It is difficult in this case, as in some others, to ascertain the exact year this house was built. Harford County Records show 1930 as the “built date,” but it is known that the county’s dates for Havre de Grace have most often in the past been inaccurate. Deeds generally describe the location of the lot or land but don’t state whether there is a house on the lot. A phrase included in deeds is “with improvements”; legal advice has shown, however, that this is intended as an all-inclusive expression rather than meaning there is a building on the property.

In 1884 the land on which this house stands was sold by William and Barbara Meekins to Conrad Krouse (1844-1905) and his wife, Anna Dreschler Krouse (1855-1911). Barbara Meekins was Anna Krouse’s sister. Both Conrad and Anna’s families were of German descent, with Conrad having moved to Havre de Grace in 1870. Conrad and Anna sold this property within one year and are known to have lived in Aberdeen until the death of Conrad in 1905, having served for 12 years as a Commissioner in Aberdeen. William Meekins, who sold this land to Conrad in 1884 was a pallbearer along with five of Conrad Krouse’s sons at his funeral.

Conrad and Anna sold this property in 1885 to Abraham P. McCombs (1824-1916) and his wife, Maria. Abraham was a successful businessman and banker who headed the Havre Iron Company and invested in other properties. The McCombs sold this property to Margaret Dreschler in 1900, a relative of Anna Dreschler Krouse. It is thought probable that Margaret built this home.

When Margaret Dreschler died in 1932 she left this property to Gladys Greenleaf Day. She and her husband, John H. Day, mortgaged it with the Columbian Building Association who later sold it to William Trench, Jr., a WWI veteran born in 1882, and his wife, Theodosia Trench. After the death of Theodosia in 1974, the property was owned by Mary Gibson and Charles Duffy, to whom Theodosia bequeathed it.

New purchasers in 1975 were Willard J. Anderson, Jr. and Lynn K. Anderson, his wife. In 1986, however, their joint ownership of the property ended and a court awarded this property to Lynn K. Anderson, who promptly deeded it to her name as well as her brother’s, James T. Odom.

Unfortunately, in 2000, James Odom suffered a traumatic brain injury in a sailing accident on the water near the Havre de Grace Marina. Although he underwent several surgeries, he was in a coma for four months. His sister, Lynn Anderson, by this time had married Thomas Stadterman and she became a strong advocate for James and his recovery. It led to her appointment to the board of directors of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland, Inc. Upon his release from hospital, James Odom went to live with his father in Churchville.

Since 2004, this home has been owned by Thomas and Lynn Stadterman, for whom it appears to be an investment property and they live elsewhere.

County Records
Built 1930. 1416 sq ft, 2 stories, 1 bath, detached garage, 3000 sq ft lot.