Hannah T. Bliss House, 151 Adams Street
No. 18970 Residence of Mrs. Hannah T. Bliss and Sons 1908
This real photo post card shows the home of Mrs. Hannah T. Bliss and Sons in 1908. The house was located at 151 Adams Street, and the land on which it stood has been incorporated into Ronan Park. The location is the southern corner of the park where it faces Adams Street. Hannah acquired the property on June 17, 1893, from Pierce heirs and lived there until her death in 1910.
There is a small sign in the front yard next to the wooden stairs that says Dr. Bliss.
Cyrus Bliss, a farmer, and Hannah Bliss were born in Rehoboth, married there and had children Frederick and George. The non-population census for agriculture in 1880 reported that Cyrus had 117 acres of land; value of the farm $2,000; value of equipment $250; value of live stock $390; and an estimated value of yearly production of $1,000. Cyrus died April 4, 1883.
Hannah and her sons moved to Boston, and city directories have entries for Hannah at 184 Adams before acquiring the house in the photograph at 151 Adams Street.
The entry in the 1910 census includes Hannah at age 82; Frederick W Bliss, 57, a lawyer; George D. Bliss 54, a physician in general practice; and Mary Jenning, 23, a servant who immigrated in 1902 from Ireland.
Hannah died on November 9, 1910, of a cerebral hemorrhage, and her son George signed the death certificate. Dorchester undertakers R. & E. F. Gleason arranged the funeral, and Hannah was buried in Rehoboth.
The 1918 atlas shows the house had been demolished, and the parcel was incorporated into the park. The park was named for Father Peter Ronan (1842–1917), first pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Dorchester.
Title history
February 25, 1853 Agreement to John Pierce 215.238
Partition of estate of John Pierce – creation of the side street
September 22, 1871 John Peirce to Mary L. Peirce 1071.57
With a dwelling house thereon 7/8 interest
Part of the estate of John Pierce set off to his widow
September 22, 1871 Edmund J. Baker, guardian, 1071.57, a 1/8 interest
June 17, 1893 Joseph R. Churchill and Emily P. Robinson, executors of the will of Elizabeth E. Peirce to Hannah T. Bliss 2137.456, 32,640 square feet
June 17, 1893 Anna Patterson and Mary A. Patterson, devisees under the will of Elizabeth E. Peirce to Hannah T. Bliss 2137.457
December 14, 1912 Hannah T. Bliss estate to City of Boston for playground 3695.25
Owners from atlases:
1874 Mrs. Mary L. Pierce
1884 Mary L. Pierce
1889 Mary L. Pierce Hrs
1894 Hannah T. Bliss
1898 Hannah T. Bliss
1904 Hannah T. Bliss
1910 Hannah T. Bliss – this is the last atlas where the house appears
Dorchester Taxable Valuation
1869 15,008 ft land on Adams Street