1 Commonwealth Avenue

1 Commonwealth Avenue

1 Commonwealth Avenue was built ca. 1861 as the home of  Samuel Gray Ward and his wife, Anna Hazard (Barker) Ward.  In 1860, they had lived at 20 Louisburg Square on Beacon Hill.

He was a merchant and banker, and was the US agent for Baring Brothers Bank of London.

They continued to live at 1 Commonwealth in 1865.

By 1870, it was the home of Mrs. Nicolas Reggio.  In 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Reggio had lived at 57 Summer Street; he was a merchant and vice-consul of Italy.  Pamelia J. Reggio, probably Mrs. Reggio, is shown as the owner on the 1874 Hopkins map.

She continued to live there in 1875, joined by Andrew C. Reggio.

By 1877, it was the home of David Snow.

He continued to live there in 1879.

By 1880, it was the home of cotton manufacturer James Sullivan Amory and his wife, Mary Copley (Greene) Amory.  Living with them at the time of the 1880 US Census were their adult unmarried sons, Frederic Amory (a cotton manufacturer, probably in his father's firm), Augustine Amory (a clergyman), and Harcourt Amory.

J. I. Bowditch, Trustee, is indicated as the owner of the house on the 1883 and 1888 Bromley maps.

James Amory died in June of 1884.  His widow and son, Frederic, continued to live there at 1 Commonwealth until her death in April of 1892.

After Mary (Greene) Amory's death, 1 Commonwealth was acquired by Joshua Montgomery Sears and his wife, Sarah Carlisle (Choate) Sears.  They owned and lived at 12 Arlington Street, next door. After acquiring 1 Commonwealth they consolidated it with their home; the entrance to 1 Commonwealth was removed and the entire second story was remodeled into a music room.

Joshua M. Sears was a real estate investor, and Sarah Choate Sears was a well-known and respected watercolorist and pictorialist photographer.

They also maintained a summer home, “Wolf Pen Farm,” in Southborough.

J. Montgomery Sears died in June of 1905.  Sarah Sears continued to live at 12 Arlington Street with her son, J. Montgomery (“Monty”) Sears, Jr., and daughter, Helen.

Monty Sears was killed in an automobile accident in August of 1908. Helen Sears was married in July of 1913 to James D. Cameron Bradley.  After their marriage, James and Helen Bradley lived at 12 Hereford Street.

By 1920, the Bradleys had moved to 12 Arlington Street to live with Sarah Sears.  James Bradley probably died in about 1929, and Helen Bradley continued to live at 12 Arlington Street with her mother.

Sarah Sears died in September of 1935.  Helen Bradley continued to live at 12 Arlington Street in 1937.  John L. Hall, et al, Trustees are shown as the owners of 12 Arlington Street on the 1938 Bromley map.

12 Arlington Street and 1 Commonwealth remained combined as a single property, with the address of 12 Arlington.

By late 1937, the property appears to have been owned by Edward Wyner, owner of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.  On December 10, 1937, he filed a permit to build a 17-story apartment house on the site, presumably demolishing both houses.  The permit application apparently never was pursued.

By 1943, 12 Arlington Street was owned by the Army and Navy Service Committee, which converted the building into an officers' club, with dining, lodging, and recreational facilities.

By 1946, it was owned by the Catholic Church's Ursuline Academy, which converted it into a day school and convent.

By 1959, it was owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston (which may have owned it when it was occupied by the Ursuline Academy).  In August of 1959, the Archdiocese eliminated the day school and converted it into convent.  In June of 1966, the Diocese converted it from a convent into professional offices.

In 1966, 12 Arlington Street/1 Commonwealth were purchased by Harbridge House, Inc., an international management consulting firm, which owned and maintained its offices at 10-11 Arlington Street.  After acquiring 12 Arlington Street, it occupied all four buildings.

In September of 1993, One Commonwealth Corporation bought 12 Arlington Street/1 Commonwealth from Sears, Roebuck and Co.  It remodeled the buildings into nine apartments, including adding an underground garage, and in September of 1995, it converted the house into nine condominiums, with the address of One Commonwealth.