MARLBOROUGH – Throughout Marlborough’s neighborhoods, shoe barons sited their high-style homes near factory worker housing and factories. One of the finest mansions was embellished with delicate details. It had slender columns, turrets, a fancy porch, four corner chimneys and enough trellised roses to be a flower shop. Thus, author Ella A. Bigelow included its romantic stories in her book “Historical Reminiscences of the Early Times in Marlborough, Massachusetts.”
The home at 63 Maple Street was not in Queen Anne architectural form until John O’Connell purchased it. Richard Farwell, Esquire, built it in Federal/Greek Revival style around 1835. The prominent lawyer married the daughter of Marlborough’s first attorney. Evidently, the bride, Caroline Brigham, did not object to court sessions being conducted in their home nor prisoners being held in basement cells.
The spacious yard featured a pond fed by a brook dribbling down Spring Hill and along Main Street. A cupola topped one of the barns. Later another pair of newlyweds wanted to make the picturesque residence their home. The two voyaged from Ireland, but not together.
Young John O’Connell traveled alone to America, but had the blessings of his father and pastor, the benefit of private schooling, and two years of solid working experience as a store clerk. He wanted to sail to America to make his fortune in California’s gold fields.
After landing in Boston, the ambitious O’Connell worked hard to afford the next leg of his western journey. Soon he bought his ticket to California. However, he met Bridget Kelleher, and was so smitten with the Irish lass that he ended up selling his ticket and moving only slightly west to Maple Street, Marlborough with her.
The two became a solid couple, supporting each other through business ventures, investments, public service, patriotism, educational presentations, community networks, spiritual guidance and nine offspring.
O’Connell learned the shoe trade, began business on Howe Street, built his own shoe factory and coal business by the railroad and owned much of Marlborough’s real estate. He was the first Irish-American elected selectman, the city’s third mayor, an incorporator of Peoples National Bank and Marlborough City Hospital, and director of the Marlborough Board of Trade. His Irish hometown’s name is still atop the four storied Middleton Block, the dark red commercial building on Main Street housing the McDonald Hotel.
Although one of Marlborough’s most important citizens, O’Connell impressed others with his modesty. He never reached California’s mines, but the riches he reaped and created for others in Marlborough were immense.
