48 CENTRAL ST
architectural description
NRDIS NRMRA
Style: Picturesque; Mid-Victorian Mansion
Other features: front entry porch added ca. 20th century
8 fireplaces; elaborate detailed trim, even at chimney-top, under eves and above windows.
historical narrative
Present owner: Lally, Richard & Patricia
Original owner: not definitely known
Subsequent uses: "President Pierce's Summer White House" ?
Themes: Aboriginal ?, Architectural, Community development, Education, Political, Transportation
Historical significance: Present owner claims that there was once an Indian settlement on grounds - archeology digs have been made recently.
Original builder - owner not ascertained, but house is earlier than 1859, when John Aiken, "Lowell manufaturer, moved to large house on Central Street". Judge Aiken was agent for Tremont Mills/Lowell (Appleton Manufacturing Co.) In 1840s he was agent for Bay State Woolen Mills, Lawrence, owned by Samuel Abbot & Amos Lawrence. Aiken was President of Phillips Academy and Andover Seminary Trustees, 1854 - 1857 and lived here until his death, 1867. His second wife, Mary Means? Appleton, was elder sister of Franklin Pierce's wife. It was after the president-elect spent Christmas holidays here that their only son, 11 year old Bennie, was tragically killed in a railroad accident near the Almshouse, Jan. 6, 1853. The body was brought back here and the funeral officiated by their minister from Concord, N.H., with Bennie's school chums as pall bearers, was held here Jan. 10. President Pierce made numerous later visits to this house and addressed Andoverites at the time of the Civil War Rally. Mrs. Jane Pierce, who never recovered mentally from her son's death, died here Dec. 22, 1863. During Pierce's visits, this was "the Summer white House" with his administrative staff accross the street at #47 (Samuel Abbot House).
It was later known as "The Ripley House" - for Col. George Ripley. He had green-house/barn on site. Also owned Atkinson House, 17 Abbot Street, 1900 and had large farm at end of Abbot Street.
Advertisement "Andover Townsman", May 9, 1890 - "excellent new milch cows, carefully bred, are offered for sale by Col. Ripley's Rock Farm on Abbot St. Near Spring Grove Cemetery".
It came into Barnard possession and in 1962, was owned by Mr. W. Shirley Barnard, whose daughters, Nance Soule and Particia Lally inherited 1964. Richard Lally and Patricia Barnard Lally have owned since 1965.
bibliography/references
Andover Historical Society files: "Aiken"; also C. C. Carpenter's "Scrapbook" vol. 111
Directory of Andover, 1900
Andover Townsman, May 9, 1890
Fuess, Claude:" Andover, Symbol of New England", 1959, pg. 279-280 (1852 Andover map)
Lawrence Courier, Jan. 11, 1853
Andover Townsman, Sep. 9, 1976
Interview with Richard Lally, present owner.
Nichols, Roy: "Franklin Pierce", a bibliography
"Sermon of the Life and Character of the Honorable John Aiken", delivered in the South Church, Andover, Feb. 1867 by Rev. Chas. Smith, Boston: John D. Flagg, 1867.
Mofford, Julie: "Presidents Who Passed Our Ways", Lawrence Eagle Tribune, May 8, 1976.
inventory data
| Place: | Andover Center |
| Historic District: | Not Applicable |
| Address: | 48 central st |
| Historic Name: | Aiken, John - Ripley, Col. George House |
| Present Use: | residence |
| Original Use: | residence |
| Date of Construction: | by 1850 |
| Source: | 1852 map: "J. Aiken"; style - njs |
| Style/Form: | Other |
| Architect/Builder: | |
| Foundation: | stone |
| Wall/Trim: | clapboards |
| Roof: | |
| Outbuildings / Secondary Structures | modern garage |
| Major Alterations: | pool (1968); renovated by present owner |
| Condition: | |
| Moved: | |
| Demolished: | |
| Acreage: | less than one acre; Lot size: 47,680 sq. ft.; approx. frontage: Central Street - 348', Central Lane - 120' |
| Setting: | |
| MHC inventory number: | ANV.112 |
| Recorded by: | Stack/Mofford |
| Organization: | Andover Historical Commission |
| Date: | 1975 - 1977 |
other historic buildings
- on central st
- in Not Applicable
- with architectural style Other
48 Clark Road
