This property of two lots fronting on Washington Street and extending back to Lodge Lane was owned by Edward and Bridget Busher until the death of Edward in 1889, when he fell into the Jones Falls near Baltimore. Bridget, his widow, then married John Shields and together they sold this property in 1903 to Sylvester E. Penning (1840-1929). He was an attorney for City Building and Loan Association of Havre de Grace and was appointed by the Governor as a Justice of the Peace in 1908. It was reported that the Pennings hosted a large wedding for their daughter, Elise Penning, to John Coulbourn in 1907 at their home, complete with the Nichols’ Orchestra of Baltimore. Sylvester and his wife, Alice, owned this home until 1918 when they sold it to Harry and Elizabeth Jones.

After five years, Harry and Elizabeth Jones sold the property to Edith M. Dinsmore (1865-1949) (also known as Edith Mary Hipkins Gorsuch Dinsmore) who was married to W. Scott Dinsmore (1858-1943). In 1927, the Dinsmores rented this property to Hatcher Daniel Gordon (1886-1968) and his wife, Eva Gorsuch Gordon (1895-1953). Hatcher was originally a house carpenter but later became a locomotive crane operator at the Aberdeen Proving Ground for 31 years. Hatcher and Eva had married in 1911 in Elkton and had six children, Lowell, Dorsey, Dick, Pidge, Fred, and Betty Gordon, all of whom were very musical. In 1940, Hatcher and Eva Gordon bought the house from the Dinsmores.

Hatcher and Eva Gordon were Mary Schlee Lacey’s grandparents (through her mother, Betty Gordon) and Mary has fond memories of sitting on the porch swing of the house, which was painted yellow at that time. After Eva Gordon died in 1953 Hatcher rented out the upstairs—Jim Andrews recalls renting an apartment on the second floor from Hatcher when he and his wife, Pat, were first married. Hatcher, who was in progressively declining health, died of a heart attack in 1968. His two sons sold the property.

In 1970, Cameron S. Hebditch, Jr. (1939-1995) and his wife, Michele Hebditch, purchased the property and had a son, Jeffrey Hebditch. Michele remembers that there were grape vines growing in the back garden then (now gone because outbuildings cover the back garden.) Jay Narvell recalls spending many hours in this house with Jeff Hebditch when he was growing up. Cameron Hebditch was the nephew of the late Ruth Hebditch Sale, who was well known in the city. This house underwent a major renovation in 1983 and now has several rental units; several additions cover the land reaching to Lodge Lane in the rear of the original house.

The property continues to be owned by Michele Hebditch and her son, Jeffrey Hebditch, and appears to be an investment property because they live elsewhere.

County Records
Built 1860. 3998 sq ft, 2 stories, no basement, 4 baths, 6000 sq ft lot.