No. 11842 6 Fairfax Street, photograph from Andrew Saxe, circa 2011.
Date of construction: 1893
Owner: William Peard
Architect & Builder: William Peard
Herbert S. Carruth inherited an estate of many acres from his father Nathan. Nathan had been a partner in a drug business in Boston and president of the Old Colony Railroad. He moved to Dorchester in 1847.[1]
Herbert S. Carruth sold the lot now known as 6 Fairfax Street to William Peard in March of 1893. Peard was a carpenter and builder, and Peard applied for a building permit on April 13, 1893. Peard was not only the owner of the property; in addition he would be the architect and builder of the house. The final completion was recorded on August 26, 1893, and the house appears on a map for the first time on plate 30 of the 1894 Bromley atlas. The permit application was for a single family house with a pitched roof with dormers and with a stone foundation. The permit application is accompanied by a second-floor plan.
It appears that the house was not lived in by its owners, so it was probably a rental property until it was conveyed to Benjamin F. Lamb in December, 1896. Lamb, who appears in the Boston Directory at this home address, stayed only a few years, selling in March, 1900. The house may have been used as a rental again after that, since the references for other owners do not show them at this address.
The following is from the Boston Landmarks Commission inventory form for Carruth Street – Peabody Square, May, 1995, Boston Landmarks Commission.[2]
“6 Fairfax Street dates to ca. 1885 and may represent a W. Whitney Lewis design. Its original owner was B. F. Lamb of the State Street-based B.F. Lamb Lumber Company.” [note the original owner was not Lamb, but he appears to be the first owner who lived there.] – The attribution to Lewis may be taken from speculation in Douglass Shand Tucci’s Ashmont book, p. 40
illus 20185 plan of 6 Fairfax Street from Boston City Archives
Owners from maps
1933 John A. Martin
1918 Mabel C. Wheeler
1910 Mabel C. Wheeler
1904 Mabel C. Wheeler
1898 Benjamin F. Lamb (Boston Directory 1898 Benjamin F. Lamb & Co., 130 State and 166 Devonshire, h. 6 Fairfax)
Boston Directory
1896 Lamb lived at 23 Waumbeck
1897 Lamb lived at 6 Fairfax
1898 Lamb lived at 6 Fairfax
1899 Lamb lived at 6 Fairfax
1900 Lamb lived at 31 Crawford
Deeds
3/16/1893 Herbert S. Carruth to William Peard Book 2117/202
parcel of land sold for $1 plus a mortgage of $2300
[mortgage was assigned to Oliver Wolcott Gibbs who foreclosed, and the property was sold to Lewis D. Thorp in 1896]
Peard was a carpenter with offices at 1 W. Broadway and 20 W. Fifth, he lived at 54 East Street, Dorchester, presumably he was the builder of the house
“The premises are subject to the restriction set out in the agreement between Eugene B. Thomas and myself dated July 31, 1890 and recorded with said Deeds Liber 1951 Page 249.”
From Book 1951/249 “Whereas Herbert S. Carruth and Eugene B. Thomas both of Boston … are the owners of adjoining parcels of land, situated on the Westerly side of Fairfax Street … and said parties desire to impose certain restrictions upon their said estates … until the first day of January A. D. 1910 hold their respective estates, subject to the following restrictions, to wit: No stable shall be placed or used upon either of said estates; No building or part of any shall be placed nearer than thirty-five feet to the Westerly line of Fairfax Street, and no building except private dwelling houses for one family shall be placed upon either of said estates.”
