Lowell city directories, 1886–1966 (Atherton at "170 Fairmount" 1886; apartments at 236 from 1931; the Murphys 1946; the Battles Home at 93 Rolfe St 1931–56 and at 236 Fairmount by 1966)

Date: 1886, 1931, 1936, 1946, 1950, 1956, 1966
Type: book
Repository: Internet Archive (lowellma-directory-YYYY)
Access: Public; full-text OCR. Open online

Statements this record supports

C-004 — Atherton was a machinist and manufacturer: treasurer of the Whitehead & Atherton Machine Company, Howe Street (directories 1873–75), later the Atherton Machine Company (1886 directory: 'Atherton Abel T. (Atherton Machine Co.), h. 170 Fairmount' — the house was then numbered 170); member of the Common Council and Board of Health, 1871; patents include a tuyere (1866), cotton openers (1874) and a 'Railway Head' (US 305,654, 23 Sep 1884). The Atherton Machine Company was insolvent in 1898 and a successor operated in Pawtucket, R.I.
C-017 — Charles Brooks Stevens (1865–1949), textile manufacturer, born Haverhill, resident of Tewksbury, owned the property 1925–1944; he died 26 June 1949 in Tewksbury aged 84.
C-019 — Thomas J. and Grace L. Murphy lived at 236 Fairmount Street: the 1946 directory lists 'Murphy Thos J (Grace L) slsmn h 236 Fairmount'. They mortgaged the property in Feb 1949 ($36,500, City Institution for Savings) and sold it on 10 Jan 1951 to Alexander T. and Agnes E. Herron of Rye, New Hampshire (Book 1160 p.232).
C-021 — The house was divided into apartments by 1931 at the latest: the Lowell city directory for 1931 lists three households at 236 Fairmount Street (Butler Ames, president of the Heinze Electric Co.; Donald F. Cameron; William E. Sharpe jr., purchasing agent), 1936 lists four, 1950 six. The 1981 survey's 'converted into apartments in the mid-20th century' is therefore too late; the conversion belongs to the Stevens ownership (1925–44) or earlier.
C-022 — The Battles Home for Aged Men was founded in 1901 by Mary (Mrs. James) Battles, who conveyed her house at 15 Belmont Street to trustees; it operated from April 1902. Lowell city directories for 1931–1956 place the home at 93 Rolfe Street, so it moved from Belmont Street to Rolfe Street before 1931 and from Rolfe Street to Fairmount Street in 1956–57. By 1966 the directory lists 'Battles Home for Aged Men Inc, Bailey Trull pres, Eric J Anderson treas, 236 Fairmount St' with five retired men as residents.