Hothouses & Greenhouses on Pleasant Street
The house at 18 Pleasant Street appears to have been built ca. 1865, possibly for Orlando L. Richmond who also owned the 28 Pleasant Street property in 1869. Richmond co-owned the O. L. Richmond & Co. meat and provisions store at 29 Elm Street and resided on Pleasant Street through at least 1884. In 1893, George Henry Mass purchased the home and land “for the purpose of growing and selling cut flowers, plants, seeds, and vegetables.” Mass was previously the former head gardener for the Billings family.
“Maintenance of the Mansion grounds, including the Mansion lawn, Garden, and Hothouses, continued to be under the daily oversight of the head gardener, who managed a workforce of between sixteen and twenty men from the spring through the fall, and about five or six during the winter.” “George Mass, the head gardener whom Frederick Billings has hired in 1875, continued in the position until November 7, 1893, when he left to pursue his own commercial greenhouse business.” George Mass operated his greenhouse business for 31 years. It appears to have been a prolific business. In Mass’ Catalogue of Greenhouse and Bedding Plants, you could purchase the following:
Novelties & Specialties in Plants, Flower Seeds, and Vegetable Seeds
General Vegetable Seeds & Choice Flower Seeds and seedlings
Greenhouse & Bedding Plants
Hardy Herbaceous Perrenials, Hardy Shrubs, Climbing Plants, Hedge Plants
Fresh Flowers
18 Pleasant Street
Mass’ Greenhouse (1893-1924); Eaton’s Greenhouse (1924-1941)
There was an accident in June 1908 at Mass’ greenhouses. The two story building located in the center of the two greenhouses and near the river, slipped down the bank after a heavy rain.
Ernest W. Morris resided at 18 Pleasant Street by 1924 and operated the Eaton & Morris florist business on the property. In 1925, Robert Eaton owns the floral business and resides at this address until at least 1941. People still refer to it as the Eaton House. Image from July 1925 Sanborn map.