Built in 1897-98 for Charles H Sargent

A conventional Queen Anne in the West End Historic District.

Charles Sargent built it and lived here but, did he own it?

Faithful readers know that I place allot of importance in a consistent deed trail for a subject. The language of a deed, with its metes & bounds, mostly remains the same over the decades of a property’s history and the words “buildings thereon”, or the lack there of, help to mark the build date. Sometimes, the deeds do not add up.

Several sources, 2 of which are seen above, state that Charles Sargent, an attorney who lived on Carleton Street, built our subject in 1897-98. The Portland Historic Inventory and Portland’s Historic Preservation office concur. The 1900 census lists Sargent living here with his son Daniel. Charles’ wife Ada died of a cerebral hemorrhage in February of 1898, probably as or subject was built. A problem arises in that I find no evidence that he ever owned it. In fact, the evidence seems to say that the Portland Savings Bank owned the property since 1882 at least and did not sell it until 1904

What Charles Sargent had built is a fairly conventional. for the time, Queen Anne with somewhat Colonial Revival features. The main block measures 27′ on the street and is 30’s deep. It is 2 stories with a third in the garret. An ell measuring 18′ wide and 24′ deep of 2 stories extends from the right rear of the main block. Existing details are Colonial Revival with a Palladian window in the third floor gable and an arched window on the north facade that, most likely, marks the stairwell. The porch as seen today is not original and will be discussed later.

In early April of 1904, Annie M Ayer purchased 74 Neal Street from the Portland Savings Bank. This is the first deed I can find for the land or buildings. The bank purchased several parcels from the Brown family in the 1870s and our subject was part of these purchases. Annie Ayer was the wife of a hat maker named Harlan Ayer. Harlan and his father ran Ayer and Huston Corporation. They had a factory between West Commercial & Beach Streets. The Ayers married in 1882 and had 2 daughters. They lived here until Annie’s death from ‘pernicious anemia‘ in late May of 1918 at the age of 58.

After Annie Ayer died in 1918, 74 Neal Street passed to her husband Harland. He then transferred ownership to the Ayer’s 2 daughters, Mabel & Katharine. The family remained here although Katherine moved out when she married in 1921. Harland and Mabel lived here until he died in 1941 and Mabel & Katharine sold it in 1943.

As noted earlier, the enclosed porch is not original as it is not seen in the 1924 tax photo. The historic designation report from 1990 notes this but states that it
“is a very successful alteration that in no way detracts from the Colonial Revival detailing in its use of multi-paned doors, windows, and transoms.” and I agree.

When the Ayer family sold 74 Neal Street in 1943, the purchasers were a pair of sisters who had grown up on Brackett Street named Dorothy & Phyllis Cram. Born in 1905 & 1913 respectively, they grew up and attended Portland schools. Phyllis seems to have been particularly precocious with her birthday parties and other social events being regularly noted in the local papers. She had a talent for recitation and attended the Phidelah Rice School of The Spoken Word on Martha’s Vineyard. The school was, according to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, “aimed at instructing students who wanted to improve public speaking and reading techniques”. Dorothy wrote poetry that Phyllis would recite, often set to music.

The Cram sisters, Dorothy & Phyllis, lived at 74 Neal Street with their parents throughout the 40s and 50s although they would sell and buy it back twice in the period. Frank & Nellie Cram died in February & September of 1956 respectively. Dorothy was a longtime book keeper for a downtown department store while Phyllis worked in travel and was an agent for Northeast Airlines, an early innovator in the industry. Dorothy & Phyllis Cram sold 74 Neal Street to John & Genevieve Fickett of Portland in September of 1962. Phyllis died in 1972 & Dorothy in 1991.

74 Neal Street is listed as a single family residence. The condition is very good.