The modern property 137 E.
Main St. occupies most of Lot 55, the portion on the corner of E. Main and N.
Church Streets. The lot was divided in
two in 1929, recombined in 1944, and then in 1954 cut into a large L-shaped
section containing the modern large brick house on the corner, with the
northeast corner section containing the modern shop that faces N. Church
St.
Where two dates are given,
the first is the date that the deed was made and actually signed, and the date
in parentheses is the date when it was copied and recorded at the
courthouse. Buyers and sellers in the
later deeds are from Washington County unless otherwise noted. Name spellings varied as written in each deed
abstract. Expressions from the deeds are
copied and paraphrased where it seems useful.
137 E. Main St., 2-story brick over log with large brick addition in
rear. The deeds we have so far indicate
that a modest house may have been there in 1799. By 1818 it is clear from the price that a
substantial structure was up, probably the main brick section.
This house was reputed to be
one of the oldest in town, some said predating the town, but the 1765 deed
doesn’t indicate any structures. An
older house could have been there and demolished, or
they might not have bothered to mention a house, or it may have been overlooked
in the abstract (ref for 1765 is Patricia Abelard Andersen).
[Items in square brackets are
comments or clarifications.]
George Peter Deaker bought
from Joseph Chapline
7 September, 1765
(recorded 10 September, Frederick Co. Liber J, folio
1307-8)
for 1
shilling
Lot 55, 103
x 206’. [Quit rent and Ruhammah’s
release of dower not noted in PAA’s abstract, but
probably were in the deed.]
[missing
deed(s): didn’t find GP Deaker’s sale in Frederick or
Washington Co., nor Peter Dick’s purchase in Washington Co.]
George Keifer,
Junr. bought
from Jacob Hauser and George Keifer, Snr., Executors for Peter Dick
14 March, 1799
(recorded 25 March, Washington Co. Liber L, folio
579-80)
for ₤230
Lot 55, 103
x 206’, with profits, advantages and appurtenances. Rent to Joseph Chapline of 3s 6p sterling
annually on the 9th of July.
[This price is high enough to suggest that there were one or more modest
structures.]
Jacob Stops bought from George Keifer,
Junr.
29 August, 1812
(recorded 2 January, 1813, Liber Y, folio 502)
for $700
Lot 55, 103
x 206’, with profits, advantages and appurtenances. Rent to Joseph Chapline of 3s 6p sterling
on the 9th of July yearly.
Wife Margaret Keifer released Dower.
Adam Michael bought from Jacob Stops
6 April, 1818
(recorded 16 May, Liber CC, folio 772-4)
for
$1,200
Lot 55, 103
x 206’, with houses, out houses, buildings, improvements, profits and
appurtenances. Rent to proprietor Joseph Chapline of 5s 10p annually on the 9th of July
[not the normal 3s 6p for a Town lot].
Caleb and David Michael bought from Adam Michael
9 November, 1871
(recorded same day, Liber WMcKK
No. 3, folio 782-3)
for
$3,000
House and
Lot 55, 103 x 206’, adjoining the lot of Jno. H. Smith [Lot 54; labeled “J.H. Smith” in the 1877
Atlas], being the same that was conveyed to Adam by Jacob Stope
by deed dated April 16th, 1818.
Second, 32 acres in
Washington Co., bounded on the East by Jacob Coffman’s land, West by Philip
Grove, deceased’s, North by Thomas Buchanan deceased’s, and South by the lands
of Col. John Miller, formerly John Myers, being the same that was conveyed to
Adam by Mary T. Hays and Daniel Weisel, Executors of
Jos. C. Hays, by deed dated May 30th, 1848.
Third, Antietam Iron Works Lot No. 206½, giving the metes and
bounds, containing 13 ac, 3 roods and 11 square perches. Caleb and
David are to hold all of this as tenants in common. No rent is mentioned. [see deed below for
more info]
This deed resulted from a
Circuit Court case in Washington Co. brought by Caleb and David and pending
against Adam. [This seems to have been a
common way in the mid-1800’s to divide an estate when the owner died intestate,
and was not necessarily adverserial.]
Samuel Michael bought from Caleb & Catherine Michael (of
Washington Co.) and David & Ellen G. Michael (of Marion Co.,
Indiana)
28 October, 1872
(recorded 29 July, 1873, Liber WMcKK
No. 6, folio 19)
for $5
House and Lot 55, 103 x 206’,
plus 32 acres, plus Antietam Iron Works Lot No. 206½,
all as described in the 1871 deed.
This deed resulted from an
agreement by and between Adam, Samuel, Caleb and David Michael that the suit
that caused the previous [1871] deed be withdrawn, and then Caleb and David
convey the same property to Samuel. It
says that Samuel has withdrawn the suit.
[This deed says that the
property was sold by the sellers “In consideration of the premises,” plus the
$5 fee. It may sound like Caleb and
David would be allowed to live there, but “premises” was used loosely, occasionally
in the description of an Out lot, on which houses and other buildings (other
than barns and stables) were specifically prohibited. The Equity case documents should tell more.]
Clara C. & Martin L.
