MSI 1/16/22

1658 John Fuller bought 750 acres of land in Newton from Joseph Cook in 1658, including this lot, along with most of what later became the part of Newton annexed to Waltham in 1849 known as the Southside (MLR 2/180). According to Francis Jackson's 1854 history of Newton, John Fuller came to Cambridge (and Newton, which was part of Cambridge at the time) from England in 1644. For about the next 150 years, this area was farmed by the descendents of John Fuller, and known as the "Fuller Farm".

The origin of the name "Newton" is rather interesting. Today's Newton was originally part of colonial Cambridge in the 1630s, but by 1654 it was being referred to as "Cambridge Village". In 1679, Cambridge Village became a separate town from Cambridge, and between 1679 and 1691, it was referred to as either "Cambridge Village" or "New Cambridge". In 1691, the colony's General Court officially renamed it "New Town". Then, in 1766 it was arbitrarily changed to "Newton" by the current town clerk, Judge Fuller (according to Jackson's 1854 history of Newton, p. 6).

c1800 In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Dr. Marshall Spring purchased much of the land in this part of what used to be Newton (see MLR 145/35, 152/133, 176/183 and 181/505). These were farm lands, pasture lands, and woodlots on the original Fuller Farm of 1658. Doctor Marshall Spring, who lived in Watertown, was a loyalist before the Revolutionary War, but rushed to Lexington during the Battle of Lexington and Concord to treat the wounded patriots. He was so much respected that his loyalist leanings were later forgiven (from Bond and Nelson). The Spring family goes back to the beginning of Newton as a colonial town, but the connection of Dr. Spring with this branch of the family is not clear.

1844 In 1844, William Minot and the other trustees of the assets of Nancy Wharton sold two large lots in the part of Newton that would become Waltham to Frances C. Lowell (MLR 459/65 and 68). This Francis C. Lowell was the son of the Francis Cabot Lowell, who had founded the Boston Manufacturing Company. One parcel, a woodlot of 115 acres, appears to have been near the Chemical Company, but south of today's High Street. The other parcel, consisting of 60 acres of woodlot and pasture called the "Brush Pasture", stretched east from today's Newton Street about 2,000 feet (to about Flood Street) and south from the river about 1,600 feet (to about Clinton Street). Nancy Wharton was the daughter of Marshall B. Spring, who was the son of Dr. Marshall Spring. Before her wedding to William Wharton, Nancy W. Spring owned a large amount of land, which was described in their prenuptial agreement (MLR 444/7 and 13). Nancy Spring later became the mother-in-law of Edith Wharton, the author.

1849 In 1849, Lowell sold a one third part interest in a portion of his "Brush Pasture" acquisition to Horatio Moore (MLR 568/208). Horatio Moore was the manager of the Newton Chymical (Chemical) Company (which was part of the Boston Manufacturing Company). This lot stretched south from today's Calvary Street (then called "Spring Street"), past Oak Street, to include the lots on both sides of Cedar Street. On the west side of the street, it stretched south for about 900 feet to Clinton Street (including today's No. 53 Cedar Street) and about 180 feet west from Cedar Street. On the east side of the street, it stretched south about 1000 feet to include the lot of today's No. 72 Cedar Street, and about 215 feet east from Cedar Street.

1854 Lowell and Moore sold a lot of land on the southeast corner of Oak and Cedar Streets to Patrick Rogers in 1854 (MLR 693/134). The land stretched 192 feet south from Oak along the east side of Cedar and 202 feet east from Cedar along the south side of Oak. The land cost $400 and there was no mention of buildings in the deed. The deed did state that this was part of the Spring estate.

1855 In 1855, Rogers sold the southern most 30 foot portion of his Cedar Street lot to Martin "Hazely" for $85 (MLR 709/551). Michael McDonald was listed as the owner of the next lot south on Cedar Street. This was confirmed by another deed of the lot to "Hazely" by John Donohoe in 1855 (MLR 723/387).

Also in 1855, McDonald sold the northern 28 foot portion of his lot to Martin "Heasely' for $80 (MLR 723/386). The spelling of Martin's last name is uncertain, since the "e" following the "H" could have just been a flourish in the cursive script.

Then, also in 1855, Martin "Heasely" took out a mortgage with the Waltham Mutual Loan and Fund Association for $418 for the two lots, combined (MLR 723/388).

1856 In 1856, Heasely (or Hasely) took our an additional mortgage with the Waltham Mutual Loan and Fund Association for $220 based on the combined lots (MLR 736/106). Martin Hasely is listed in this location in the 1855 census, so it appears that the house at 46 Cedar Street was originally built about 1855 for Martin "Hazely", "Hasely", or "Heasely". The 1871 town directory listed Mary Hasely living on Cedar near Oak, but no listing for Martin. In the 1870 census he was listed as age 45 and working as a miner, Mary as age 40, Katy as age 17, Mary Ann as age 13, and John W. as age 15 and working in a stocking factory. Martin may have died in 1870-1871. The 1900 census listed just Katy, John, and Mary A. "Heazley", and Bridget McDonald as an aunt. The 1918 Waltham Engineer's map showed the house labeled "Estate of Mary Heasley". The house was also shown on the 1875 and 1886 Waltham maps, but not on the 1854 map. The 1883 panoramic view of Waltham showed a house looking very similar to today's – at least the front part.

1954 Apparently, the house stayed in the Heasley family until the 1950s, when it was sold by the heirs to Rose Mello (MLR 8323/574).

1955 In 1955, Rose Mello sold the house to Joseph B and Rita Vanaria (MLR 8414/122). The Vanaria family lived in the house until at least 1990, and, apparently, still owns it.