The land on which this house was later built on the corner of Freedom Lane and Alliance Street was sold by the Havre de Grace Bailiff in 1866 to Thomas Anderson. When he died in 1906, his two widowed daughters, Harriet S. Brown and Milcah E. Anderson (1830-1918) became the owners and sold this to Alberta Holliday. It is not possible to discover from records exactly when this house was built (Harford County built dates for Havre de Grace are unreliable and deeds do not provide this) but it seems likely that it was either built by Alberta Holliday between 1906 and 1921, or it was built by the new owners, Abel and Irene Cromwell, in 1921.

Abel Francis Cromwell, served as the principal of the Havre de Grace grammar school from when it opened at 555 Alliance Street for more than 30 years. Construction of the school began in 1910 and it was formally opened in December 1912 at a cost of $1,700, with $200 of that donated the City of Havre de Grace Baltimore Afro American Ledger, December 27, 1912.

After the 1938 death of Irene and the 1956 death of Abel Cromwell, this property continued to be the home of the Cromwell family. Abel and Irene Cromwell’s son was Horace Elkins Cromwell (1914-1986), who was in the first graduating class (1932) of the Havre de Grace Colored School. He was married to Frances Joyner Cromwell (1922-1979) and he also was a WWII veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy. In 1982, Horace Cromwell deeded this home to Emil Elkins Cromwell, his son, and Lelia Cromwell. After 43 years of marriage to Emil, Lelia Cromwell died in 2014.

Emil E. Cromwell graduated in 1961 from the Havre de Grace Consolidated School, received a BS from Maryland State College, two Masters degrees, and has done further post-graduate work at Coppin State College and Morgan State University. He is an educator and motivational speaker-coach. Emil is one of several community members who met in March 2016 to brainstorm how to preserve the building and history of the Havre de Grace Colored School. Having successfully acquired the building at 555 Alliance Street and forming the Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation, this nonprofit organization continues to work to raise funds and transform the building into the Havre de Grace Colored School Museum & Cultural Center. Emil Cromwell serves as a Board member.

Emil Cromwell continues to own this home to which some additions have been made over the years.

County Records
Built 1930. 1522 sq ft, 2.5 stories with basement, 1 bath, 3000 sq ft lot.