37 Marlborough Street

37 Marlborough Street

37 Marlborough Street was built ca. 1869, one of three contiguous houses (35-37-39 Marlborough).  37 and 39 Marlborough are mirror opposite buildings, with a shared central entrance porch which creates a symmetrical entryway.

Early photographs (ca. 1900) show that the bay of 37 Marlborough stopped at the cornice line and there was a dormer in the mansard roof, whereas the bay of 39 Marlborough extended to the top floor.  This may have been the original design, or the top floor bay at 37 Marlborough may have been removed and replaced by the dormer.  In October of 2000, the Back Bay Architectural Commission concluded that the latter was more likely and permitted replacement of the dormer with a bay matching the bay at 39 Marlborough.  At the same time, the Commission also allowed the owner to construct a garage ell at the rear, in the same location as an ell that may have been part of the original house and had been removed at some point.

By 1870, 37 Marlborough was the home of Dr. Alexander Thomas, a physician, and his wife, Margaret Atwood (Williams) Thomas.  He is shown as the owner on the 1874 Hopkins map.

Margaret Thomas died in December of 1872, and Alexander died in January of 1874.

By 1875, it was the home of Margaret Thomas's sister, Miss Sarah Isabella Williams, who probably assumed responsibility for raising the Thomases' two small children, Anna and Rufus.  By 1880 (and probably before), they were joined by another sister, Miss Susan A. Williams

37 Marlborough remained in the Thomas family. The Heirs of Alexander Thomas are shown as the owners on the 1883 Bromley map.  A. B. Ellis, Trustee, is shown as the owner on the 1888 map, and Alfred Bowditch, Trustee, is shown as the owner on the 1908 and 1917 maps.

Susan Williams continued to live there until about 1900.  Rufus Thomas lived there until about 1909; his sister, Anna, and their aunt, Sarah Williams, remained until 1917, and possibly later.

By 1920, 37 Marlborough was the home of retired investment banker, Harry Kent White, and his wife, Nora (Kent) White.  They also maintained a home in Pepperell, Massachusetts.

By 1922, 37 Marlborough was the home of Rev. Charles Russell Peck and his wife, Helen (Peabody) Peck.  In 1920, they had lived on Dean Way in Boston.

He was Rector of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Boston.

The continued to live at 37 Marlborough in 1924.

By 1925, it was the home Dr. George Colket Caner and his wife, Mary (Paul). 

G. Colket Caner was a neurologist and psychiatrist, and maintained his medical offices at 37 Marlborough.  He also was an internationally-known tennis player, an American Intercollegiate singles champion and a competitor at Wimbledon, where he and Don Mathey introduced the steel-strung and steel-framed tennis racquet in 1922.

Augustus P. Loring, Jr., Trustee, is shown as the owner on the 1928 and 1938 Bromley maps.

By 1929, it was the home of Dr. Worcestor Randolph Angell, a physician, and his wife, Helen.  They had lived at 84 Commonwealth Avenue in 1928.  By 1930, they lived in Arlington.

By 1930, 37 Marlborough was the home of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Dunlop.  They continued to live there until about 1932.

Soon thereafter, the house was converted into medical offices.

By 1975, 37 Marlborough was owned by Beverly Franklin.  In April of 1998, she added William Franklin, her husband, to the title.

In September of  2000, Frontgate LLC purchased the 37 Marlborough from the Franklins. They significantly remodeled the house, including adding the top story bay in the front (to match the bay at 39 Marlborough), and adding the ell at the rear for use as a garage.