38 Lawrence Street

1886 In 1886, the Lawrence heirs sold Lot No. 38 in the Lawrence Estates to Sarah A. Saunders for $360 (MLR 1747/81). However, the lot remained undeveloped for 28 years.

1912 Sarah A. Saunders sold the undeveloped lot to George F. Clark in 1912 (MLR 3723/118), who also left the lot undeveloped.

1913 In 1913, Clark sold the lot to Herman D. Fuller (MLR 3826/32), who also left the lot undeveloped.

1914 In 1914, Fuller sold the lot to Rufus W. Rogers (MLR 3902/577, see also MLR 3931/87). Rufus Rogers was a carpenter living at 25 Irving Street at the time, and was responsible for building a number of houses in the area. Later in 1914, Rogers sold the lot to Grace F. Kelly (MLR 3931/88), who took out a mortgage with the Waltham Cooperative Bank at the same time for $3,200 (MLR 3931/88). Although it was not stated "with buildings" in the deed, given the size of the mortgage, the house was probably existing at the time. Therefore, the house at 38 Lawrence Street was probably built by Rufus W. Rogers in 1914. Herbert L. Kelley, an electrician, was listed in the annual listing of voters for 1915 at 38 Lawrence Street, the first time the address was listed. He was listed as living elsewhere in 1914. The Kelley family continued to live in the house into the 1970s.