17 Marlborough Street

17 Marlborough Street

17 Marlborough Avenue was built ca. 1865.  In his Houses of Boston’s Back Bay, Bainbridge Bunting, notes that the design of the house is unusual, in that the entrance is located in front of the octagonal bay, thereby achieving a symmetrical composition, making it “one of the most ingenious and original facades of the entire period."

By 1870, it was the home of merchant George Dudley Howe and his wife Alice Lloyd (Greenwood) Howe.  They had lived at 32 Marlborough in 1865.  The Heirs of George Howe (George Dudley Howe's father) are shown as the owners of 17 Marlborough on the 1874 Hopkins map, and George D. Howe is shown as the owner on the 1883 Bromley map.

They also maintained a home in Manchester, built in 1878, the first residence designed by architect Arthur Little.

The Howes continued to live at 17 Marlborough in 1885.

By 1888, it was the home furnace and range dealer Cyrus Carpenter and his wife, Rebecca (King) Carpenter.  He is shown as the owner on the 1888 Bromley map.  They continued to live there until his death in April of 1893.

By 1894, it was the home of Miss M. E. Brady, who appears to have operated a boarding house.  Listed with her in the 1895 Blue Book were Dr. George G. Sears, Mrs. Alfred Gaudelet, and Miss L. A. Gaudelet.  By 1897, Dr. Sears had moved to 19 Marlborough and the Gaudelets were no longer listed in the Blue Books. 

Miss Brady continued to live there until 1898, joined in that year by Dr. D. P. Ronayne.  In 1897, he had lived at 4 Marlborough.

By 1899, 17 Marlborough was the home of William H. Nagle, who also accepted lodgers.  He continued to live there in 1900.

By 1901, it was the home of Victor and Mary Belanger.  He was founder of Le Courrier de Worcester and an inventor, credited for developing a rotating coil for spinning cotton.

The Belangers continued to accept lodgers.  In 1905, 17 Marlborough also was the home of Grace E. Minnis and Sara E. Simons, milliners (with a shop on Tremont Street), and the home and office of Dr. Homer B. Smith, a physician.

The Belangers continued to live at 17 Marlborough in 1906.

By 1907, 17 Marlborough was the home of Samuel Gelston King and his wife Alice T. Clarke).  He is shown as the owner on the 1908, 1917, and 1928 Bromley maps.  They also maintained a summer home in Nahant.

Samuel King was a wholesale chemical and paint dealer.

In April of 1917, Samuel King added a one story, 6 foot by 9 foot addition at the rear of the building.  The addition was designed by architect William Whitney Lewis.

Alice King probably died in 1922 or 1923.  Samuel King continued to live at 17 Marlborough until his death in 1932.  The house was not listed in the 1934 and 1935 Blue Books.

The house remained in the King family and, by 1935, was the home of Mrs. Ethel Northrup Whalen, who operated it as a lodging house.  The King family continued to be shown as the owners on the 1938 Bromley map.

The house subsequently changed hands several times, remaining a lodging house until November of 1979, when the owners at that time, Francis and Elizabeth Kelley converted it into six apartments.