The land on which this building now sits was owned by Commodore John Rodgers and his wife, Minerva Rodgers. When Minerva died in 1877 her estate sold it to Henry C. Lawder (1842-1921) and his wife, Esther, in 1890. In 1895, Michael H. Fahey (1865-1940) bought this property and in 1913 sold it to his brother, James H. Fahey (1862-1931), who built this three-bay stucco-over brick structure as a tavern with sleeping quarters on the two floors above. The “Hotel Fahey, James H. Fahey,” is listed with telephone service here in a 1916 telephone directory. James and his wife, Mary, sold the property to Lambert C. and Margaret Pohl in 1918 who moved their bakery here from 134 North Washington Street. They operated the “Daylite Bakery” here until an accident in April 1926 when, while he was firing the boiler at his plant, Lambert’s clothes caught fire and he died at the age of 47. One daughter, Julia, married Samuel Carle Coakley, and another daughter, Helen Pohl, married Melvin Hartenstine.

Flora Arnold (1880-1968) opened The Fashion Shop here around 1930 after repairs had been made following the fire. It was primarily a millinery store and she advertised that “all the new felts and velvets” had arrived. With the pending Depression, it is doubtful that Flora’s shop lasted too long.

Margaret Pohl then rented the ground floor out to Jimmie’s Lunch Room, that served Chase and Sanborn Drip Coffee, along with home-made cooking, seafood and pies. Jimmie was Jimmie Yiannakis, an immigrant from Greece, who with his wife, Sadie, became grandparents to Joe and Robert Mergler. Local Renee Lust says Jimmie was the very best great-grandfather: “He always had a smile for everyone and used to get on the floor and play with us.” He still made his own Baklava and Rene loved the way he taught her to say his last name—Yiannakis—”You and I kiss.” Jimmie, who continued to operate his restaurant through the Depression, is also remembered for giving many a free meal to those who couldn’t afford food during those times.

In 1941 Margaret Pohl sold the building to Eugene Goll (1908-1985) and Elsa “Elsie” Goll (1908-1993), who previously operated their bakery at 110 North Washington Street, but needed a building with living quarters above it. That facilitated the 3 a.m. start time needed for the bakery. Eugene and Elsie had emigrated from Stuttgart, Germany, met in Philadelphia, married in December 1930, came to Havre de Grace on their honeymoon and never left! The Golls baked bread, rolls, doughnuts, pies and fancy cakes. During the 1940s, Goll’s is known for having very large ovens and on Thanksgiving mornings would roast turkeys for those whose ovens were too small for turkeys. Clayton and Mary Stansbury from South Stokes Street is one such family that remembers the Golls roasting their turkeys.

Operated for many years by Robert K. “Bobbie” Goll, Sr. (son of Eugene and Elsie) and his wife, Wilma, it was operated by Susan “Susie” Goll (the daughter of Bobbie and his first wife, Mary) since Bobbie retired at 85 in 2020. Susie was happy to have her son and stepdaughter help out in the shop at times. Undoubtedly the city’s oldest family-run business, Goll’s Bakery used the same baking equipment and big ovens purchased and used by Eugene and Elsie Goll decades ago. They also have a “cookie stamp” that is more than 100 years old! Many years ago, Rose Mary Gamatoria helped the Golls as a teenager by taking care of their children while Elsie baked with Eugene. Most of the Golls have worked side-by-side at times, either baking with the exact family recipes passed down from generation to generation or in the shop. Many locals had their wedding cakes made by Goll’s Bakery, as did Linda Rosenkrans in 1968, who 25 years after that had them bake her a replica for their 25th Wedding Anniversary.

On the occasion of Goll’s 88th anniversary in Havre de Grace, Trish Hawley Sexton said to them, “My Dad’s family have been customers pretty much from the beginning. I’ve had all my birthday cakes from you (I’ll be 51 on Tuesday) and I’ve gotten all my son’s cakes from you too. . . I grew up with Thanksgiving pies, tarts all year, éclairs, cookies, etc.” And Gwendolyn Durbin said, “Congratulations to Goll’s Bakery! I’ve been buying your éclairs since I was a tot and I’m 70 years old!” Goll’s Bakery celebrated their 90th year in business on December 1, 2020, with a proclamation from the Harford County Council and another from the City of Havre de Grace. After the January 2023 death of Robert K. “Bobbie” Goll, Sr. his heirs sold this property to Susan Goll. Susan sold the property in March 2024 to William Pace Putland, a well-known Havre de Grace resident and son of the late William Albert Putland, a prominent resident.

County Records
Built 1900. 5948 sq ft, 4000 sq ft lot, retail store.