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7 Chandler Street
Built for
Christopher McGrane
Grocer
1895
Researched and written by Connie Barlow
June 2022
Historic Salem, Inc
The Bowditch House
9 North Street, Salem, MA, 01970
(978) 745-0799| HistoricSalem.org
© 2022
1
�Courtesy of City of Salem Assessor’s Office
In the decades following the Civil War Salem’s population was growing as new leather, shoe and
textile factories opened, including a third factory building for the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company
built in 1865. As Salem became more densely built-up, new residential housing was being built further
north of town, in what was designated as Ward 6, to the east and west of North Street where previously
small farms and homes with large lots had lined the road towards Danvers. Savvy businessmen,
investors and developers began to buy up tracts of land with the intent of dividing them into building
lots for new homes. Today the names of some of those early investors can be gleaned from street
2
�names in the area. To the west of North Street in the vicinity of School Street were found Symonds,
Balcomb and Chandler Streets. One might surmise that Northend Street derived its name from its
location in this north end of town; however, Northend was named for another investor in this area,
William D. Northend, a prominent attorney in Salem who lived for a while on School Street with his wife
and family.1 In 1874 Northend and his wife, Susan, sold a parcel of land without a building, to Otis P.
Lord of Salem for $800.2 The land is described in the deed as follows:
“. . . commencing at School Street East by School Street 150 feet 9 inches to Symonds Street, turning
and running North by Symonds 372 feet to a stake, turning and running South 290 feet to School Street
at the beginning.”
The street that was to become Chandler Street was not yet named, if indeed such an actual street
existed at that time.
Otis Lord was someone even more prominent than William Northend: he served as a judge in
the Massachusetts Superior Court, had an office on Washington Street and resided at 16 North Street.3
Judge Lord held the parcel of land in Ward 6 for 10 years and had not developed it at the time of
his death in March of 1884.4 Three years later, in 1887, Christopher McGrane bought the land from
Lord’s estate, Benjamin Kimbell acting as executor, for $1,600.5
1
1860; Census Place: Salem Ward 6, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll: M653_497; Page: 211; Family History
Library Film: 80349
2
Salem Registry of Deeds, 901-168
3
Salem City Directory, 1874.
4
Salem City Directory, 1884
5
Salem Registry of Deeds, 1194-136
3
�Christopher McGrane was a very successful grocer in Salem who had a store on Harbor Street
which he lived above in 1882.6 It was not until the 1890-91 Salem Directory that a Chandler Street is first
listed in the City Directory “from School to Symond.” The first two houses built on the street were #8
and #10.7 (However, there is a gap in the City Directories from 1887 to 1889 so the exact date of the
construction of those houses cannot be ascertained from that information.) By 1894 there were two
more houses listed on Chandler at # 9 and #11.8 That same Directory indicated that McGrane himself
had moved into a residence at 14 Dearborn Street in Ward 6, Salem, on the east side of North Street. His
purchase of the house on Dearborn might be seen as an indication that McGrane’s wealth was
increasing because in the next Salem City Directory, 1895-96, it Is learned that he had built a house on
the land at #7 Chandler Street, most likely intending for It to be an income generating property. The
house was a simple 1-1/2 story Cape style which later would have a double dormer added to the second
floor.
The first tenant was Frederick W, Mozart, a retired carpenter.9 Mr. Mozart passed away at the age of
71 on April 12, 1896,10 which suggests that he lived in the house for less than a year in 1895. That would
mean that Christopher McGrane built #7 Chandler in 1895.
The Salem Atlas, 1897 (Plates 8) showed the house at #7 Chandler as belonging to C. McGrane.
Around the corner facing on School Street is another large, two-family house, #63 and #65, labeled as
6
Salem City Directory, 1882
7
Salem City Directory, 1890-91
8
Salem City Directory, 1893-1894
9
Salem City Directory, 1895-1896.
10
New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840-
1911
4
�belonging to C. McGrane.11 Mr. McGrane apparently decided that land and rental units were a good
investment and a source of steady income.
