John Jarves House, 3 Jarves St.

John Jarves House was built in 1857. This beautiful home was a wedding present from Deming to his son John and his new wife, Mary. At the time it was the most expensive and modern house in town. It cost $7,000 to build and boasted 4 fireplaces, indoor plumbing, hot water and gas lighting! In fact the gas came from the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company and there was also gas lighting here on Jarves St. though there is no lighting on either street today!

Mary's world seemed perfect. She was married to a wealthy, handsome man and had two children living in the best home in town. But that rapidly changed. In 1863, John died of TB at age 28. The next year her daughter Bertha died and the following year her son Arthur died. At age 26, Mary was a widow and childless.

However, there is a happy ending to this story. Five years later Mary marries the most respected man in town, none other than Dr. Jonathan Leonard III who was a widower. Mary was 31 and he was 63. At age 70, Dr. Leonard fathered a child and Mary's new son became Jonathan Leonard IV.

The gentleman who now lives in the house is the great grandson of Mary Waterman/Jarves/Leonard.