10/9/1895 William Peard to William E. Woodman 2311/109
10/9/1895 William E. Woodman to Celia Bravman and E. Dora Woodman, widow, 2311/97
10/9/1895 William E. Woodman to Rufus B. Dodge Jr Book 2311/113 mortgage
12/20/1895 foreclosure estate of William E. Woodman to Max Lebowich 2328/202 entry made by assignees of Rufus B. Dodge for purpose of foreclosing mortgage; property sold to Nelson W. Howard for $1500 and earlier mortgage of $6500 still outstanding – it appears that Howard could not make the payments on the mortgage, so mortgage was foreclosed a year later
12/2/1896 from William Peard to Lewis D. Thorp Book 2404/130 – by foreclosure on the mortgage taken out October 18 1893 Book 2159/45 by Peard and owed to Oliver Wolcott Gibbs, since transferred to Max Lebovich
consideration of $8,900
12/2/1896 Lewis D. Thorp to Benjamin F. Lamb Book 2404/137
$1 and subject to a new mortgage of $6500 from Thorp to Josephine C. Herrick to be recorded herewith
Boston Directories for Benjamin F. Lamb:
1896 Lamb lived at 23 Waumbeck
1897 Lamb lived at 6 Fairfax
1898 Lamb lived at 6 Fairfax
1899 Lamb lived at 6 Fairfax
1900 Lamb lived at 31 Crawford
3/3/1900 from Benjamin F. Lamb to Robert Gallagher and Charles W. Munro Book 2668/407
consideration $1 and mortgage of $6500
10/26/1901 from Robert Gallagher to John Riley Book 2779/65
consideration $1 and subject to a mortgage of $6500, subject to a lease expiring October 1, 1902
Feb. 17, 1902 from John Riley to Thomas M. McBrine Book 2808/5
consideration $1 and subject to a mortgage of $6500
Feb. 17, 1902 from Thomas M. McBrine to John M. Moore of Waltham Book 2808/7
consideration $1500 and subject to a mortgage of $6500
Sept 27, 1902 Thomas McBrine to Mabel C. Wheeler Book 2852/503
subject to mortgage $6500, subject to taxes for 1901 and 1902 and to a lease expireing October 1, 1902
Sept 27 1902 Charles E. Wyzanski to Mabel C. Wheeler of Boston, wife of Bertrand T. Wheeler Book 2852/502 partial release of mortg 2846/229
Wheeler seems to have owned the property into the 1920s.
gap
12/10/1927 Willard G. Martin mortgage to Mattapan Co-operative Bank Book 4961/540
in the amount of $7,000
property conveyed to Willard G. Martin by deed of Richard E. Johnson recorded herewith
4/25/1932 Mattapan Co-operative Bank had foreclosed and then sold to Richard E. Johnston Book 5322/35
12/2/1932 Richard E. Johnston to John A. Martin Book 5356/151
12/16/1937 foreclosure deed from John A. Martin to Dorchester Savings Bank Book 5705/609
mortgage dated 12/2/1932 Book 5356/152
3/1/1944 Dorchester Savings Bank to Frederick J. Butts and Doris A. Butts Book 6082/376
April 22, 1947 Frederick J. Butts and Doris A. Butts to Charles R. Butts Book 6329/98
12/5/1950 Charles R. Butts to John and Apolonia Sztucinski Book 6658/578
7/6/1955 Apolonia Sztucinski administratrix of estate of John Sztucinski to Myles McDonough and Katherine McDnoough Book 7070/402
5/29/1956 Myles McDonough and Katherine McDonough to Dorothy F. Conway Book 7155/30
7/6/1964 Dorothy F. Conway to Bruno Fricker and Austra Fricker Book 7861/600
9/20/1978 Bruno Fricker and Austra Fricker to Gerhard R. Matzel and Julia C. Matzel Book 09098/289
1/4/2003 Gerhard R. Matzel and Julia C. Matzel to Alfredo Andres and Alicia Rosado Book 33181/258
7/23/2007 Alfredo Andres and Alicia Rosado to Robert H. Chicoski Book 42184/306
9/28/2017 Robert H. Chicoski to Patrick McDermott and Janet S. McDermott Book 58585/249
5/16/2018 Patrick J. McDermott and Janet M. McDermott and Janet S. McDermott granted to Patrick J. McDermott, Janet S. McDermott and Fairfax Street Realty Trust 6 Book 59589/224
Residents
1909-1910 The Rev. Charles Mockridge
Episcopal Church Diocese of Massachusetts. Journal of the Annual Meeting of the Convention, 1909
p. 193
Episcopal Church. Diocese of Massachusetts. Convention. Journal of the Annual Convention, Diocese of Massachusetts, Volumes 124-125. (Boston, 1909)
p. 104
Clergy, not canonically connected, licensed to officiate in this diocese
Canonically connected with So. Tokyo
Licensed Dec. 1, 1908 Rev. William Horace Montague Lockridge, 6 Fairfax Street, Dorchester
The Living Church Annual and Whittaker’s Churchman’s Almanac for 1910 (Milwaukee, 1910)
General Clergy List p. 399
Mockridge, Charles, 6 Fairfax Street, Dorchester Centre, Boston, Mass.
