31 Marlborough Street

31 Marlborough Street

31 Marlborough Street was built ca. 1870.  It appears to have been one of three contiguous houses built in the same style (29-31-33 Marlborough).  The similarity in style of these houses has been largely obliterated by the lowering of the front entrance of 33 Marlborough in 1916 and the significant remodeling of 31 Marlborough in 1937.

31 Marlborough was built as the home of clothing merchant James Horatio Freeland and his wife, Julia (Woodruff) Freeland.  He is shown as the owner on the 1874 Hopkins map and on the 1883 and 1888 Bromley maps.

Julia Freeland died in April of 1888.  He continued to live at 31 Marlborough in 1890.

By 1892, 31 Marlborough was the home of dry goods merchant Frank Waldo Wildes and his wife, Frances Elizabeth (Hilger) Wildes.  In 1890, they had lived in Newton Centre.  Frances Wildes is shown as the owner of 31 Marlborough on the 1908 and 1917 Bromley maps.

Frances Wildes probably died between 1914 and 1916.  Frank Wildes continued to live at 31 Marlborough in 1917.

The house was not enumerated in the 1920 US Census, nor was it listed in the 1922 and 1923 Blue Books.

By 1924, 31 Marlborough was the home of attorney William R. Buckminster and his wife. He is shown as the owner on the 1928 Bromley map.  They also maintained a summer residence at Chocorua, New Hampshire.

In 1931, Pelayo Garcia-Olay also was listed in the Blue Book at 31 Marlborough.  He appears to be the individual who later was closely identified with the Fascist movement in Spain.  He was no longer listed at 31 Marlborough in the 1932 Blue Book.

The Buckminsters continued to live at 31 Marlborough in 1937.  He continued to be shown as the owner on the 1938 Bromley map.

In April of 1937, the Buckminsters significantly remodeled the house into six apartments, one on each floor.  It appears likely that it was at this time that the front facade was “modernized.”

The house subsequently changed hands several times, remaining a six unit apartment house.

In October of 1986, John A. Forger and Nicholas L. Vinios, trustees of the 31 Marlboro Street Realty Trust, purchased 31 Marlborough.  In March of 1987, they converted the building into six condominiums.  They retained ownership of all six units, however, and continued to rent them as apartments.

In  August of 1992, the Gilpa Corporation purchased all six units.