154 MAIN ST
architectural description
NRDIS NRMRA
Italianate/Bracketted
Cable mouldings on corner boards; tall two over two windows
House faces Phillips St. (uphill)
historical narrative
Mary Dwight, sister-in-law of Egbert Smyth, professor at Andover Theological Seminary, lived here after Smyth's death. She was "one of Andover's colorful characters". She occupied the house in 1913 and for some years around that time. House probably built by Hannah Newman Fay.
James Anguilo research (8-28-1993):
Lot for house created in 1860 from an out lot of the late Bela B. Edwards estate - house at 148 Main was being run as "The Nunnery" by wife, Jerusha W. (Billings) Edwards and daughter, Sara. (See tax books, Newman files of Andover Historical Society)
It appears Hannah H. (Newman) Fay, widow of Rev. Samuel Austin Fay, moved into new house shortly after its completion (1861?) and lived there until shortly before her death in 1889, when she moved to a convalescent home "on the Hill". (see her obituary, AHS files)
Hannah Fay was never deeded the property by the Edwardses, as it appears to have stayed within that family until 04-25-1888, at which time "all the property held on Main Street" was sold to the Trustees of Phillips Academy. (see Deed, Book 95, p. 154, Lawrence Registry)
Hannah and her sister, Margaret, did, however, own two pieces of land given to them by their father, Mark Newman - the 3rd Phillips principal - when he died in 1859. One of these lots, at Central 4 School, was deeded to the Christ (Protestant Episcopal) church around 1885. (Grantor Index, Lawrence Registry)
Mary Dwight, sister-in-law of Egbert Smyth, professor of church history at Andover Theological Seminary, lived in house, probably around 1910, known as original "back-seat driver". (Townsman's Andover, p. 90)
PA Instructor Frederick Boyce and his family lived in house from 1917-1947. (Andover telephone directories.) ATS owned the house as late as 1927, but they were trying to sell property to PA since 01-18-1918 and couldn't because of misplaced deed form the 1908 transaction (!). N. Andover realtor John Hamilton Morse transacted the sale in 1927. (deeds, Lawrence)
Owners:
Phillips Academy
James Anguilo pursuing deed work (470-3293)
Building marker 1994
bibliography/references
Goldsmith, Bessie: Townswoman's Andover, p. 90
Morse, Nathaniel: 1932, Teems of Trustees, p. 202
See also 1918-1919 directory real estate agent, Boston
See enclosures in AHS binder
inventory data
| Place: | Andover Center |
| Historic District: | Academy Hill NRH District |
| Address: | 154 main st |
| Historic Name: | Fay House - Phillips Academy Faculty Housing |
| Present Use: | residence/dormitory |
| Original Use: | faculty residence |
| Date of Construction: | circa 1860 |
| Source: | |
| Style/Form: | Italianate |
| Architect/Builder: | |
| Foundation: | brick/stone |
| Wall/Trim: | clapboards |
| Roof: | |
| Outbuildings / Secondary Structures | two sheds |
| Major Alterations: | remodeled |
| Condition: | good |
| Moved: | |
| Demolished: | |
| Acreage: | less than one acre; approx. frontage 80' |
| Setting: | |
| MHC inventory number: | ANV.353 |
| Recorded by: | Stack/Mofford |
| Organization: | Andover Historical Commission |
| Date: | 1975-77/1993 |
other historic buildings
- on main st
- in Academy Hill NRH District
- with architectural style Italianate
48 Clark Road
