No. 11965 77 Bailey Street, photograph April 14, 2005, from Andrew Saxe.
Date of construction: by 1824
Now a three-family house, 77 Bailey Street at one time had frontage on Dorchester Avenue. James B. Conant, later President of Harvard University, was born here. Subdivision of the lot and development of housing between 1910 and 1918 encroached on the front yard, so that the house now has its Bailey Street address. Four three-deckers were built on the former front yard—three facing Dorchester Avenue and one facing Bailey Street between the other three and the old house.
20368 Detail from Bromley Atlas 1910 showing Conant property before subdivision
20369 Detail from Bromley Atlas 1918 showing property after subdivision
The following is from the book Ashmont by Douglass Shand Tucci
p 72 citing the Dorchester Beacon in 1897
J.S. Conant of the firm of J. S. Conant & Co., the well-known wood engravers … took [a] barren tract of land, about two years since, which faces Bailey Street, and … besides building a number of nice residences there himself, he has sold several lots to other good builders. … Mr. Conant, for the past 16 years, has occupied that grand, old-time mansion at the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Bailey Street. [This historic house, now neglected, alas, is today 77 Bailey Street, visible from Ashmont Station.]
Owners from maps and atlases:
1831 Bailey
1850 no name
1874 Manuel Silva
1884 J.O. Conant
1889 Jeannette Conant
1894 Jeannette O. Conant; the house is now numbered 1937 Dorchester Avenue
1898, 1898, 1904, 1910 Jeannette O. Conant
1918 subdivision has occurred and the old house is now owned by Flora E. Blaisdell; house is numbered 85 Bailey Street
1933 Guardian Co-Op Bank
Deed
September 22, 1871 from Benjamin B. Newhall of Boston to Frances D. Silva, wife of Manuel Silva, of Boston 1070.274
consideration $12,000 parcel with the buildings thereon
being part of the premises conveyed on
December 1, 1869 from Alexander C. Washburn and Ellen M. Washburn, Frank Moore, Laura M. Moore to Benjamin B. Newhall 990.69
consideration $13,500 9 and 848/1000 acres parcel with the buildings thereon
being the estate of Hon. John Bailey by descent to his three children John A. Bailey, Ellen M. Washburn and Laura M. Moore
November 15, 1862 from John Bailey to Ellen M. Washburn and Laura M. Moore 310.199
about 9 1/2 acres parcel of land with the buildings thereon
being the estate of which 2 undivided third parts were conveyed to me by the said Ellen M. Washburn and Laura M. Moore and their husbands
Nov. 25, 1862 from Frank Moore and Laura M. Moore to John A. Bailey 310.129
undivided third part Frank Moore Alexander Washburn appear to be executors/administrators
Nov. 25, 1862 from Alexander Washburn, Ellen M. Washburn Frank Moore to John A. Bailey 310.129
undivided third part
Sept. 14, 1824 from Edward Richmond to John Bailey of Canton 72.234
consideration $1,300 6 acres 1/4 and eleven rods with all the buildings thereon
September 10, 1819 from Samuel Perkins to Edward Richmond 61.146
consideration $600 6 acres 1/4 and eleven rods no mention of building
Subdivision plan is at 1008.212. This property is included in the subdivision without a lot number.
Dorchester Blue Books
As 1937 Dorchester Avenue:
1894, 1896 Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Conant
1900, 1902, 1904 Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Conant, Sum. Res. Danbury, N.H.
1906, 1908, 1910 Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Conant
1913 no entry
1915 no entry
Boston Directory
1870 Benjamin B. Newhall, 34 Old State House, house Dorchester ave, c. Ashmont, Wd 16
1871 Benjamin B. Newhall, 5 Pemberton square, house Dorchester Avenue, cor. Bailey, wd.16
1872 Benjamin B. Newhall, 5 Pemberton square, house Dix, near Harrison sq wd 16
1873 Benjamin B. Newhall, 5 Pemberton square, house Centre, between Adams and Dorchester Avenue
1874 Benjamin B. Newhall, 28 School rm 54, h. King between Adams and Dorchester ave, wd.16
1875 Benjamin B. Newhall, 28 Schoo., room 54, h. King, ward 16
1876 Benjamin B. New Hall, h. King, Dorch.
1877 no entry