This property, including the building, at the northwest corner of Freedom Lane and Fountain Street was conveyed by Walter and Elizabeth Preston in 1902 to Mary and A. Lee Coale. In time, their marriage evolved into a contentious dispute which resulted in the Circuit Court issuing a Separation Agreement in 1912 and this property being granted to Harvey Coale. It appears that he sold it the same year to Isaac and Elizabeth Hecht, of the Hecht Hotel family, who immediately sold it to Frank E. Ansalvish and his wife, Mary. They owned it from 1912 until 1919, during which it may have been an investment property.

This home witnessed three young men leave to serve in WWI. The first was Hugh J. Murray, who was born in Havre de Grace in 1900, and living at this address when he enlisted in the National Guard in May 1917. He was promoted to Private First Class in March 1918 and Corporal in November 1918. He was wounded in October 1918 and received his honorable discharge on June 4, 1919. Corporal Murray’s name is listed on the Honor Roll at Tydings Park.

Next to leave was Percy E. Coakley who was born in Havre de Grace in 1893 and living at this address upon his induction into the Army in May 1918. He was the first of three Coakley brothers who served in WWI. He was in the 9th Training Battalion, Depot Brigade; and Company G of the 313th Infantry. He was severely wounded in September 1918 and treated at Camp Meade Hospital in Maryland. He was honorably discharged on January 29, 1919 and moved home with his parents, Eugene and Myrtle Coakley, and his siblings at 352 Bourbon Street.

Walter Ruley Coakley was born in Havre de Grace in 1895 and was living at this address when he enlisted in June 1918, as a Shipfitter Second Class. He served at 5th Naval District beginning June 28, 1918, and was honorably discharged November 30, 1918. Shipfitter Coakley is listed on the Roll of Honor at Tydings Park. Walter Coakley also returned home to live with parents Eugene and Myrtle Coakley on Bourbon Street. He worked for about 40 years at the Perry Point Veterans Hospital.

In 1919, Myrtle and Eugene Coakley owned this building and in 1930 they sold it to Donald B. Inman (1879-1961) and his wife, India. During the 1930s and 1940s they ran Inman’s Grocery Store. In 1938, they advertised “fresh and smoked meats; fresh fruits and vegetables; home-killed chickens,” and “Bethel Springs Drinking Water.” It has been said that at around this time, William F. “Bill” Wallett, Jr. (1898-1968) and his wife, Ada, may have run the grocery store prior to opening their own popular store “Wallett’s Market” at the corner of South Juniata and Revolution Streets in 1941. The Inmans sold the store to Jane Disbrow’s father and mother, Vernon and Mary Disbrow, in 1948. The Disbrows ran the grocery store for about 15 years before selling it to Joe and Sara Jefferson who had lost their lease from their store at the corner of Stokes and Green Streets.

Thomas Vincenti remembers that when his family lived on Fountain Street, his mother would send him to Jeffersons’ for items and “Mr. J” would total up everything in pencil on the brown paper bag so his Mom would know how much she owed. During the 1960s people used to say that whatever Lawder’s store on Stokes Street didn’t have you could get at the Jeffersons’ store.

In 1970 this property was bought by Frank Baldwin (1938-2003) and Otis Irwin who ran the Ontario Printing Company, which did full-service printing beginning in 1972. In 1988, however, Otis B. Irwin, who lives in Aberdeen, became the sole owner of this property. His wife, Bettylou Irwin, died in 2008 after 56 years of marriage.

County records
Built 1920. 1461 sq ft, two stories, 1 bath, 2154 sq ft lot.