. The third is "the Lane Homestead," 24 acres with the dwelling house and barn, "on the highway leading to Middle Bridge (now known as River Street)," described with the same bounds as the 1871 deeds to Martin Lane (Book 141 Pages 370-371), except parcels Martin Lane had sold to Catherine Kennelly in 1885 (Book 175 Page 257) and to Mary N. Casey in 1886 (Book 186 Page 596) and 1889 (Book 205 Page 544). Mary E. Lane's title came from four 1917 deeds from the Lane heirs (Book 576 Pages 248, 249, 383, 385). Consideration under $100.
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| October 30, 1953 | Quitclaim | Martin Lane Kennelly Jr. and Charles Nuttall Kennelly | Inhabitants of the Town of Billerica | Part of the Lane Homestead sold to the town for the high school | 1239/72 |
About 19.4 acres on the northerly side of River Street, Lots A and C on "Plan of Land for Proposed High School in Billerica, Mass.," Jan. 28, 1953, by Albert A. Miller and Wilbur C. Nylander. Abutters: Kennelly (east), Finnigan, Carr, Pollard, Daniels, Drucker, the Town of Billerica, Cochrane, Sandberg and Landau. "Being a portion of the third lot" (the Lane Homestead) in the 1945 deed from Mary E. Lane, Book 1035 Page 298. Bought under Article 34 of the March 21, 1953 town meeting, which fixed the new high school site off River Street and appropriated $19,000; Lot B came from Andrew Finnegan by exchange under Article 35. Signed Oct. 22, 1953; recorded Oct. 30, 1953.
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| November 10, 1955 | Mortgage | Martin Lane Kennelly Jr. of Orange, Vermont, and Charles Nuttall Kennelly of Billerica | Union National Bank of Lowell | 1955: the Kennellys mortgage the house lot left after the high school deed | 1315/595 |
Mortgage for $4,000 at 5 percent over ten years on "the land in said Billerica, with the buildings thereon, situated on the northerly side of River street": south by River Street about 152 feet, southwest by Lots C and A on the 1953 "Plan of Land for Proposed High School" (Plan Book 85, Plan 196) 169.10 feet, west by Lot A 180.91 feet, northwest by Lot A 329.43 feet, and east "by a wall by land of owner unknown" about 447 feet. "Being a part of the third parcel described in a deed from Mary E. Lane to us, dated December 31, 1945 ... Book 1035, Page 298." This is the house lot left after the 1953 high school deed.
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| September 26, 1966 | Taking | Martin Lane Kennelly Jr. and Charles Nuttall Kennelly (supposed owners) | Billerica Housing Authority | 1966: the Billerica Housing Authority takes the 2.83-acre house lot for elderly housing | 1769/519 |
Order of taking of Aug. 31, 1966, certified by the Authority's secretary and recorded Sept. 26, 1966. For State-Aided Housing Project Billerica 667-1, housing for elderly persons, the Authority takes in fee by eminent domain "a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon" on the northerly side of River Street, bounded by Finnegan, the Town of Billerica, Giles, Stearns, Nichols and River Street, "containing 2.83 acres, all as shown on a plan of land entitled, 'Plan of Land in Billerica, Mass., surveyed for Billerica Housing Authority,' dated July, 1966, Emmons, Fleming & Bienvenu" (Plan Book 104, Plan 77). Award to the Kennellys, 123,377 square feet, $27,500. The assessor lists this record under Feb. 6, 1963 with no price.
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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.