The next tenant at 7 Chandler was a widow, Eliza A Cann, who shared the house with her
daughter, Florence, a teacher at Pickering School, and a son, Frederick, a student.12 The Cann family
lived there until Fred completed school in 1902, at which time they relocated to Chicago where Fred was
employed as a salesman of school supplies.13
John P. Tolan, a gardener, and his wife Winifred, were the next to rent #7 Chandler Street for
four years.14 They moved out when they were able to buy their own home in Ward 6, Salem.15
11
Salem Atlas 1897, Plate 8
12
Salem City Directory 1897-98
13
1910 Federal Census Place: Chicago Ward 6, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_246; Page: 8A; Enumeration
District: 0373; FHL microfilm: 1374259
14
Salem City Directory, 1903-1904,1905, 1906, 1907
15
1910 Federal Census Place: Salem Ward 6, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_587; Page: 15B; Enumeration
District: 0478; FHL microfilm: 1374600
16
Salem City Directory, 1908, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1921
5
�Alfred C Chase, a machinist at Morocco Machine, and his wife Grace succeeded the Tolans, first
renting the house on Chandler in 1908 and continuing to reside there until 1921.16 During their time in
the house, they were joined for a year (1916-1917) by daughter Ethel, and, in 1918, by John R, Chase
and his wife Margaret. Laura Chase, another daughter, identified as a “shoeworker,” was listed at the
address in 1921.
In July 1921 Christopher McGrane sold the property on Chandler Street to Charles S. Johnson.17
Perhaps McGrane was already in poor health and desired to liquidate some assets prior to his death; he
expired in 1922.18 However, in less than a month, August 1921, Johnson sold #7 Chandler to Speros and
17
Salem Registry of Deeds, 2487-475
18
Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current [database on-line].
Lehi, UT, USA
6
�Mary Scourtas.19 Not quite a year later the Scourtas’ sold the house and land to Weston A. Hamilton in
June 1922.20
Weston Alexander Hamilton was 32 years old when in bought #7 Chandler Street. He was single,
living and working as an instructor and in charge of the poultry and swine at the Wrentham State School,
a residential facility run by the state of Massachusetts for “the feeble-minded.”21The house he had
purchased was lived in by his mother, Jennie B. Hamilton, along with Weston’s sister Gertrude and her
husband, Martin Kelley.22 It was also Weston’s home when he had time off from his employment at the
Wrentham School. Kelley was employed as a machinist at the leather factory of A.C. Lawrence Company.
The couple had two daughters, Olive and Marion, who were ages 6 and 5, respectively, at the time the
family moved into #7.23 In the 1930 Census, Gertrude Hamilton Kelley was listed as working in a laundry
as a “clother slube.”24
Jennie Hamilton continued to reside with her daughter and son-in-law until around 1940. After
that she was no longer listed as a resident at 7 Chandler in the Salem City Directory. In 1941 Martin and
Gertrude Kelley and their daughters were listed in the Directory. Marion was employed as a clerk at Met
19
Salem Registry of Deeds, 2490-376
20
Salem Registry of Deeds, 2521-518
21
1930 U.S. Federal Census Place: Wrentham, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Page: 17B; Enumeration
District: 0147; FHL microfilm: 2340672
22
Salem City Directory, 1924
23
1940 U.S. Federal Census Place: Salem, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll: m-t0627-01589; Page: 2A;
Enumeration District: 5-369
24
1930; Census Place: Salem, Essex, Massachusetts; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0266; FHL
microfilm: 2340638
7
�Life Insurance. Jennie was not listed. Then in 1942 Martin Kelley and daughter Olive, a teacher at
Pickering School, were the only two residing at #7: neither Gertrude nor Marion was listed.25 Marion
was boarding at 86 Broadway and worked as a waitress. No date was found for Gertrude’s death nor the
exact date of the death of her mother, Jennie.
