Pittsfield Historical Society’s

History of Pittsfield

Dr. John Woodcock’s House

Submitted in 2006 by his daughter, Jane Woodruff

House History

Location: Formerly 31 Somerset Avenue, address changed to 287 Somerset Avenue.
Owner: Dr. John Woodcock, D.V.M.
Description: 2½ story wood frame house with separate two story two car garage with office

Background:
• Date built unknown, although the house can be seen in the 1889 illustration by George Norris inside the covers of Sanger Cook’s book “Pittsfield on the Sebasticook”.
• Purchased in 1949 by John and Laura Woodcock as a two family home. At that time there was an attached barn and a balcony on the second floor (see photos) on the east side of the house.
• First floor reinforced with cedar logs placed in basement to support joints.
• Became a one family home after initial couple years.
• On west side door and porch added to main house, while an additional building also was added in 1952 which served as the office for Dr. Woodcock’s veterinary practice as well as a “2 car garage” which in actuality was a one car garage and one horse stall. A run for dogs was on the west side of this building.
• Kitchen remodeled in 1956 second floor bathroom moved from rear of house to central location displacing a small bedroom.
• Extensive remodeling to rear second floor area after damage due to chimney fire in 1979; rest of home sustained smoke damage with the Woodcock’s being unable to live in it for five months.