The exact age of this house is unknown but Dr. Bickford lived here in 1859. Bickford was a physician who moved to Dover from Durham in 1848. He was mayor of Dover 1861—1862. Dr. Bickford died in 1869 and less than one year later, his youngest daughter Fannie married Elisha Rhodes Brown, clerk at Strafford National Bank. The young couple moved in with the widow Bickford. Mrs. Bickford died in 1896 and Elisha Brown continued to live her until his death in 1922. At the time of his death, he was president of the Strafford National Bank and the Concord and Portsmouth Railroad. He was also a director of the B&M Railroad. After the death of Elisha Brown, his son Harold who had lived next door at 38 Silver moved into the house and lived here until 1934 when he sold it to Roy B. Ireland.
From the1987 Heritage Walking Tour booklet