History of Methuen

1. History of Methuen

2. Charles Tenney • Charles Tenney was born in 1842. He became a millionaire through the hat manufacturing industry. Mr. Tenney was very generous to the town of Methuen, leaving many gifts such as…..

3. Gray Court • This home took 3 years to build. This was the summer home for the Tenney family. The home was later destroyed by fire.

4. Tenney Gate House In 1890, Charles Tenney bought and renovated this 1820 farm house. The family used it as a summer home while their home was being built. In 1977 this house burnt beyond repair.

5. Tenney High School • In 1951, the Tenney family gave 26 acres to the town for a High School, which was called Tenney High School. The school is now called Tenney Grammar School.

6. Civil War Memorial • The Tenney family had this monument built in 1888 to remember the men and women who fought in the Civil War.

7. Edward Francis Searles • Mr. Searles was born on July 4, 1841. He married Mary Hopkins, who was 22 years older than he was. She left her entire estate to Mr. Searles when she died 4 years after they married. He also left many gifts to the town of Methuen, such as…

8. Serlo Organ Hall/Methuen Memorial Organ Hall • The Methuen Memorial Organ Hall is located on Broadway. Mr. Searles had this built to has the beautiful Boston Music Hall Organ that he bought in 1897.

9. Searles Estate

10. The Searles Estate • The Searles Estate partly consisted of the beautiful Searles Castle, the chime tower, and the Stone wall that he had built to surround his estate for privacy. • The stone wall was built around trees because he did not want to cut any of them down. • The bell tower was built in 1895, and was recently renovated.

11. The Red Tavern and Searles Building • The Red Tavern was built by Mr. Searles and used as a guest house. He built it by putting many different houses together. It is located on Pleasant St. and is used as offices and a restaurant. • The Searles Building was originally built as a high school. It is now used as City Hall.

12. David Nevins, Sr • David Nevins was the third of the “city fathers.” He was born December 12,1809. He became wealthy and world famous for his manufacturing of “duck cloth,” which was used for sailing. His family’s gifts to Methuen include…

13. The Nevins Memorial Library • The Nevins Memorial Library took 3 years to build. The project was started by Mr. Nevins, but he died before it was finished. Mrs. Nevins and her sons finished the project in his name. The hall on the second floor was used for the high school graduation. The library was recently renovated and is used by many people in the Merrimack Valley.

14. Angel of Life • This beautiful statue was created by the Nevins Family in honor of David Nevins. Imported trees and flowers were brought from all over the world to surround the statue. The Nevins family is buried around the statue. It was built in 1896 by C. Moretti.

15. The Nevins Estate • Mr. Nevins made his home on the corner of Hampshire St. and Broadway. The family left the home and property to the town of Methuen to use as a hospital. Today it is called the Quinn Public Safety Building and houses the police station and public health department. • The farm section of the estate was given to the M.S.P.C.A. in 1917, and is called the Nevins Farm and Equine Center. This was the first M.S.P.C.A. built outside of Boston. Today it is home to many different animals, and has recently had a major renovation.