This parcel of land included two lots, one of which was sold by William B. Stokes (born 1783), son of Robert Young Stokes, in 1806 to John Wareham (1781-1855). John bought the second lot from Sarah McCall that same year. It is likely that it was John Wareham who built a house here in 1806 (one that in 1925 Hiram Cobourn moved to 511 Warren Street and known now as the Beachley House) prior to his serving in the War of 1812. The heirs of Margaret Wareham Hoopman sold this entire property, which stretched from Union Avenue west to Freedom Alley, in 1852 to John T. Wareham (1795-1870). John and his wife Louisa (1805-1865) sold the land and house four years later to the PB&W Railroad Company—the land abuts the train tracks.

The PB&W Railroad sold the property in 1915 to Hiram E. Cobourn (1880-1946) and his wife, Daisy. Hiram worked as plant superintendent for the Municipal Utilities Commission. They moved the house to the western part of the property so that it faced Warren Street, and they divided and sold the front part of the land (facing Union Avenue) to the Standard Oil Company in 1925. An old picture postcard of the Harford House shows the house on this lot before it was moved to face Warren Street. It is easily identified by the sloping wall on the rear of the house shown on the postcard. This property was across the street from the Lafayette Hotel (now known as Post No.47 of the American Legion) and, more importantly, the entrance to the double-decker bridge. It is not surprising that Standard Oil opened a gas station on the lot.

The 1930s to 1940s were a prime time for visitors attending The Graw racetrack and the city was very busy. On the side of the gas station was a small taxi stand, Montville Taxi, with cars often driven by local barber Johnny Duff as well as Roger Williams, Jim Andrews, and Roy Spicer. Another popular driver was Roy Lee “Hillbilly” Dunford because “he was kind and helped people carry their packages.” And Michael Sheppard says, “If you lived in HdG back in the day, you knew who ‘Hillbilly’ was. He was one of the Good People.” Completing what was called “Lafayette Square” in the late 1940s was the very small Mid-City Diner, also called The Old Bridge Diner, facing onto Union Avenue by the railroad bridge. Larry Sampson says his Uncle George and Catherine “Kate” Greininger managed the diner and Larry’s parents met while working in the diner.

In 1942, the Standard Oil Company sold the property to Oliver Ergood Sutor, Jr. (1901-1977) and his wife, Amber, who had one child, Marvin Oliver Sutor (1924-2003). The Sutors continued to have a gas station dominating this corner property for several years, after which it became Danny Polk’s garage. In 1946, Oliver Sutor deeded the property to his wife, Amber Sutor. After the American Legion purchased the former Lafayette Hotel property across the street in 1947, this corner became known as “Legion Square.” And the Greyhound bus station that used to be in the Lafayette Hotel became part of the gas station.

At some time, this corner property changed completely from being the gas station and taxi stand to a small row of shops with a parking lot facing Union Avenue and still known as Legion Square. It is most likely that this happened after the 1972 death of Amber Sutor when ownership was conveyed to her son, Marvin O. Sutor, who owned the property until 1999.

Several shops did business in the new Legion Square, but the most memorable for people seems to be The Country Flower Shop, opened in the early 1970s by Richard Craig Tome (1950-2021). Richard was the son of S. K. “Doc” Tome and Leah B. Tome of Port Deposit. He served as a Havre de Grace city council member in 2001, and is credited with others for beginning the Annual Duck Drop on New Year’s Eve. And, with Jean Myers, for the tradition of placing luminaries along Union Avenue for the Annual Candlelight Tours.

In addition to selling flowers and designing flower arrangements, Richard had a greenhouse behind the shop where he grew hundreds of chrysanthemum plants for the fall season. In June 1986, Richard opened a small putting green adjoining the shop that had a fountain, which teenagers enjoyed—particularly Mark Hemler who liked to pour bubble bath into the fountain! In 1994, Richard opened a new showroom with interior siding and floors being material from a century-old Cecil County barn.

Joe Roberts, who used to pick up deliveries from Richard, says Richard always had a stack of scratch-off lottery tickets in his hand and a “big wad of chewing tobacco in his cheek.” Other stores in Legion Square around then were a flag shop, a uniform shop, The Medicine Shop with Joe Freeman as the pharmacist, and Starbird Canvas. Having owned Legion Square for about 25 years, Marvin Sutor deeded it to his son, David Sutor, in 1999. About one year later, however, David Sutor sold all of the Legion Square property to Richard C. Tome.

By about 2002, Richard had created an impressive and decorative model train garden with seven trains running through it and an additional three trains in the shop area, which were very popular at Christmas time. In 2005, desiring to retire and head west, Richard sold the entire property to 500 North Union Avenue, LLC. The following year, Gryphon’s Jewelry store opened here (having moved from St. John Street), owned by Jeffrey Owen and Nicholle Mogavero. And also in Legion Square for a short time were Frank’s Grotto Company and The Straw Horse. And with the Country Flower Shop having closed, the River City Garden Center opened here for a couple of years in 2006, run by Bill and Gay Lynn Price.

Having been owned for about four years by 500 North Union Avenue, LLC, the property was sold at public auction in 2009 to the highest bidder, 500 North Union Venture, LLC, of St. John Street, which continues to own the property. However, all the buildings of Legion Square were demolished in 2013 to accommodate construction of a 7-Eleven convenience store which is now located here.

County Records
884 sq ft, 4615 sq ft lot.