86 Commonwealth Avenue

86 Commonwealth Avenue

86 Commonwealth Avenue was built ca. 1874.  In his Houses of Boston’s Back Bay, Bainbridge Bunting indicates that both 82 and 86 Commonwealth were designed by Theophilus P. Briggs.  He is listed in the 1872 and 1875 City Directories as a carpenter and probably was a housewright rather than a fully-qualified architect.

86 Commonwealth was built as the home of Mrs. Cornelia J. (Bangs) Thomas, the widow of merchant and banker William Thomas, who had died in June of 1872.  Prior to his death, they had lived at 10 Marlborough Street.

William Minot and William Minot Jr., Trustees, are shown as the owners of 86 Commonwealth on the 1883 and 1888 Bromley maps.

Cornelia Thomas continued to live there until her death in December of 1893.

By 1895, 86 Commonwealth was the home of Cornelia (Bangs) Thomas's sister, Mrs. Charlotte A. (Bangs) Bradstreet, the widow of Samuel Bradstreet.  In 1890, Charlotte Bradstreet had lived on Blue Hill Avenue.

Edward A. Bangs, Trustee, is shown as the owner of 86 Commonwealth on the 1908 Bromley map.

Charlotte Bradstreet continued to live there in 1911.

By 1913, it was the home of Mrs. Leslie (McGregor) Morison, the widow of attorney Frank Morison. In 1912, she had lived at 150 Commonwealth.  She is shown as the owner of 86 Commonwealth on the 1917 Bromley map.

Leslie Morison's son-in-law and daughter, attorney Clifton Long Bremer and Leslie (Morison) Bremer, lived with her from 1913 through about 1915.  They were no longer listed there in the 1917 Blue Book and by 1923, lived at 29 North Russell in Milton.

Leslie Morison continued to live at 86 Commonwealth in 1927.

By 1928, 86 Commonwealth was the home of Dr. Hubert Joseph Williams, a physician.  He is shown as the owner on the 1928 Bromley map.  His daughter, Beatrice (Williams) Haskell, and grand-daughter, Mildred Haskell, lived with him.  Beatrice Haskell was the former wife of textile manufacturer Henry Carvill Haskell.

They continued to live at 86 Commonwealth in 1932.

By 1934, 86 Commonwealth was owned by the Franklin Savings Bank.

In November of 1934, the Bank converted the house into four apartments.  In 1935, it applied to add a two car garage, but subsequently abandoned the permit.  The bank continued to be shown as the owner on the 1938 Bromley map.