No. 8451 William Johnston, 1870-1965–digital photo provided by Dr. William Johnston who owned the house at 206 Norfolk Street.
From American Series of Popular Biographies. Massachusetts Edition. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston: Graves & Steinbarger, 1891.
No. 8449 206 Norfolk Street, home of Dr. William Johnston
No. 8452 Dr William Johnston in sleigh
No. 8453 Mary E. Johnston
No. 8454 Johnston brothers of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from left Richard, a Boston lawyer; John, priest, PEI; William, physician, boston; and James, lawyer in PEI.
WILLIAM JOHNSTON, C.M., M.D., a rising young physician and surgeon of Dorchester, possesses an excellent knowledge of his profession, and by study endeavors to keep pace with the improvements in medicine and surgery known and practised in this country or in foreign lands. He was born August 24, 1870, in Charlestown, Prince Edward Island.
His father, John Johnston, was born and bred in the north of Ireland. He emigrated; and settling in Prince Edward Island, he married, and he and his wife reared their family.
William Johnson, after acquiring the rudiments of his education in the district schools of Charlottetown, completed the curriculum at St. Dunstan’s College. He entered the medical department of McGill University, Montreal, from which he was graduated with honors in the class of 1897. Coming to Boston soon after, Dr. Johnston located himself on Norfolk Street, Dorchester, where he has built up a successful practice.
He is connected by membership with many of the leading local societies, being Chief Ranger and Court Physician of the M.C.O.F., Council Physician of Knights of Columbus, Medical Examiner of the New England Order of Protection and of the A.O.U.W.,* member of the Lauriat Avenue Improvement Association, president of the Prince Edward Island Club, Prince Regnant and Physician of Loyal Knights and Ladies, president of Norfolk Associates, and member of the Maritime Provincial Club and of the Home Outing Club.
On June 14, 1899, Dr. Johnston married Miss Nellie McAndrew, of Montreal, a daughter of M.J. McAndrew. Her father, who was born in Ireland, removed to Scotland, thence to Canada, where he lived but a few years before coming to the United States to make his permanent home.
*A.O.U.W. Ancient Order of United Workmen.
the following is [written by granddaughter, mother of Mark]
Dr and Mrs William Johnston began their life in Dorchester at 206 Norfolk st. This was the original home and medical office. The house came with a large amount of land which Dr Johnston built upon over the years. He built a larger home at 210 Norfolk St., which had a separate wing from the home for an office complex. The family section had six bedrooms plus housekeepers quarters. Dr. Johnston then constructed a 2 family home on Stanton St.,( Nos 4-6) where his two daughters lived when they married. He renovated the original 206 address into a 3 family home and built another 3 family next to it, at 204 Norfolk. He also constructed buildings in the rear, for his horses ,carriages and sleighs which were necessary for visiting patients and hospitals. These building were later made into garages with the automobile age. Dr and Mrs Johnston also owned a home in Hull on Gallops Hill. Dr Johnston enjoyed his cabin cruiser which he moored at the Neponset Marina. Mrs Johnston was a soloist and organist at St. Matthews church and sang many of the memorial and funerals masses held there. She was always ready to contribute her musical talents when needed. She was an avid bridge player.
Dr. Johnston developed emphysema and died in 1953 at the age of 83. The house at 210 Norfolk was made into 3 apartments after his death. Mrs Johnston lived in one of these apartments until her death in 1965 at 95 .