Boston Resident Lists
1922
Angus A. Martin, builder, 44, moved here n the past year from Milton
Reubina J. Martin, housewife, 38, moved here in the past year from Milton
1923
Angus A. Martin, builder, 44
Reubina J. Martin, housewife, 41
1924
George Gile, civil engineer, 30, moved here in the past year from 109 Park
Phyllis Gile, housewife, 28, moved here in the past year from 109 Park
Angus A. Martin, architect, 46
Reubina Martin, housewife, 40
1925
Maynard S. Aitken, carpenter, 37 moved here in the last year from Canada
Minerva Aitken, housewife, 37, moved her in the last year from Canada
Angus A. Martin, architect, 47
Rubina J. Martin, housewife, 40
1926
Mary Daly, housekeeper, 50 moved here within the last year from 7 Grampian Way
John C. Davis, engineer, 23, moved here within the last year fro Needham
Angus A. Martin, carpenter, 48
Reubina J. Martin, housewife, 41
Willard Martin, 20, student
volume for 1927 not available
1928
Maynard Aitken, carpenter, 40
Minerva Aitken, housewife, 39
Andrew M. Buckley, agent, 34, moved here within the last year from 49 Walk Hill
Mildred Buckley, housewife, 23, moved here within the last year from Revere
Angus A. Martin, builder, 49
Rabina J. Martin, housewife, 45
Willard G. Martin, agent, 22
1929 not available on line
1930
Maynard S. Aitken, carpenter, 43
Minerva A. Aitken, housewife, 48
Minerva Fuller, teacher, 50
Angus A. Martin, builder, 52
Robina J. Martin, housewife, 46
Willard G. Martin, real estate, 24
1931
Maynard Aitken, carpenter, 40
Minerva Aitken, housewife, 40
Minerva Fuller, teacher, 45
Andrew Martin, builder, 45
Robina Martin, housewife, 45
Willard Martin, broker, 24
1932
Maynard Aitken, carpenter, 48
Minerva Fuller, piano teacher, 60
Angus A. Martin, builder, 53
John A. Martin, student, 20
Renbina J. Martin, housewife, 49
Willard G. Mrtin, 26
1933
Annie M. Aitken, housewife, 50
Maynard S. Aitken, piledriver, 46
Minerva T. Fuller, housewife, 62
Margaret MacDonald, housekeeper, 22, moved here in the past year from 12 Edwin
Angus A. Martin, realtor, 54
John A Margin, student, 22
Rubina Martin, housewife, 52
1934
Maynard Aitken, carpenter, 49
Minerva Aitken, clerk, 51
Minerva Fuler, teacher, 65
AngusA. Martin, builder, 55
Clyde M. Martin, student, 20
John A. Martin, student, 22
Reubina Martin, housewife, 49
Margaret McDonald, student, 23
1935
Maynard Aitken, carpenter, 48
Minerva Aitken, housewife, 53
Minerva Fuller, teacher, 65
Angus A. Martin, architect, 56
Clyde M. Martin, student, 21
John A. Martin, student, 23
Reubina J. Martin, housewife, 51
1936
Maynard S. Aitken, carpenter, 48
Minerva Aitken, housewife, 49
Angus A. Martin, carpenter, 57
Clyde M. Martin, student 22
John A. Martin, 24
Reubina J. Martin, housewife, 51
1937
Maynard Aitken, laborer, 50
Minerva Aitken, housewife, 50
Margaret MacDonald, saleswoman 26
Angus A. Martin, builder, 58
Clyde Martin, student, 23
John A. Martin, student, 25
Rubena Martin, housewife, 53
1938
Earl McMann, secretary, 41
Grace McMann, housewife, 40
Catherine E. Dowling, laundress, 21
Edith M. Dowling, housewife, 39
1939
Bessie Arenburg, housewife, 62, moved here n the past year from 28 Alexander
Edward M. Arenburg, metalworker, 68, moved here in the past year from 28 Alexaner
Kathleen Devine, clerk, 20, moved here in the past year from 106 Westville
Michael Devine, painter, 48, moved here in the past year from 106 Westville
Julia DosSantos, housewife, 22, moved here in the past year from 120 West
Louis DosSantos,sorter, 26, moved here in the past year from 120 West