When the United Sates entered World War II, Weston Hamilton was 52 years old. His Draft
Registration card in 1942 stated that he was “Retired and Disabled.”26 It was not surprising then to find
that Weston was living in the house he owned at #7 Chandler Street full time with Martin and Olive
Kelley; the house became his primary residence.27
In 1946 Weston Hamilton had an opportunity to acquire a parcel of land abutting his property on
Chandler, a portion of the land behind the house on School Street that C. McGrane was shown owning
on the 1897 Atlas Map. The land was bought from Morris and Eudis Beim.28 The parcel had been sold off
from Christopher McGrane’s estate by his sister, Catherine J. Hannon, the executrix, in 1923.29 In that
same year, 1946, Weston’s father, Robert R. Hamilton, moved into #7 with him and Martin and Olive
25
Salem City Directory, 1942
26
The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War Ii Draft Cards (Fourth Registration)
For the State of Massachusetts; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group
Number: 147; Series Number: M209
27
Salem City Directory, 1944, 1945
28
Salem Registry of Deeds, 3469-321
29
Salem Registry of Deeds, 2551-03
8
�Kelley. The four continued to share the house until Robert Hamilton expired in 1952.30 Meanwhile,
Weston took a position as a clerk at Joseph B.F. Seeley & Co.31
After Robert Hamilton’s death, Weston and his brother-in-law Martin continued to share the house
but Olive Kelley moved out to reside at The Emmerton House Women’s Friend Society on Hawthorne
Boulevard.32 By 1954 Weston was living alone in the house. Martin Kelley had moved to Federal Street,
remarried and worked as a janitor at the Peabody Museum. Anna Kelley, his new wife, worked as credit
manager at Kay Jewelry.33 Martin Kelley expired six years later in 1961.34
30
Massachusetts, U.S., Death Index, 1901-1980
31
Salem City Directory, 1949
32
Salem City Directory, 1952
33
Salem City Directory, 1955
34
Salem City Directory, 1961
9
�Weston Hamilton continued to live alone on Chandler Street until Olive moved back in with her
uncle in 1966. By then Weston had retired from his clerking job; Olive was employed by the IRS. 35 Uncle
and niece shared Chandler Steet until Weston Alexander Hamilton’s death in 1983.36 Olive Kelley
continued to live in the house until 1991, just before she and her sister, Marion Kelley Rice, who had
inherited the property together from their uncle, sold the house to Charles S. Poirie for $80,000r.37 After
the sale of the house, Olive resided at Brookhouse Home for Aged Women on Derby Street.38
Charles Poirier never lived at #7 Chandler Street. He appeared to have purchased the house to
“flip” it at a profit. There was a building permit issued for the property to one Charles McInnes in July
1992 for renovation of the kitchen, bathroom, new windows, two storm doors and repair of plaster
walls and ceilings.39Once the renovations were completed, Poirier sold the house in August 1993 to
David M. Gilbert and his wife Rebecca Gilbert for $128,900.40The Gilberts resided in the house for 7
years. David was employed by Unite Parcel Service and Rebecca was listed as “at home” in the City of
Salem Annual Listing.41
35
Salem City Directory, 1966
36
Massachusetts, U.S., Death Index, 1970-2003 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations Inc, 2005.
37
Salem Registry of Deeds, 11264-452
38
Salem City Directory, 1993
39
City of Salem Building Permit, July 13, 1992, 307-92
40
Salem Registry of Deeds, 12061-118
41
City of Salem Annual Listing, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001
10
�The property changed hands again in 2002 when it was sold by David and Rebecca Gilbert to
James and Susan Flaherty 42James Flaherty worked as a fabrications manager and Susan Flaherty was an
Executive Assistant.43 After 6 years the house was once again sold, this time to Robert A. and Jennifer
Pavenski.44Bob Pavenski was a sales manager; Jennifer listed her occupation as a photographer.45
For a period of three years, 2012 t0 2015, no one was listed as living at #7 Chandler Street in the City
of Salem Annual Listings. Then in February of 2016, Michael W Fleming, a scientist, and Jacob Quiring, a
farmer,46 purchased the house and property from Robert Pavenski and Jennifer “Rotondo.”47They lived
there until the current owners, Kate Martin and John Daly, bought the house in 2021.48
42
Salem Registry of Deeds, 18389-510
43
City of Salem Annual Listing, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
44
Salem Registry of Deeds, 25470-15
45
City of Salem Annual Listing, 2010
46
City of Salem Annual Listing, 2917
47
Salem Registry of Deeds, 34744-053
48
Salem Registry of Deeds, 40428-071
11
�1874 Atlas Map, Plate Q
12
�1897 Atlas (Plate 8) detail showing two properties owned by C. McGrane.
13
�Salem City Directory, 1874
Salem City Directory, 1878
14
�Building Permit, 1992
Ownership Table
15
�Property
Owner
Otis Lord
Christopher
McGrane
Charles S.