Burgan bought from heirs of Samuel
Michael
22 September, 1903
(recorded 17 November, Liber 118, folio 628)
for $1000
House and Lot 55, 103 x 206’,
bounded by Main and Church Streets, the alley to the north, and the property of
John P. Smith to the west [John Philemon Smith?].
Lillian Carnahan bought from Martin L. & Edna G. Burgan and
Clara Catherine Peterman, widow,
11 March, 1929
(recorded 13 May, Liber 182, folio 639)
for $10
[The northern] part of Lot
55, with frame Stable, 103 x 77’, beginning 129’ from the corner of Main and
Church Streets., fronting 77’ on the west marginal line of Church, bordering
the alley to its north, and running along that 103’ to the property now owned
by William Smith. Cites the 1903
deed, but says that this is the same property, rather than a part of it.
Following this was recorded a
mortgage:
Citizens Bank of Keedysville
mortgaged to Lillyan K. & Houston E.
Carnahan
11 May, 1929
(recorded 13 May, Liber 182, folio 639-40
for $600
For the
above property, same description. To be repaid with interest
of 6% per annum, payable semi-annually, [and due] 11 May, 1930. They are obliged to maintain insurance on the
improvements of at least $600.
Nellie Michael and Bertie Michael bought from Harold P.
Hoffman & John D. Hallyday, Assignees
12 March, 1935
(recorded 15 March, Liber 198, folio 26-7)
for $10
[paid $1905 earlier at auction]
House and
southern part of Lot 55, fronting 103’ on Main St., x 129’ deep. The sellers
were Assignees for the mortgage from Mrs. Clara Catherine Peterman to John J.
& Florence A. Carey (Liber 194, folio 298). Clara had defaulted on the mortgage, and the
property was sold to the Michaels at public auction in front of the Court House
in Hagerstown on Tuesday, January 8, 1935, for $1905. This deed was made for $10.
Nellie Michael bought from Houston E. & Lillian K. Carnahan
29 November, 1937
(recorded 4 December, Liber 205, folio 413)
for $10
The northern third of Lot 55,
starting 129’ from the intersection of Church & Main Streets, fronting 77’
on Church St., 103’ deep along the alley to the property of William Smith, with
frame stable and garage. [is this garage the modern structure?]
[Have not
yet searched the later deeds for this parcel.]
Lester M. & Mary I. Mose bought from Bertie
I. Michael & Nellie V. Michael, both unmarried
7 June, 1944
(recorded 8 June, Liber 226, folio 590)
for $10
Lot 55, 103
x 206’, with improvements. Lester M. & Mary I. Mose
mortgaged this with Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank 8 June, 1944 (recorded after
the deed on 8 June, Liber 226, folio 590-1) for $1200. The mortgage only mentions “improvements,”
and maintaining insurance on them.
James Ira Feltner & wife bought
from Lester M. & Mary I. Mose
13 April, 1954
(recorded same day, Liber 281, folio 207)
for $10
House and [¾ of] Lot 55, 103
x 214.8’ [L-shaped], beginning at the SE corner of the dwelling. This point is 12.45’ North
of the curb on Main Street, and 4.1’ West of the curb on Church St. The property line runs 103’ on the North
marginal line of Main St., 214.8’ back [North] to the alley, 43’ East along the alley, 82’ South to a stake, 60’ East to the
West marginal line of Church St., and 132.8’ back to the beginning.
The Main Street boundary runs
S 69°50’ W, 103’, and runs back along the East face of the tile retaining wall
along the West side of the present drainage ditch N 20°10’ W, 214.8’...
James and his wife Nellie
each received an undivided one-half interest.
[This may be the earliest
deed to mention the street names and the drain channel, part of the system
built in the low elevations of the town for flood control. The lot is in this deed 8.8 feet longer than
before, possibly granted after re-routing the alley a bit around that
channel. This is the first deed I’ve
seen for any lot that gives distances from the curbs.]
Gardner & Mary L.
Burgan bought from E. Marion &
Myrtle Gray Feltner, James I. Feltner,
Jr. & Mildred Batten Feltner, David L. &
Elizabeth Feltner Small, Howard C. & Catherine
May Feltner Small, and Willard L. & Bertha Feltner Aikens
18 October, 1966
(recorded same day, Liber 447, folio 422-4)
House and
[¾ of] Lot 55, 103 x 214.8’ L-shape, as described in 1954. The property
had devolved to Nellie Virginia Feltner after her
husband James Ira Feltner, Sr. died, and she willed
it in Wills Liber 26, folio 421 to her children E.
Marion, James, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Bertha, who now sell it.
James L. & Francis L.
Abbott bought from Gardner &
Mary L. Burgan
8 December, 1972
(recorded same day, Liber 552, folio 286)
House and
[¾ of] Lot 55, 103 x 214.8’ L-shape, as above.
Mary Burgan bought from James L. & Francis L. Abbott
25 June, 1976
(recorded same day, Liber 617, folio 326)
House and
[¾ of] Lot 55, 103 x 214.8’ L-shape, as above.
Willis Baker bought from Mary Burgan
__, 1980
(recorded 10 December, Liber 710, folio 890)
House and
[¾ of] Lot 55, 103 x 214.8’ L-shape, as above, brick house with basement [from
SDAT].