Nettie Saunders, boxmaker, 66, moved here in the past year from 37 Mallet
1940
Charles A. Dwyer, student, 24, moved here n the past year from 28 Matchett
Joseph Horgan, clerk, 30, moved here in the past year from 70 St. John
Mary E. Horgan, clerk, 28, moved here in the past year from 128 Norfolk
John Warren, policeman, 50, moved here in the past year from 28 Matchett
Lydia C. Warren, housewife, 47, moved here n the past year from 28 Matchett
1941
Joseph L. Horgan, jobber, 37
Mary H. Horgan, housewife, 33
Jessie Warren, stenographer, 21
John Warren, policeman, 48
Lydia Warren, housewife, 48
1942
Hubert Evans, armorer, 45, moved here in the past year from 1312A Dor Av
Mary Evans, housewife, 43, moved here in the past year from 1312A Dor Av
Dorothey Flynn, housewife, 21, moved here in the past year from 1312A Dor Av
James D. Glynn, welder, 24, moved here in the past year from 1312A Dor Av
John P. Kelly, guard, 26, moved here in the past year from 724 E Sixth
Ruth M. Kelley, housewife, 21, moved here in the past year from 18 Plain
1943
Dorothea Flynn, housewife,24
James Flynn, welder, 26
1944
no one listed at 6 Fairfax Street this year
1945
Ermina Brayton, teacher, 55
Doris A. Butts, housewife, 41
Frederick J. Butts, machinist, 42
1946
Ermina L. Braytton, housekeeper, 66
Doris A. Butts, housewife, 42
Anna Casey, saleswoman, 32
1947
Charles R. Butts, student, 20
Doris A. Butts, housewife, 43
1948
Ermina L. Brayton, housekeeper, 55
Charles R. Butts, student, 21
Doris A. Butts, housewife, 44
1949
Ermina Brayton, housewife, 55
Charles Butts, student, 22
Doris Butts, housewife, 44
1950
Josephine Coleman, saleswoman, 40, moved here in the past year from 28 Alexaner
Denton Hall, salesman, 27, moved here in the past year from Indiana
Marjorie Hall, housewife, 28, moved here in the past year from Indiana
1951
Denton Hall, salesman, 28
Marjorie Hall, housewife, 29
1952
John C. Beaver, manager, 28, moved here in the past year from Cambridge
Laura J. Beaver, secretary, 24, moved here in the past year from Cambridge
Ruth Gearin, clerk, 30, moved here in the past year from Dedham
Virginia McGovern, clerk, 40, moved here in the past year from 1 Nottingham
Martha Ozols, attendant, 46
Nicholas Ozols, clergyman, 41
Apolonia, Sztucniski, housewife, 68, moved here in the past year from 14 Clare Av
John Sztucniski, retired, 68, moved here in the past year from 14 Clare Ave
1953
Georgina Hendickson, housewife, 24, moved her in the past year from California
James Hendickson, U S N, 28
Eleanor Summering, clerk, 20, moved here in the past year from 26 Cameron
John Summering, mechanic, 23, moved here in the past year from 6 Tovar
1954
Ruth Gowin, clerk, 35
Viola MacDonald, clerk, 30, moved here in the past year from 540 Talbot Av
Eleanor Summering, housewife, 21
John Summering, mechanic, 24
1955
John T. Gatie, Student, 23
Lois A. Gatie, nurse, 21
Antonio Gobbi, carpenter, 57, moved here in the past year from Arlington
Lena Gobbi, housewife, 54, moved here in the past year from Arlington
1956
John T. Gatie, student, 24
Lois Gatie, nurse, 22
Ruth Gerran, waitress, 40
Ann McDonough, waitress, 45, moved here in the past year from 41 Wrnetham
Catherine McDonough, housewife, 53, moved here in the past year from 12 Penhallow
Margaret McDonough, nurse, 24, moved here in the past year from 12 Penhallow
Miles McDonough, woolhandler, 61, moved here in the past year from 12 Penhallow
William J. McDonough, student, 22, moved here in the past year from 12 Penhallow
