This land was sold by John D. Bartol (1836-1912) and his wife, Anna, in 1898 to Rose F. Sumption, who had been widowed the previous year by the death of Thomas M. Sumption. Sumption, a Civil War veteran, had served as police chief in 1890 and was also known to readers of the Harford Democrat as the correspondent “Ker O. Sene.” John Bartol also was a veteran of the Civil War and served as lighthouse keeper at the Fishing Battery Lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay, and was the Superintendent of the U.S. Fishing Commission. Rose Sumption is assumed to have built this house in 1898 where she lived with her two daughters. Upon her death, she left the house to them, Mattie Baker Thomas and Sue W. Sumption. Sue, however, deeded her rights to her sister, Mattie Thomas, and her husband, Morris Thomas.

In 1939, Mattie and Morris Thomas sold the house to Maurice “Harold” Bonney, Sr. (1897-1971) and his wife, Anna Bonney (1900-1975). Harold’s brother was Charles “Prince” Bonney (1891-1975) who lived at 659 Green Street with their mother, Nellie Starr Bonney. Anna was a teacher in Havre de Grace and during the 1950s Harold Bonney had a printing business and published The Bonney News, a newsletter published “every now and then” from this address. Harold Bonney also served on the City Council during the 1950s.

Harold and Anna Bonney had a son, Maurice Harold Bonney, Jr. (1924-2006), who graduated from the Peabody Institute, and then the Julliard School in New York City, and became a very successful violinist and orchestra conductor around the United States. He also had served during WWII as a musician first class with the Navy orchestra. Around the 1950s, Maurice changed his last name back to what he said was the family’s original name, Dubonnet. He lived for many years in Arizona, where he rode his BMW motorcycle, “The Silver Bullet” and at the age of 81 rode it from Arizona to Massachusetts and back for a music festival. “The Maestro” is engraved on his 2006 grave marker in Mesa, Arizona.

Having lived in this home for more than 30 years, Harold Bonney died in 1971. Anna sold the home the following year to John and Evelyn Ward. John Ward died at 41 years of age in 1983 and his widow, Evelyn, married Charles D. Boyd in 1991. Two years later, the Boyds sold this home to Leslie Skelley and William G. Howard III. In 1998 this home was deeded to Leslie I. Skelly a/k/a Leslie I. Howard who sold it in 2000 to Guy and Courtney Alford.

Since 2006, this home has been owned by John C. Burkhart, Jr. who lives elsewhere and this is an investment property.

County Records
Built 1898. 1931 sq ft, 2 stories with basement, 2 baths, 6000 sq ft lot.