Our Friday Find: You never know where Littleton history will show up. Sandra Murphy Mauer (a descendant of Walter Powers) found some early 1900 letters relating to the Drew/Osborn family at an antique shop in Gloucester and donated them to the Society.
The Marion Drew letters came from the Superintendent of Swampscott Schools re-electing Miss Drew to teach and advising of her salary, $1,350. The other letters are to Marion’s mother, Gertrude (Osborn) Drew from various family members.
Gertrude Silsby Osborn and Fannie Matthews Osborn (Marion’ aunt) were the children of Dr. John Henry Osborn II and Mary Fannie Little. Dr. Osborn was Supervising Inspector for the N.E. Live Stock Insurance Co of Boston – the president of which was the Honorable Joseph Harwood. Harwood encouraged Dr. Osborn to move out to Littleton in 1893.
They moved into the house now located at 10 Murray Park Drive (now painted red). Gertrude’s notes say “The snow was deep and filled the roads from stone wall to stone wall. William Leahy moved the furniture on sleds.”
Records indicate this house was owned in the early 1700s by Marah and Nathaniel Russell, Justice of the Peace (bap. February 28, 1707). On November 13, 1755, he performed the marriage of his son, also Nathaniel Russell, and Abigail Goldsmith at the house. Nathaniel Russell, Jr. served in Captain Samuel Gilbert’s Company in Col. William Prescott’s Regiment during the Revolutionary War. In the early 1800s, the property was owned by Samuel Smith, for many years the Town Clerk of Littleton and a local historian and genealogist. Many of Smith’s papers are on file at the Littleton Historical Society.
According to notes written by Dr. Osborn’s daughters, Fannie and Gertrude, “Dr. Osborn was instrumental in getting house telephones because every phone call from Kimball’s store at the depot cost 10 cents extra for the boy to bring the call to the house. Dr. Osborn had a fine practice here and was instrumental in getting more humane methods caring for cattle.”
Dr. Osborn was killed tragically on 2 Feb 1896. He had taken a man home from church who lived across the tracks at the depot. The gate man had gone to dinner and left the gate unguarded and Dr. Osborn was struck by a train as he started back over the tracks for home. “The sleigh was smashed but the horse didn’t have a scratch on it.”
On 18 Dec 1899, at a double wedding ceremony, Fannie married Dr. Joseph Nelson Murray, a young veterinarian who took over Dr. Osborn’s practice and Gertrude married Curtis Drew who was a farmer and rural mail carrier. The Drews moved into a home on Warren Street (since torn down for Rte 495).
Curtis Drew delivering mail.
As a child a veterinarian lived in the house and I can remembering bring our dog to him. I don’t remember the vet’s name.
That must have been a beautiful home. I can just barely remember it prior to 495.
Littleton Historical Society Inc Massachusetts
Ed Franzek I know, what a shame to lose such a beautiful, grand home. Not sure of the condition of it when it was razed.
Littleton Historical Society Inc Massachusetts I was six years old and remember the big machine dropping a wrecking ball on the one that was at the corner of Warren and Mill Rd. I think it had apartments in it.Littleton Historical Society Inc Massachusetts
Ed Franzek I believe you are right. I wish we had more photos of the area because it is so hard to picture where the houses sat in relation to the roads now. Trying to picture Mill Road continuing to the other side of Mill Road (near St. Anne’s)
Good back story and the house noted on Murray Park is a gem. And “warren lake” as noted in the photo is now Mill Pond, presumably?
Littleton Historical Society Inc Massachusetts
Dustin Neild Yes, that is correct. Same as with Long Lake, when the summer cabins were built, wouldn’t you rather swim in “Lake Warren” than the “Mill Pond”? Marketing.
Littleton Historical Society Inc Massachusetts , yes, that well explains the “pond” upgrade to “Lake”. But the switch from “warren” to “mill” may have diluted a bit of the history. Curious about that aspect.
Littleton Historical Society Inc Massachusetts
Dustin Neild The mill was originally built as a grist mill by Thomas Warren. The Warren family lived in the vicinity for many years including in the little brick house on Warren St. Warren was Curtis Drew’s 3rd great-grandfather. Drew’s father, Arthur, built the camps around the lake/pond.
Interesting!
When we were very young, we had a lovely puppy that got distemper. We took her to the Murray place, and Miss Murray ( a daughter?) nursed the dog back to health. (1950?)
Linda Bee Real Estate – Keller Williams Boston Northwest
Love this stuff!
Amazing I grew up in house right next store on Murray Park Drive …but never saw house like these pics –