25 Carruth Street

,

No. 20279 25 Carruth Street, photograph from Andrew Saxe

 

No. 11382 25 Carruth Street, photograph about 1970 from Boston Public Library

Date of construction: possibly 1887 – George C. Quincy appears in the 1887 Boston Directory on Carruth Street.   

mentioned in published material, but no cited reference other than MACRIS, which may be citing Ashmont mentioned below

Architect:  Allen and Kenway – per Shand-Tucci  

Style: Queen Anne

MACRIS (Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System)  mhc-macris.net accessed [date]

            BOS.5712  George G. Quincy House

The following is from:  Paul Douglass Shand-Tucci. Ashmont: An Historical Guide to Peabody Square, Carruth’s Hill, and Ashmont Hill and the Architecture f EdwinJ. Lewis, Jr. and John A. Fox.  Dorchester: Dorchester Historical Society, 1991. p. 55-56

George Quincy, A Boston store owner, in 1888 commissioned Allen and Kenway to design 25 Carruth, the Quincy-Wardner House.  Something of a companion to 27 Carruth, 25 is less dramatic but much grander, its pomps upheld by a princely ground story of stone, which extends up into an imposing stair tower on the house’s north front.  The later owner, G. Phillip Wardner, who was the highest lay officer of All Saints’, was a Harvard College graduate and State Street lawyer who taught at Boston University Law School.  Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, he earned entry into Who’s Who in New England.  Wardner was also president of the ever-active Ashmont Improvement Association and entertained grandly in this house’s splendid interiors, which were probably done by A. H. Davenport, noted for their work at the White House.  Happily, this house is now being restored to its original stateliness.

The following is from the Area Form for Carruth Street/Peabody Square prepared as part of 1994 Survey of Dorchester, Boston Landmarks Commission.

Number 25 Carruth Street was built in 1888 for George G. Quincy, of Willard and Quincy, a Boston “fancy goods” store.  Designed by Allen and Kenway, this firm’s work was called by Bainbridge Bunting in the Houses of Boston’s Back Bay, “the most consistent exponent of the Romanesque tradition in the Back Bay.”  Allen and Kenway’s penchant for Syrian arches, a hallmark of The Richardsonian Romanesque style is apparent at 25 Carruth Street.  During the early 20th century, this house was owned by G. Phillip Wardner who was a Harvard College graduate, State Street lawyer and teacher at the Boston University Law School. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.  Additionally, Wardner was president of the Ashmont Improvement Association and was the highest lay officer of All Saints’.  The Wardners are said to have decorated 25 Carruth Street in a splendid manner with furnishings by A.H. Davenport.  By 1933, Harold R. Donaghue lived here.

The following is from the Dorchester Historical Society’s Dorchester House Tour Ashmont/Carruth Street Neighborhood, June 11, 2017

Year built: 1887

Architect: Allen and Kenway

Style: Queen Anne

Carruth was built for George G. Quince; the prosperous co-owner of a fancy goods store in downtown Boston; architects Allen and Kenway were known for their stone Romanesque Back Bay town-houses but also produced fine, free-standing houses for Herbert Carruth’s new upscale neighborhood.

The main elevation is formal and subdued, with a tightly-laid stone first floor of tan limestone with red sandstone and a straightforward, wood-shingled second story and gable. The north elevation is much more dynamic: the stone is carried up through the second story of the stair tower and topped by wood paneling, a band of diamond pane windows, and a faceted slate roof; while a covered porch is supported by elegant shingled arches. The south elevation is almost as dramatic; a brick chimney continues through the upper floors and emerges from the roof, and a single-story semi-circular stone bay with a conical roof fills the corner with the main elevation. The exterior recently underwent a thorough campaign of repair work, and its condition is pristine.

While the exterior impresses with its stone, slate, and copper, the interior celebrates the art of the cabinet-maker and wood carver. In the foyer, the oak staircase spills down out of its tower and wrestles for prominence with the paneled fireplace surround. The fireplace in the parlor boasts another elaborate mantel, with a dramatic scene on its sculpted metal firebox. A wide archway with a Moorish screen, slender turned columns, and other finely-carved details opens to a round bay with a tiny, half-round window seat and windows featuring stained glass transoms. The dining room features another fire¬place and an elaborately carved sideboard. The kitchen now incorporates an enclosed former porch, creating a spacious cooking, dining, and entertaining area.

The grand stairway features stained glass panels and a built-in bench. A large upstairs sitting room contains the most elaborately carved of the all the exquisite mantels and is decorated with realistic lions’ heads, cattails, ferns, and other details. (Note that all the mantels have exotic stone firebox surrounds and not the more typical decorative tile.) The master bedroom has a fireplace with a mirrored overmantel and access to a small balcony. The imposing bed in the rear bedroom came with the house! On the third floor, a massive billiard room, two bedrooms, laundry room, and a full bath complete the array of spaces in this imposing yet very livable house.

entry for Carruth Street in

A Record of the Streets, Alleys, Places, Etc., in the City of Boston. (Boston, 1910).