1957
Ruth Gerran, waitress, b. 1916
Georgina Hendrickson, housewife, b. 1928
James Hendrickson, clerk, b. 1924
Eleanor Simmering, clerk, b. 1932
John Simmering, mechanic, b. 1932
1958
Dorothy F. Conway, housewife, b. 1915
Faye D. Conway, clerk, b. 1933, moved here in the past year from Dedham
Margaret A. Conway, student, b. 1935
Walter M. Conway, batterymkr, b. 1909
Joseph Harrington, janitor, b. 1910, moved here in the past year from 11 Florida
1959
Dorothy F. Conway, housewife, b. 1915
Faye D. Conway, clerk, b. 1933
Margaret A. Conway, student, b. 1935
Walter M. Conway, batterymkr, b. 1909
Joseph W. Harrington, b. 1906
Elizabeth Scanlon, clerk, b. 1926, moved here in the past year from Cambridge
1960
Dorothy F. Conway, housewife, b. 1915
Faye D. Conway, clerk, b. 1933
Margaret A. Conway, teacher, b. 1935
Walter M. Conway, maintenance, b. 1909
Angus H. MacDonald, retired, b. 1874
Elizabeth M. Scanlon, clerk, b. 1925
1961
Dorothy F. Conway, housewife, b. 1915
Faye D. Conway, clerk, b. 1933
Walter M. Conway, maintenance, b. 1909
Angus H. MacDonald, retired, b. 1874
Elizabeth W. Scanlon, clerk, 1925
1962
Dorothy F. Conway, housewife, b. 1915
Faye D. Conway, clerk, b. 1933
Walter M. Conway, maintenance, b. 1909
Angus H. MacDonald, retired, b. 1874
Elizabeth M. Scanlon, clerk, b. 1925
1963
Dorothy F. Conway, housewife, b. 1915
Faye D. Conway, clerk, b. 1933
Walter M. Conway, maintenance, b. 1909
Elizabeth M. Scanlon, clerk, b. 1925
1964
Dorothy F. Conway, housewife, b. 1915
Faye D. Conway, clerk, b. 1933
Walter M. Conway, laborer, b. 1909
Walter M. Conway Jr., clerk, b. 1943
Elizabeth M. Scanlon, clerk, b. 1925
1965
Austra Fricker, at home, b. 1916, moved here in the past year from 70 Mora
Bruno G. Fricker, restwkr, b. 1910, moved here in the past year from 70 Mora
Elizabeth M. Scanlon, clerk, b. 1925
1966
Austra Fricker, at home, b. 1916, moved here in the past year from 70 Mora
Bruno G. Fricker, restwkr, b. 1910, moved here in the past year from 70 Mora
Elizabeth M. Scanlon, clerk, b. 1925
2019 – Robert Chicoski
from online directory of tax preparers
https://www.ptindirectory.com/tax-preparers/massachusetts/dorchester-center-ma/912814/robert-chicoski-cpa/robert-chicoski-cpa
Robert Chicoski, CPA, 6 Fairfax Street, Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deed restrictions
Some of the estates purchased by merchants and others who moved to Dorchester in the mid-19th century were improved with houses typical of the architecture in favor at that time: the Italianate Mansard. Other estates retained their earlier homes. Later in the century as these owners began to sub-divide their land, deed restrictions were sometimes imposed to preserve the character of the neighborhoo, especially it seems by those sellers who intended to continue living in their own houses and probably also as a way of maintaining high values for future sales.
When Herbert Shaw Carruth deeded the lot at 6 Fairfax in 1893 to William Peard, he included a deed restriction formulated by himself and Eugene B. Thomas. Thomas had purchased the lot at the corner of Beaumont and Fairfax Streets on March 9, 1889, with the restriction that prior to January 1, 1910, no stable shall be built there and no building and no part of a building shall be erected within 48 feet of Beaumont Street or 35 feet of Fairfax Street. (Suffolk County Registry 1865/489). The wording of the restriction was revised in July, 1890, and the new restriction appears in the deed from Carruth to Peard.
