The land on which this house sits was owned by Robert Rice Vandiver (1808-1885) who had come to Havre de Grace in 1838 and served several times as a town Commissioner. He and his wife, Mary, were the parents of Murray Vandiver (1845-1916), who became Treasurer for the State of Maryland. When Murray died his heirs inherited this and other properties and they sold this parcel of land to William E. Thompson in 1919. Deeds, unfortunately, at that time did not make it clear as to whether a building existed on the land—a standard clause in deeds that often read, “with improvements,” or “with appurtenances,” appeared in most deeds but consultations with attorneys reveal that such clauses did not mean there was a building on the land. It is likely that this home was built by William E. Thompson between 1919 and 1921 when he sold this property to Charles and Mary E. Lawson. William E. Thompson, along with Barry L. and Mary H. Thompson, incorporated the Thompson Motor Company in Havre de Grace in 1922 according to the Manufacturers Record, of October 5, 1922. He also was an early owner of the property at 414 Market Street.

The Lawsons formerly lived in Perryville, Maryland, and owned this home from 1921 to 1934, when Mary E. Lawson died (having been preceded by Charles). In her Will, Mary Lawson left this property to Carrie S. Wilson, who appears to have already been widowed. After owning the home for 14 years, Carrie sold it in 1948 to Russell H. and Vesta B. Gibson, reserving a life estate for herself (Vesta may have been a sister of Carrie Wilson). Carrie obviously thought that Vesta would outlive her; however, she didn’t—Vesta died in 1951. This resulted in another sale of the home by Russell Gibson and Carrie Wilson to Omer L. Carson and G. Arnold Pfaffenbach in 1954, who were attorneys in the real estate business. Within a year they sold the property to George Grieninger (1917-1985) and his wife, Katherine Grieninger (1917-1997). Larry Sampson said that George was the manager of the Bridge Diner around that time and his wife Katherine was Larry’s aunt.

There is a small building (406 Market Street) just south of the main house that in the late 1950s became a carry-out restaurant called Alice’s Carry-Out Restaurant (earlier in time than Arlo Guthrie’s release). Alice McEwing (1910-1979) rented the space from George and Katherine Grieninger—being south of town where there were few other restaurants, Alice’s was popular for hot and cold subs, sodas, chips, and good hamburgers and did well. In 1966, Alice bought the whole property from the Grieningers and she owned it until she passed away in 1979. Alice may at one point have been married to Arthur McEwing (1910-1980).

Alice McEwing’s estate first sold the property to Michael S. and Martha J. Raynor, but in 1984 a court trustee sold it to Thomas Angelo Vincenti and his wife, Cathy Louise Vincenti. Thomas Vincenti is the grandson of Angelo Vincenti and Teresa Leonardi Vincenti who were Italian immigrants who settled in the northern end of town, where many other Italians lived. Teresa Leonardi came through Ellis Island in 1915 and met Angelo after settling in Havre de Grace. They had eleven children and began a very popular restaurant and bar on Erie Street called The Blue Room.

In 1991, Cathy Vincenti sold her interest in the home to Thomas Vincenti as part of a separation agreement and three years later Thomas added Deborah Gay Vincenti’s name to the deed. The Vincentis continue to own this property, although the former Alice’s Carry-Out building does not appear to be used currently.

County Records
Built 1860. 1864 sq ft, 2 story, basement, 2 baths, 6,400 sq ft lot.