25 Marlborough Street

25 Marlborough Street

25 Marlborough Street was built ca. 1866 for merchant, cotton manufacturer, and real estate developer Charles W. Freeland, probably for speculative sale, one of four contiguous houses (21-23-25-27 Marlborough).  The four houses form two pairs of mirror opposite buildings (21-23 Marlborough and 25-27 Marlborough); each pair has a single entrance porch which creates a symmetrical entryway.

By 1870, 25 Marlborough was the home of Homer Bartlett and his wife, Louisa (Fowler) Bartlett.  Living next door at 27 Marlborough were Homer Bartlett's son-in-law and daughter (by his first marriage), Frederic Lord Richardson and Mary (Bartlett) Richardson.

Homer Bartlett was treasurer of the Massachusetts Cotton Mills in Lowell and president of the Hill Manufacturing Company, operators of a textile mill in Lewiston, Maine.  Frederic Richardson was treasurer of the Hill Manufacturing Company.

Louisa Bartlett died in May of 1873.  After her death, Homer Bartlett moved next door and lived with the Richardsons until his death in March of 1874.

By 1875, 25 Marlborough was the home of John Foster and his wife, Harriet (Sanford) Foster.  He is shown as the owner on the 1883 and 1888 Bromley maps.

John Foster was a real estate investor and retired wholesale merchant dealing in groceries and general merchandise.

Harriet Foster died in February of 1885, and John Foster continued to live at 25 Marlborough until his death in April of 1897.  In his will, among many other bequests, he left funds to the City of Boston for the statue of William Ellery Channing which subsequently was erected in the Public Garden.

After his death, his unmarried daughter, Fanny Foster, continued to live at 25 Marlborough until 1903.

In November of 1903, 25 Marlborough was purchased from John Foster's estate by Dr. Charles Deletang Ebann, a physician, and his wife, Leontine (Deletang) Ebann.  He also maintained his medical offices there and accepted lodgers.  Leontine Deletang Ebann is shown as the owner on the 1908 and 1917 Bromley maps.

Leontine Ebann died in January of 1917.

By 1920, 25 Marlborough was owned by Hannah P. Kimball.  In June of 1920, she remodeled the house into a three-family dwelling.

By 1923, it was owned by Mrs. Mary A. Estes.  She previously had lived at 281 Dartmouth Street, where she operated a boarding house.  In June of 1923, Mrs. Estes remodeled the interior, but the house remained a three-family dwelling.  She is shown as the owner of 25 Marlborough on the 1928 Bromley map.

Longer-term residents at 25 Marlborough listed in the City Directories and Blue Books at 25 Marlborough included: Olof Wenstrom, a mining engineer, and his wife, Harriet (from 1924 through 1932); Richard R. Peabody, a psychologist specializing in the treatment of alcoholics, and his wife, Jane (from about 1927 through 1933); Mrs. Edna Oliver (from about 1927 through 1936); and Mr. and Mrs. Wayland Manning (Mr. and Mrs. Manning in 1931, and Mr. Manning from 1933 through 1935).

Mrs. Estes continued to live at 25 Marlborough in 1935, but no longer was listed there in the 1936 Blue Book.  The house was not listed in the 1937 Blue Book.

The 1938 Bromley Atlas shows Hortense Sullivan as the owner of this house.

The house subsequently changed hands several times, and in May of 1951, was remodeled into nine apartments.

In October of 1958, it was acquired by Walter and Virginia Fehrmann.  In February of 1966, the Fehrmanns purchased 27 Marlborough, next door.