The lot on which this home was built was one of five lots sold by the Havre Iron Company in 1889, of which A.P. McCombs was President, to Oliver T. Rogers (1859-1922) and Joseph W. Chamberlain (1860-1911). Abram Prizer McCombs (1824-1916) was well-known locally and built the pink Victorian frame home at 120 South Union Avenue in 1880. He also built the A.P. McCombs Building at the corner of North Union Avenue and Franklin Street, which for many years served as the U.S. Post Office.

Oliver Rogers was an attorney practicing in Havre de Grace as was Joseph W. Chamberlain. Joseph Chamberlain represented the John DuBois Company on Market Street as well as being City Attorney for the Mayor and City of Havre de Grace at least from 1904-1908. It is assumed that these owners had the home built shortly after purchasing the lots in 1889.

Owners in the early 1900s were Florence and William C. Pennington (1860-1920). William was the grandson of William Canby Pennington and Eliza who began the well-known Pennington and Son—Funeral Directors and Embalmers. After the death of William, Florence Pennington sold the home in 1921 to Florence S. Springer (1895-1979). She was married to Howard C. Springer, an electrical contractor. The Springers made their home here from 1921 to 1962 where they had four children. Sadly, their two-year-old daughter was bitten by a neighbor’s rabid dog in 1925 and died of rabies.

In 1962, the Springers sold this home to John Ralph and Grace Hewitt. The Hewitts were members of St. John’s Episcopal Church and the Decoy Museum, and supporters of the Susquehanna Hose Company. After John Hewitt’s death in 1989, Grace continued to live here and in 2014 she deeded the home to her two sons, John, Jr. and Barry, but reserved a life estate for herself. Grace Hewitt died just two years later at the age of 92 and her sons sold the home in 2017 to Kevin Purcell and his wife, Bonnie Bradford. This made it more than 50 years that Grace Hewitt lived in the home and they had bought it from the Springers who had lived here for more than 40 years.

While the home obviously was much loved, the Purcells found that it needed a major renovation and update and Kevin set about overseeing that work himself for the next several months, although he says that’s still a work in progress. Kevin and Bonnie opened their home to the 2019 Annual Candlelight Tour. Kevin is a scientist for the U.S. Army Public Health Command, so the interior is decorated in a science-themed Victorian “Steampunk” style. Elements include twin rotating fans above the front-room pool table, and an antique iron stove labeled “Pocahontas” next to an exposed fireplace. A large mirror alongside the pool table was originally brought across the country in a covered wagon by Kevin’s family and a restored wooden phone booth on the first floor is now a coat closet. A rare feature on the second floor is a curved wall in the hallway at the top of the stairs.

Kevin and Bonnie continue to enjoy their “work in progress” and Kevin Purcell now serves on the Havre de Grace Historic Preservation Commission.

County Records
Built 1930. 1979 sq ft, 2.5 stories with basement, 3 baths, detached garage, 7,000 sq ft lot.