Carruth Street, Dor., 1869; from 239 Ashmont Street to 412 Codman Street [now Gallivan Boulevard]; laid out, Aug. 12, 1869.  Plan in Boston Engineering Department L976.

Notes/Summary

No supporting documentation seems to be available to verify that the architects were Allen and Kenway – could the records for the firm be extant?; also the house may be earlier than Shand-Tucci mentions below, since the Boston Directory from 1887 shows George G. Quincy living on Carruth Street.  The deed to Quincy is dated Sept. 1886, so it is quite possible that the house could have been built in 1887.  The Wardners lived at 34 Beaumont Street (1896, 1898, 1900, 1902 Blue Books), 116 Beaumont Street (could this be meant to be 11? 1904, 1906 Blue Books).  The definitely lived at what is now 11 Beaumont Street before acquiringo 25 Carruth in April, 1906.

Owners’ names from atlases

1884 map shows no building on the site by that time

1889 owner is Geo. G. Quincy

1894 owner is Geo. G. Quincy

1898 owner is Geo. G. Quincy

1904 owner is Geo. G. Quincy

1910 owner Mary R. Wardner.

1918 owner Mary R. Wardner. 

1933 owner Teresa M. Donaghue.

Dorchester Blue Books

1894    Mr. & Mrs. George G. Quincy

1896    Mr. & Mrs. George G. Quincy

1900    Mr. & Mrs. George G. Quincy

1902    Mr. & Mrs. George G. Quincy, Miss Julia Quincy,  and Wilbur G. Quincy

1904    Mr. & Mrs. George G. Quincy, Miss Julia Quincy,  and Wilbur G. Quincy

1906     no entry for 25 Carruth

1908    Mr. and Mrs. G. Philip Wardner

1910    Mr. and Mrs. G. Philip Wardner

1913    Mr. and Mrs. G. Philip Wardner

1915    Mr. and Mrs. G. Philip Wardner

It appears that the property changed ownership between 1904 and 1908

Boston Directories

1886 George G. Quincy (Willard & Qincy, 383 Washington, h. at Longwood

1887 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), 40 Summer, h. Carruth

1888 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), 40 Summer, h. Carruth

1889 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), 40 Summer, h. Carruth

1890 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), 40 Summer, h. Carruth

1891 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), 85 Essex, h. Carruth

1892 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. Carruth

1893 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. Carruth

1894 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. Carruth

1895 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. Carruth

1896 George G. Quincy (Willard & Quincy), fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. Carruth

1897 George G. Quincy & Co., fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. 25 Carruth

1898 George G. Quincy & Co., fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. 25 Carruth

1899 George G. Quincy & Co., fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. 25 Carruth

1900 George G. Quincy & Co., fancy goods, 85 Essex, h. 25 Carruth

1916 George G. Quincy & Co., celluloid goods, 1 Otis, bds 214 Commonwealth av – see page 2813

advert on p. 2813

1916 G. Philip Wardner (Warner & Cavanaugh) lawyer, 70 State 10th floor, h 25 Carruth Dor

deeds

Sept. 17, 1886 Herbert S. Carruth to George G. Quincy, 1740.575 , Dorch Fuller & Carruth Sts,

April 10, 1906 from George G. Quincy to Mary R. Wardner, wife of Philip Wardner  3117.287  Rowena (forty Fuller) & Carruth Sts

also

Apr. 18, 1900 deed from Elsie A. Washburn to Mary R. Wardner & al, Dorch Beaumont St Lot 17, pl 1573.539, Book 2677, p. 295   so the Wardner’s lived at what is now 11 Beaumont Street before buying 25 Carruth

Sept. 1, 1903  Deed from William H. Weeks Jr.  to Mary R. Wardner  Dorch Beaumont St, lot 16 & pt. lot 15 pl. 1608.234  Book 2919 p. 86

Boston Lists of Residents

1909    George P. Wardner, 25, lawyer

1922    Sabina W. Finnegan, domestic, 34, formerly lived at 13 Fairfax

            Mary Killy, domestic, 24

            George P. Wardner, lawyer, 54

            Mary Wardner, 51

1923    Edward Ames, butler, 24, formerly lived in New Jersey

            Susan Ames, houseworker, 23

            George P. Wardner, lawyer, 55

            Joseph W. Wardner, clerk, 65, formerly lived in Somerville

            Mary R. Wardner, housewife, 52

            Phillip Wardner, student, 20

1924    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 30, formerly lived at 86 Bloomfield    

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 33, formerly lived at 86 Bloomfield

