33 Marlborough Street

33 Marlborough Street

33 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.

33 Marlborough was built as the home of Mrs. Ellen (Lamb) Stetson, the widow of textile merchant Joshua Stetson, who had died in July of 1869.  Before his death, they had lived at 29 Commonwealth Avenue; in 1870, while she was awaiting the completion fo 33 Marlborough, she lived temporarily at 145 Beacon Street.

Ellen Stetson is shown as the owner of 33 Marlborough on the 1874 Hopkins map.

She continued to live at 33 Marlborough in 1879, but had moved by 1882.  She continued to own the house, however, leasing it to others (she is shown as the owner on the 1883 and 1888 Bromley maps).

By 1882, it was leased by wool merchant Sterne Morse.  He continued to live there in 1885.

By 1888, it was leased by Miss Emily M. Pierce and Miss A. W. Lawrence, both of whom were teachers.  In 1885, they had lived at 111 Boylston Street.

By 1889, Mrs. Stetson appears to have converted the house into a two-family dwelling, with Miss Lawrence and Miss Pierce living in one unit, and Dr. Philip Coombs Knapp, a physician, living and maintaining his medical offices in the other.  Dr. Henry R. Stedman, also a physician, maintained his medical office with Dr. Knapp; his home was in Bourne but he probably also maintained a Boston residence with Dr. Knapp.

By 1890, Miss Lawrence and Miss Pierce were no longer living there, and their apartment had become the home of James O'Dealy, a cabinetmaker, and his wife, Mary.  They continued to live there until 1906.

Dr. Knapp also continued to live and maintain his medical offices at 33 Marlborough.  In December of 1893, he married Isabel (Williams) Stebbins, the widow of John Louis Stebbins.  After their marriage, they lived at 33 Marlborough.

In about 1897, Ellen Stetson resumed living at 33 Marlborough, living with Dr. and Mrs. Knapp (she is shown as a boarder with them in the 1900 Census).  She continued to live there until her death in October of 1905.

By 1907, 33 Marlborough was the home of  Samuel Parker Bremer and his wife, Mabel Ruth (Burrage) Bremer.  They had lived at 82 Marlborough in 1906.  They also maintained a summer home in Manchester.

Samuel Parker Bremer was a dry goods merchant and an executive of several woolens manufacturing companies.

He probably purchased 33 Marlborough from Jessie W. Little, who is shown as the owner on the 1908 Bromley map (S. Parker Bremer is shown as the owner on the 1917 map).

On June 20, 1916, Samuel Bremer remodeled the house, lowering the front entrance to ground level and adding a rear ell.

The Bremers continued to live at 33 Marlborough in 1925.

By 1927, 33 Marlborough was the home of investment banker John Eliot Thayer, Jr., and his wife, Katherine Lee Bayard (Warren) Thayer.  Katherine W. Thayer is shown as the owner on the 1928 Bromley map.  They also maintained a summer home in Lancaster.  They continued to live at 33 Marlborough until 1934.

In 1934, it became the home of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Moran.  They continued to live there in 1937, and probably later.

J. M. and A. W. Abbott are shown as the owners of 33 Marlborough on the 1938 Bromley map.

By 1950, 33 Marlborough was owned by Louis Heller.  In June of 1950, he converted the house from a single-family home into a three-family dwelling.

By 1959, 33 Marlborough was owned by Jost J. Michelsen and Ruth H. Michelsen.