The land of this whole block of Union Avenue was sold to George T. Lyon (1816-1891, a member of the firm of A. & G. T. Lyon & Co.) in 1875 and by his Will it was distributed to his widow Maria L. Lyon for her life and afterward to their children. After the death of Maria, the children distributed this home (at the northwest corner of Fountain Street and Union Avenue) in 1910 to Beulah Lyon Spencer (1875-1955), their sister. Beulah had married into the Spencer family (of Spencer-Silver Mansion) by marrying Harry Zehring Spencer (1874-1933). It is most likely that Harry and Beulah Spencer built this house after Beulah acquired the land in 1910.

Harry Spencer having died in 1933, Beulah had her nephew, Thomas S. Lyon, Sr. (1903-1991) and his family move into the house with her. Thomas was the son of Dr. Andrew Lincoln Lyon (1865-1942, who began Lyon’s Pharmacy), and his wife Sarah. Beulah and Thomas modified the house to accommodate Thomas and his wife, Marie, and their sons, Thomas S. Lyon, Jr. and Bruce C. Lyon. Thomas and family had their own entrance door at 500 Fountain Street, while Beulah’s entrance door was on Union Avenue. Thomas worked at the Aberdeen Proving Ground while Marie was a nurse at the nearby Harford Memorial Hospital. Following Beulah’s 1955 death, her estate sold the property to Thomas and Marie. They continued to make their home here until 1989 when they deeded this to their son, Thomas S. Lyon, Jr.

In 1995, Peter J. Iannello bought the house and converted it back to being a single family home with one address of 226 South Union Avenue (although it still has the two entrance doors). In 2004, Peter and Mary Ianniello sold the home to John and Susan Muldoon, owners of the Vandiver Inn across the street. The Muldoons now use the house both as their residence and for additional meeting space for their Vandiver Inn. The Ianniellos moved to the historical Mount Felix on Level Road, where they now operate a winery.

This house depicts several different architectural influences, including early examples of Mission style as well as late Victorian features. The huge wrap-around porch, 10-foot ceilings, wood floors, and pocket doors are a throw-back to a more simple era, but the house’s large gourmet kitchen, mother-in-law suite with kitchenette, open combination dining-living room, and loft style attic are a nod to more modern times.

In May 2021, this home was bought by Eric R. Ireland and Justina Ireland. Justina is an American science-fiction and fantasy author of young adult fiction. Her novel Dread Nation won the 2019 Locus Award, and was nominated for the Andre Norton, Bram Stoker, and Lodestar Awards.

County Records
Built 1935. 3340 sq ft, 2.5 stories with basement, 2.5 baths, attached garage, 6600 sq ft lot.