13 Leonard Street

1889 In 1889, the Lawrence heirs (Ann I. Lawrence, Ellen S. Sherman, and Leonard F. Lawrence) sold Lots No. 1 through 8 of the Lawrence Estates to Samuel Patch (MLR 1976/494 and 1943/534). These were all the lots along the east side of Leonard Street. Samuel Patch was the Waltham Building Superintendent at the time. From a slightly later deed in 1892 (MLR 2113/63), it appears that Ann I. Lawrence died around 1890, that Etta Lawrence was one of her heirs, that Etta Lawrence was a trustee for a Leonard Lawrence (who may or may not have been the same person as Leonard F. Lawrence), and that Samuel Patch was also one of Ann I. Lawrence's heirs.

1890 In 1890, Samuel Patch sold Lot No. 3 to John J. Burke, who worked for the Boston Manufacturing Company, and did not live here during that period (MLR 1983/421). Burke took out a mortgage on the property the same year, but only for $400 (MLR 1983/422), and even though the deed specified "with buildings", the $400 was enough to cover the cost of the land, but not to build a house. He also took out another mortgage in 1894 (MLR 2268/434), but for only $200.

1896 In 1896, John J. Burke sold the lot to John H. Brown (MLR 2429/190). This deed did not say anything about buildings on the lot.

1899 John Brown sold the lot to Robert L. Lyons in 1899, and again the deed did not say anything about buildings (MLR 2723/76). According to the 1897 and 1899 city directories, Robert Lyons was a salesman working in Boston and living on Hall Street. In the 1901 directory he was noted as living at 13 Leonard Street, and in the 1902 annual listing he was located on Leonard Street, with no house number, but having been there the previous year. Therefore, even though a construction mortgage could not be located for the house at this time, it appears probable that the house at 13 Leonard Street was built for Robert L. Lyons about 1900.

1904 In 1904, Robert Lyons transferred ownership of the house to his wife, Elizabeth (MLR 3096/382 and 383). The Lyons family continued to live here until 1916. In later years, Robert Lyons became the treasurer of the Superior Corundum Wheel Company, and was involved with an investment trust with other notable Waltham investors, such as George R Beal and Charles W. Potter (MLR 4941/143).

1926 In 1926, Elizabeth Lyons sold the house to Cecelia M. Morris (MLR 4936/557). From voting records, it appears that the Morrises were living there as renters since 1917, before they bought the house. Cecelia's husband, Harold, was a manager, and the Morris family continued to own and occupy the house into the 1950s.