68 Marlborough Street

68 Marlborough Street

68 Marlborough Street was designed and built ca. 1870 by architect and builder Charles K. Kirby, for speculative sale, one of two contiguous houses (66-68 Marlborough) built at the same time, and one of eight contiguous houses (66-68-70-72-74-76-78-80 Marlborough) built by Charles Kirby between 1866 and 1870.

By 1872, 68 Marlborough was the home of Miss M. Louise Putnam, who operated a private school for young ladies in the house.  She probably leased the house from Harvey D. Parker, who is shown as the owner on the 1874 Hopkins map and the 1883 Bromley map.

Harvey D. Parker was the founder and owner of the Parker House Hotel.  He died in May of 1884 at his home at 141 Boylston Street.

Louise Putnam continued to live (and operate the school) at 68 Marlborough in 1885, but had moved to 36 Commonwealth Avenue by 1888.

By 1888, 68 Marlborough was the home (and probably the medical office) of Dr. Grace Wolcott, a physician credited as being an early leader in establishing the Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology Service at Massachusetts General Hospital.  She is shown as the owner of 68 Marlborough on the 1888 Bromley map.

Listed in the Blue Books with Dr. Wolcott were Dr. Lena V. Ingraham and Dr. Ella L. Dexter.  They continued to be listed with her in 1895, but were no longer listed there in the 1897 Blue Book.  By 1897, Dr. Wolcott had been joined at 68 Marlborough by Miss von Seckendorff.  She continued to live there until about 1899.  She was not listed there in the 1900 Blue Book.

Miss Laura Fisher lived with Dr. Wolcott from about 1899. She was a teacher and later became the first director of Boston's kindergartens.

Dr. Wolcott and Miss Fisher continued to live at 68 Marlborough in 1904.  In mid-1904, Dr. Wolcott purchased 292 Marlborough, and she and Miss Fisher moved there.

By mid-1904, 68 Marlborough had been purchased by Mrs. Mary Lowell (Coolidge) Barton, the widow of Frederick Otis Barton, a merchant in New York City.  Prior to her husband's death in February of 1904, the Bartons had lived at 43 East 64th Street in Manhattan.  She returned to Boston (where she was born) and purchased 68 Marlborough as her home.  She is shown as the owner on the 1908 and 1917 Bromley maps.

She continued to live there in 1907, but by 1908 was living elsewhere and 68 Marlborough was the home of Dr. Harold Townsend Swain, an obstetrician, and his wife, Harriet (French) Swain.  They had lived at The Grosvenor at 259 Beacon Street in 1907.

The Swains continued to live at 68 Marlborough in 1913, but had moved to 226 Commonwealth Avenue by 1915.

In April of 1915, Mary Barton applied for (and subsequently received) permission to remodel the house, including making changes in the basement and to a bay window (probably in the rear).

They house was not listed in the 1915 Blue Book.

By 1917, Mary Barton and her children were once again living at 68 Marlborough.

During the 1923-1924 winter season, the Bartons were living in New York and 68 Marlborough was the home of attorney Henry Eldridge Warner and his wife, Henrietta (Slade) Warner.  They had lived at 85 Marlborough in 1923.

By 1925, the Warners had moved to Lincoln (where they maintained their primary residence), and Mary Barton and her son, Frederick Otis Barton, were living at 68 Marlborough once again (in the 1925 City Directory, Mary Barton is listed at both 12 Fairfield Street, with her sister, Miss Ellen Wayles Coolidge, and at 68 Marlborough, with her son).

By 1927, 68 Marlborough was the home of banker Max Ordway Whiting and his wife, Marion (Shearman) Whiting.  He is shown as the owner on the 1928 Bromley map.  They also maintained a summer home in Manchester.  He continued to be shown as the owner on the 1938 Bromley map, and they continued to live at 68 Marlborough in 1947.

By 1948, 68 Marlborough was owned by George C. and Marie Agagnos.

In November of 1948, they applied for (and subsequently received) permission to remodel the house and convert it from a single-family dwelling into a lodging house.

The property subsequently changed hands several times, and in November of 1973 was acquired by Margaret Bonarrigo and Diane and Richard Pabich, trustees of the 68 Marlborough Trust. 

In April of 1974, they applied for (and subsequently received) permission to add an apartment in the basement and increase the total number of units from eleven to twelve.