This large and stately Georgian house is directly across Commerce Street from Tydings Park and the City Marina at the southeast corner of Union Avenue and Commerce Street. It used to sit on a much larger parcel of land (Lots 494, 500, and 506 in Square 259). In 1919, attorney Michael H. Fahey (1865-1940) and his wife, Mary Fahey (1868-1939), held the mortgage for this unimproved rectangular lot that extended from the southeast corner of Union Avenue to Lodge Lane, north to Giles Street, west to Union Avenue, and south again to Commerce Street. There were “annual pitched and cultivated crops” on all of these lots.

The Faheys sold the land in 1922 (after default by a previous owner) to John and Mary Carpenter of Philadelphia who quickly sold it to Edmund W. and Mary G. Kelso of Havre de Grace. In 1925, the Kelsos sold the property to Sarah E.W. Hopkins and her husband, Dr. J. Lee Hopkins (1873-1932). Dr. Hopkins was a surgeon who was City Health Officer in 1902, President of the Harford County Medical Association in 1913, and City Treasurer during the 1920s. Dr. and Mrs. Hopkins are said to have built this home in 1925, having had it designed by Baltimore architects Harry P. Hopkins and Alan Burton.

After the death of Dr. Hopkins in 1932, it appears that Mrs. Hopkins continued to live here for a time. In 1941, however, attorney Michael H. Fahey sold the property to T. Milton Carroll, Sr. (who was Mayor from 1915 to 1917) and his wife, Christine. They had two grown children, one of whom was Mary Allen Carroll to whom they deeded this in 1942. It was her home for many years until her death in July 2005. Her estate sold the property in 2006 to Mary Martin, who had the property subdivided into two lots. Mary Martin is well known in Havre de Grace for owning the vintage postcard business known as Mary Martin Postcards (said to be “the largest vintage postcard shop in America”).

In 2007, Mary Martin sold the original Carroll home and lot to Joseph and Elaine Fiocchi, retaining ownership of the second lot. On that she built a large home for herself and her family that is now known as 463 Commerce Street. The Fiocchis installed an abundance of modern features (including a wine storage room) while maintaining its original charm. In 2011, the Fiocchis received an award from the Havre de Grace Historic Preservation Commission for preservation and maintenance of this home and property.

In February 2021, Jim and Tamera Rush bought this historical home from the Fiocchis and moved here with their three children from Forest Hill, Maryland. They have both been involved in fundraising efforts for Harford County nonprofits and Tamera is a member of the Harford County Women’s Giving Circle. They are renovating the kitchen to their needs while enjoying the spectacular view of Tydings Park and the City Yacht Basin.

County Records
Built 1927. 3,300 square feet, 2.5 stories with basement, 2 baths, brick, detached garage, 16,200 sq ft lot.