Bayley House

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This house, at 16 Fairmont Avenue in Newton, Massachusetts was designed and built in 1883 by the Boston-based architectural firm of Peabody and Stearns, noted for their commercial and residential architecture in the late 1800s. Originally commissioned by James C. Bayley, a Boston shoe merchant, he died within months after ground was broken in late 1883. Bayley's widow, Martha R. Bayley, did eventually move in once the home was completed and lived in the house for a number of years afterward with her young children . Built of brick, freestone, red slate, and wood, the main entrance is behind the porte-cochere on the tower side of the house.

Subsequent owners were the Luther Adams family (wife Lizzie), from 1897 through approx. 1901. Adams was a merchant in the wine business in Boston, MA. Also residing with them were daughters Fanny M. and Mabel Adams. Luther Adams died in 1901 at age 68, and the house was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Edgar P. Van Etten (President, B&A Railroad) in 1903.

From approx. 1905 to approx. 1919 the home was owned by the Charles H. Breck family, who formerly lived at 62 Bellevue St. Breck was in the agricultural tools business at 51 North Market in Boston MA known as Joseph Breck & Company (founded by his grandfather Joseph Breck and his father, Charles H.B. Breck). Mrs. Charles H. Breck (Marion A.) was, in fact, a daughter of Luther Adams, a previous owner. Her sister Fanny also lived here. Other children included Charles H. Breck Jr. and Luther J. Breck.

From 1919 to 1925, the home was owned by the John H. O'Brien family, O'Brien was in the wool business at 619 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA, his wife the former Emma M. Matthews. Their children included Byron H. O'Brien and Arnold N. O'Brien (Arnold, a coal dealer, was born in Dorchester in 1906, married Helen F. Priest in Keene NH on June 10, 1933).

From 1931 through 1945, the home was used as the Damon Hall Junior College, run by Frank and Annie Damon. A private family (John Ronne, Attorney) lived in the home again from 1948 until approximately 1963. In the 1960's, the home was owned by the religious order of Stigmatine Fathers, a Catholic religious congregation of priests and brothers. The house is currently in use as a private residence, as it has been since approx. 1983.