1925    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 31        

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 35

1926    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 32        

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 36

            Mary Stanton, maid, 60, formerly lived at 37 Sycamore

1927    Ward 16 not available on line

1928    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 34        

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 38

            Mary Stanton, maid, 56

1929    nothing for 1929 on line

1930    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 36        

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 40

1931    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 35

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 35

1932    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 38        

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 41

1933    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 39

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 43

1934    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 40

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 54

1935    Elizabeth Campbell, maid, 20, formerlived in Cambridge

            Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 45        

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 45

1936    Elizabeth Campbell, maid, 21

            Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 41        

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 45

1937    Lena E. Campbell, maid, 22

            Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 42

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 42

1938    Hannah R. Donaghue, housekeeper, 70

            Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 43

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 43

1939    Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 44

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 44

1940    Doris D. Donaghue, student, 20

            Hannah R. Donaghue, at home, 75

            Harold R. Donaghue, lawyer, 46

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 46

1941    Doris D. Donaghue, student, 21

            Hannah R. Donaghue, at home, 75

            Harold R. Donaghue, attorney, 47

            Teresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 47

1942    Doris D. Donahue [!], clerk, 22

            Hannah R. Donahue, at home, 75

            Harold R. Donahue, attorney, 47

            Martha P. Donahue, secretary, 20

            Teresa W. Donahue, housewife, 47

1943    Hannah R. Donaghue, at home, 76

            Harold Donaghue, attorney, 48

            Martha Donaghue, stenographer, 22

            Theresa Donaghue, housewife, 48

1944    Claire Donaghue, student, 20

            Harold R. Donaghue, attorney, 49

            Martha P. Donaghue, secretary, 22

            Theresa W. Donaghue, housewife, 50

1945    no entries for 25 Carruth Street

1946    Nicoletta Albiani, housewife, 36, formerly lived at 285 Ashmont

            Alba DeAngelo, clerk, 31, formerly lived at 285 Ashmont

            Dominic DeSteffano, manager, 74, formerly lived at 285 Ashmont

            Henry F. DeSteffano, U S A, 39, formerly lived at 285 Ashmont

            Maria DeSteffano, housewife, 58, formerly lived at 285 Ashmont

            Norma DeSteffano, clerk, 22, formerly lived at 285 Ashmont

            Robert J. DeSteffano, clerk, 35, formerly lived at 285 Ashmont

1947    Nicoletta Albiani, at home, 37

            Alba D’Angelo, at home, 31

            Dominic DeSteffano, manager, 74

            Henry F. DeSteffano, clerk, 42

            Maria DeSteffano, housewife, 59

            Norma DeSteffano, secretary, 23

            Robert J. DeSteffano, clerk, 36

1948    Nicoletta Albiani, at home, 37

            Alba M. D’Angelo, at home, 31

            Dominick DeSteffano, merchant, 75

            Henry S. DeSteffano, merchant, 42

            Maria DeSteffano, housewife, 60

            Norma DeSteffano, secretary, 23

            Robert J. DeSteffano, merchant, 36

1949    Nicoletta Albiani, housewife, 38

            Alba D’Angelo, salewoman, 31

            Dominic DeStefano, merchant, 76

            Henry DeStefano, salesman, 42

            Maria DeStefano, housewife, 62

            Norma DeStefano, secretary, 25

            Robert DeStefano, merchant, 37

1950    Nicoletta Albiani, housewife, 40

            Alba D’Angelo, housewife, 35

            Domenic DeStefano, clerk, 76

            Henry DeStefano, salesman, 43

            Maria DeStefano, housewife, 63

            Norma DeStefano, clerk, 26

            Robert DeStefano, salesman, 39

1951    Nicoletta Albiani, at home, 40

            Alba D’Angelo, at home, 35

