20 Irving Street

1913 In February, 1913, the Lawrence heirs sold Lot No. 62 in the Lawrence Estates to Phoebe M. (Major) Squarebriggs (MLR 3763/230). Nothing was said in this deed about buildings, and the 1911 Waltham Engineer's map showed no house on the lot. This is the lot on which the house currently numbered 20 Irving Street is located. In June, 1913, Phoebe Major Squarebriggs took out a mortgage with the Waltham Cooperative Bank for $3,500 (MLR 3798/481). Although the relationship was not clear on the deed, and Phoebe was noted as being unmarried, it was also signed by George H. Squarebriggs. Also, nothing was mentioned about a house. George Herbert Squarebriggs was listed in the 1914 city directory as living at 20 Irving Street, and there were no listings in the annual listing of voters for this location prior to this time. He was listed as working for the American Express Company as a money clerk. Therefore, it appears that the house at 20 Irving Street was probably built in 1913 for the Squarebriggs. The Squarebriggs only lived here until 1917, at which time they moved next door to 16 Irving Street. In the 1921 annual listing, the first time women were voting, Phoebe was listed with about the same age as Herbert, so they were probably husband and wife.

It should be noted that the actual builder of the house is not known, but judging by age and similarity in style, it appears that 20 Irving Street was probably built by the same builder as 22 Irving Street. The house at 22 Irving Street appears to have been built in the same year.

1917 Phoebe Squarebriggs sold the house to Marjory S. Thompson in 1917 (MLR 4158/180). At the same time, Marjory Thompson took out a mortgage with the Waltham Cooperative Bank for $3,900 (4158/181). Marjory's husband was Alberto F. Thompson, who was listed in the 1923 city directory as the general manager of a firm in Boston, and living at 20 Irving Street. Thompson family members lived here until 1968. The Thompson's daughter, Esther, Married Donald A Drury, and they bought No. 15 Irving Street, across the street, in 1940. The Thompson's son, Alberto F. Thompson, Jr., earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry at Harvard, and taught at MIT before WW II. After the war, he worked for the National Science Foundation and Atomic Energy Commission in Washington, DC, on the Atoms for Peace Program, and as head of the Office of Scientific Information.

1958 In 1958, Marjory Thompson sold the house to her grandson and his wife, Donald A. Drury, Jr. and Marie M. Drury (MLR 9243/555). Her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Drury, Sr., were still living across the street at 15 Irving Street. Donald, Jr., was a mechanical engineer, and Marie was a nurse.

1968 The Drurys sold the house to Edward F. and Barbara A. McCarthy in 1968 (MLR 11555/433).