Johnson
Date
Purchased
April 6,
1874
January
8,1887
July
6,1921
Years
Number
of
of Years
Ownership
187413
1887
years
188734
1921
years
1921
>1 year
Sporos
Scourtas, Mary
Scourtas, Peter
Pastas
Weston A,
Hamilton
August
12, 1921
19211922
June 24,
1922
19221992
John and Mary
Egan, Catherine
Tracy
Morris Beim,
Eudis Beim
Weston A,
Hamilton
April 17,
1923
19231927
Charles S,
Poirier
David M.
Gilbert
James E, and
Susan Flaherty
Robert
Pavenski and
Jennifer Rotondo
Jacob Quiring
and Michael W,
Fleming
Kate Martin.
and John Daly
April
29,1992
August
13, 1993
February
28, 2002
March 17,
2006
19932001
20022006
20062016
February
29, 2016
20162021
December
192720, 1927
1946
July 16,
19461946
1992
October
21, 2021
1992
2021+
Purchase
Price
Documents
Referenced
Notes
$800.00
901-168
$1,600.00
1194-136
$1 and
other
considerations
For
consideration
paid
2487-475
2490-376
Parcel #1 with
building
2521-518
Parcel #1 with
building
>1 year
$1 and
other
considerations
From Estate
of Christopher
McGrane
$1 and
consideration
$1 and
other
considerations
$80,000.00
8 years
$128,900.00
4 years
>1 year
70
years
4 years
19
years
46
years
10
years
5 years
Land parcel #1
Parcel #1 from
Estate of Otis Lord
Parcel #1 with
building
2551-03
Land parcel #2
2750-437
Parcel #2
3469-321
Parcel #2 land
11264-452
12061-118
Land with building,
Estate of W. Hamilton
Land with building
$245,000.00
18389-510
Land with building
$298,000.00
25470-15
Land with building
$312,500.00
34744-053
Land with building
$541,000.00
40428-071
Residents Table
16
�DIRECTORY YEAR
1895-1896
1897-1902
1897-1902
1897-1902
1903-1907
1908-1921
1908-1921
1916-1917
1918-1920
1918-1920
1920-1921
1922-1923
1922-1923
1924-1983
1924-1940
1924-1953
1924-1941
1924-1952; 1964-1991
1924-1942
1946-1952
1994-2001
1994-2001
2002-2006
2002-2005
2006-2011
2006-2011
2016-2021
2016-2021
2021-present
2021-present
RESIDENTS
Frederick Mozart
Eliza Cann
Florence E. Cann
Frederick V. Cann
John P. Tolan
Albert C, Chase
Grace E. Chase
Ethel Chase
John R, Chase
Margaret Chase
Laura Chase
Speros Scourtes
Mary Scourtes
Weston A. Hamilton
Jennie B. Hamilton
Martin Kelley
Gertrude Hamilton Kelley
Olive Kelley
Marion Kelley
Robert R. Hamilton
David Gilbert
Rebecca Gilbert
James Flaherty
Susan Flaherty
Bob Pavenski
Jennifer Pavenski
Michael W. Fleming
Jacob Quiring
Kate Martin
John Daly
OCCUPATION OR NOTES
Retired carpenter
Widow
Teacher, Pickering School
Student
Gardener for the city
Machinist
Homemaker
Lamp worker (glassworks)
Gardener
Homemaker
Shoeworker
Shoe cutter
Homemaker
Instructor, state school
Homemaker
Machinist
Laundry slube
Teacher
Clerk; waitress
Retired
Employed by UPS
Homemaker
Fabrication manager
Executive assistant
Sales manager
Photographer
Scientist
Farmer
17
������������������
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Chandler Street
Historic Salem, Inc. House History
A resource made available by Historic Salem, Inc. detailing the history of Salem's houses.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
7 Chandler Street, Salem, MA, 01970
Subject
The topic of the resource
House History
Description
An account of the resource
Built for
Christopher McGrane
Grocer
1895
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Historic Salem, Inc.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Historic Salem, Inc. house histories
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Historic Salem, Inc.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
Built 1895
House history completed 2022
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Connie Barlow
Language
A language of the resource
English
1895
2022
7 Chandler Street
grocer
Massachusetts
McGrane
Salem