            Domenic DeStefano, merchant, 76

            Henry DeStefano, salesman, 43

            Maria DeStefano, housewife, 63

            Norma DeStefano, secretary, 27

1952    Nicoletta Albiani, housewife, 41

            Alba D’Angelo, housewife, 36

            Domenic DeStefano, merchant, 78

            Henry DeStefano, salesman, 44

            Maria DeStefano, housewife, 64

1953    Nicoletta Albiani, at home, 43

            Alba D’Angelo, at home, 35

            Domenic DeStefano, retired, 80

            Henry DeStefano, retired, 46

            Maria DeStefano, housewife, 64

1954    Nicoletta Albiani, at home, 43

            Alba D’Angelo, at home, 37

            Henry DeStefano, retired, 47

            Maria DeStefano, at home, 65

1955    Marie L. Albiani, teacher, 21

            Nicoletta L. Albiani, housewife, 43

            Alba M. D’Angelo, housewife, 39

1956    Marie Albiani, teacher, 22

            Nicolette Albiani, housewife, 47

            Alba M. D’Angelo, housewife, 39

            Norma P. Glynn, housewife, 48

1957    Marie Albiani, teacher, b. 1933

            Nicolette Albiani, housewife, b. 1910

            Alba D’Angelo, housewife, b. 1915

            and possibly Ruth Mukeen, clerk, b. 1920

1958    Marie Louise Albiani, teacher, b. 1933

            Nicoletta L. Albiani, housewife, b. 1910

            Norma G. Glynn, at home, b. 1923

1959    Letitia Albiani, teacher, b. 1937

            Nicoletta L. Albiani, housewife, b. 1910

            Norma G. Glynn, at home, b. 1923

1960    Jeanne R. Mullin, secretary, b. 1927

            Richard P. Mullin, attorney, b. 1930

            Richard J. Rothwell, retired, b. 1889

1961    Jeanne R. Mullin, secretary, b. 1927

            Richard P. Mullin, attorney, b. 1930

            Richard J. Rothwell, retired, b. 1889

1962    Jeanne R. Mullin, secretary, b. 1927

            Richard P. Mullin, attorney, b. 1930

            Richard J. Rothwell, retired, b. 1889

1963    Jeanne R. Mullin, secretary, b. 1927

            Richard J. Rothwell, retired, b. 1889

            Richard P. Mullin, attorney, b. 1930

1964    Beatrice Mullin, inspector, b. 1908, formerly living at 5 Emrose Ter

            Jeanne R. Mullin, secretary, b. 1927

            Peter Mullin, pharmicist, b. 1901, formerly living at 5 Emrose Ter

            Richard P. Mullin, attorney, b. 1930

            Richard J. Rothwell, retired, b. 1889

1965    Beatrice Mullin, inspector, b. 1908

            Jeanne R. Mullin, secretary, b. 1927

            Peter Mullin, pharmicist, b. 1901

            Richard P. Mullin, attorney, b. 1930

            Richard J. Rothwell, retired, b. 1889

1966    Beatrice Mullin, inspector, b. 1908

            Jeanne R. Mullin, secretary, b. 1927

            Peter Mullin, pharmicist, b. 1901

            Richard P. Mullin, attorney, b. 1930

            Richard J. Rothwell, retired, b. 1889

Public records from FamilySearch.org

Birth

George G. Quincy, Jan. 28, 1854

Census 1880

no address given

Geo H. Quincy, 49, b. Maine,

Mary C L Quincy, 47

Geo G Quincy, 26, b. 1854, dealer in celluoid

plus others

Census 1900, Carruth Street

George Quincy, 46, b. in Mass.,  occupation appears to be commission merchant

Elizabeth Quincy, 44, b. in RI

Wilbur Quincy, 21, at Harvard College

Julia Quincy, 19

Caroline Quincy, 15

Robinson [first name unreadable], servant, 26, b. in Ireland

[last name unreadable] Nellie, servant, 28, b. in Ireland

Marriage

Wilbur G. Quincy, 23,  to Marguerite Dietrich, 19 Nov 1902

Wilbur was living at 25 Carruth, occupation manufacturer

Marguerite was living at 68 Marlboro St

Census 1910, 25 Carruth Street

George P Wardner, 42, b. New Jersey, Lawyer, General Practice

Mary R. Wardner, 39, b. Vermont

Isabel Wardner, 14, b. Mass

Elizabeth Wardner, 12, b. Mass.

Philip Wardner, 8, b. Mass

Lois Wardner, 2, b. Mass.

Mary T. Martin, servant, 24, b. Ireland

Annie E. Healey, 25, b. Ireland

Marriage

George P. Wardner, b. 1868, m. Mary P. Rankin, b. 1871  11 Oct. 1894

George’s parents were George E. and Mary E. Wardner

Mary’s parents were Andrew E. and Isabelle P. Rankin  — not related to Rankin of 34 Carruth – apparently a coincidence and not related

Census 1930, 25 Carruth Street

Harold R. Donoghue, 36, b. Mass., Lawyer

Teresa W. Donoghue, 40, b. Mass.

Doris Donoghue, 10, b. Mass.

Martha P. Donoghue, 8, b. Mass.

Clare M. Donoghue, 6, b. Mass

David J. Donoghue, 2, b. Mass.

Frances Morasky, servant, 19, b. Mass.

Census 1940, 25 Carruth Street

Harold R. Donaghue, 46, b. Mass., Lawyer

Teresa Donaghue, 46, b. Mass.

Doris D. Donaghue, daughter, 20, b. Mass

Marthur [!] P. Donaghue, daughter, 18, b. Mass.

Claire N. Donaghue, daughter, 16, b. Mass

David J. Donaghue, son, 12, b. Mass

Pauline J. Donaghue, 8, b. Mass

Hanna Donaghue, 71, b. NH

 

Skills

Posted on

April 6, 2020