“The premises are subject to the restriction set out in the agreement between Eugene B. Thomas and myself dated July 31, 1890 and recorded with said Deeds Liber 1951 Page 249.”
From Book 1951/249 “Whereas Herbert S. Carruth and Eugene B. Thomas both of Boston … are the owners of adjoining parcels of land, situated on the Westerly side of Fairfax Street … and said parties desire to impose certain restrictions upon their said estates … until the first day of January A. D. 1910 hold their respective estates, subject to the following restrictions, to wit: No stable shall be placed or used upon either of said estates; No building or part of any shall be placed nearer than thirty-five feet to the Westerly line of Fairfax Street, and no building except private dwelling houses for one family shall be placed upon either of said estates.”
Tucci in the book Ashmont p. 41 says: “… even on his biggest lots Carruth clearly wanted no stables of any kind: a radical solution by n apparently very fastidious man to a perennial problem of the suburb, where the odors (and flied!) caused by horses, to say nothing of other things, led to problems unknown on an estate where the nearest house not a few yards but a few acres away. Tucci says the solution was the Fairfax Club Stables, with an entrance on nearby Minot Street, where neighbors served as trustees. The location of the stables is shown on the map detail provided above.[3]
other Deed restrictions
In regard to the west end of Jones Hill, Tucci wrote, “When one recalls that throughout the whole twenty-five-year development of these blocks virtually all the lots for sale were … sold with deed covenants requiring houses of similar character to those already built (‘not detrimental to a first-class residential area,’), one begins to suspect how carefully the development of these two blocks was controlled by a group of people whose mutual connections and interests are so evident.”[4]
The deed for 2 Wilbur Street on Jones Hill from Henry C. McDuffee to Phebe B. Chamberlin dated July 29, 1875, Suffolk Country Registry 1281/57 has a deed restriction: “Said premises are conveyed subject to the following restrictions, that no buildings that may be erected upon said lots shall be used or occupied for any purpose which shall be detrimental to the neighborhood for first class residences and that no buildings shall be erected on said lots which shall cost less than forty five hundred dollars.”
The deed for 49 Roslin Street on Ashmont Hill from George D. Welles to Ann T. Dunbar dated August 13, 1875, Suffolk County Registry of Deeds 1281/141 has a deed restriction: “This conveyance is made on the following stipulations and agreements; that the said grantee, her heirs and assigns shall not, for a period of twenty years from the first day of January, A.D. 1872, erect on the granted premises any buildings or parts thereof, which shall be used or occupied for any other purposes than dwelling houses and private stables belonging to the same, and buildings usually appurtenant to private dwelling houses, that for the same period, no building, or part of any, and no fence over six feet high shall be erected within twenty feet of said Roslin Street, except that door steps, porticoes, cornices, piazzas and bay windows may project into said reserved space of twenty feet; that tor the same period not more than one dwelling house with its stable and out building aforesaid will be permitted to stand on the premises at any one time; nor shall any dwelling house, during said period, be erected on the premises which shall be inferior in appearance to the one now standing thereon and said Welles reserves for himself, his heirs and assigns, the right to enter upon the premises by his or their agents, ant at the expense of the party at fault to remove or alter in conformity with the above stipulations, any building or portion thereof which may be erected on the premises by said grantee, her heirs or assigns in a manner or to a use contrary to the above stipulations.”
[1] Paul Douglass Shand-Tucci. Ashmont. An Historical Guide to Peabody Square, Carruth’s Hill, and Ashmont Hill and the architecture of Edwin J. Lewis, Jr. and John A. Fox. (Dorchester: Dorchester Historical Society, 1991), 13-53.
[2] Edward W. Gordon. AREA FORM for Carruth Street/Peabody Square area from Boston Landmarks Commission prepared as part of 1994 Survey of Dorchester. (May, 1995).
[3] Tucci. Ashmont, 40.
[4] Douglass Shand Tucci. Built in Boston: City & Suburb. (Boston, 1978), 82.