1865–1949 — Born Haverhill; died Tewksbury, 26 June 1949, aged 84 (death certificate).
Owner from 1925 to 1944; a Tewksbury textile manufacturer.[sources]
Both the 1925 and 1944 deeds describe the Stevenses as "of Tewksbury", and the city directories agree: in 1931 and 1946 C. Brooks Stevens, president of the Lawrence Manufacturing Company, has his home in Tewksbury, while 236 Fairmount Street is listed with three, four and then six separate households. He owned the house as an investment and let it as apartments. The 1936 property atlas labels the parcel "Charles B. Stevens et ux". His sale to Grace L. Murphy in 1944 was the first to divide the land.
"Bonney L. Dunbar, wife of Philip R. Dunbar, of Newton" conveys the property to Charles Brooks and Edith Ames Stevens of Tewksbury. Stevens was a textile manufacturer; whether the family ever lived here is not established.[sources]
DocumentedClara Bonney (Lilley) DunbarCharles Brooks Stevens
The 1931 city directory lists three households at 236 Fairmount Street — a company president, a purchasing agent and a third family — and later directories four to six. The owner, Charles Brooks Stevens, lived in Tewksbury. The 1981 survey’s "mid-20th century" conversion was in fact complete by 1931.[sources]
DocumentedCharles Brooks Stevens
What is uncertain: When the division began — under Stevens after 1925, or earlier — is not known.
The deed to Grace L. Murphy of Lowell describes two portions of "Lot 2" on a new plan — the first recorded division of the original estate. The 1946 directory lists Thomas J. Murphy, salesman, and Grace at 236 Fairmount: owners who lived in the house. They mortgaged it in 1949.[sources]
DocumentedGrace L. Murphy