This was the location of one of five nearly identical red-brick double houses on the south side of Fountain Street built around 1890 in a vernacular Italianate style. Known as “Brick Row,” they were originally intended to provide housing for workers in the factories and mills operating at 701 Fountain Street. The houses first appeared on the 1894 Sanborn Insurance Map. The duplex closest to Juniata Street was demolished several years ago for a parking lot and the easternmost duplex at the corner of Adams Street was demolished in 1997. The remaining three duplexes are 706-708, 716-718, and 726-728 Fountain Street.

The five duplexes were sold in 1904 by the The Havre de Grace Improvement Company to Robert G. Gambrill, President of Gambrill & Melville Mills, of 701 Fountain Street. Robert Gambrill later sold each one of the houses separately.

The eastern side of this duplex (#716) was sold by Robert and Mary Gambrill in 1904 to Harry T. Borrell (1881-1953) and Margaret Borrell. They opened “Borrell’s Pool Hall” in 1930 at 414 St. John Street, which later became known as “Tim’s Tavern.” From 1924 to 1946 this side was owned by Hugh and Emily West who divorced and sold the home to William W. and Ruth E. Smith in 1946. Although Ruth Smith died in 1982, William continued to own this home until 1990 when he sold it to Cassandra L. McCoy. William E. Putland bought this in 1996 and after doing some renovations he sold it to Paul J. Russell in 2001. Since 2020 Anna L. Battle now makes her home here.

The western side of the duplex (#718) was bought from the Gambrills by Raymond and Fannie E. Mitchell in 1908 and lived here until 1924. Hugh and Emily A. West also bought this side of the duplex in 1924 but sold it three years later. In 1941 The Columbian Building Association sold the home to W. Edward and Catherine A. Sampson who owned it until 1995. Edward Sampson (1902-1994) was Sue Lingenfelter’s Dad and she said he used to do all the bank deposits for Bechtold’s store at 109 South Washington Street. She added that her friends thought he was a big shot because he always carried a gun to do that, to which Alonzo Walker said he can’t picture “Uncle Ed” carrying a sidearm, although he knows he owned some. Edward Sampson’s estate sold the home to Neal A. Golbin in 1995. Neal owns and operates Neals Wheels LLC and continues to own this home.

County Records
#716: Built 1900, 1312 sq ft, 1 bath, 2 stories, no basement, brick, 5250 sq ft lot. #718: Built 1866, 1312 sq ft, 1 bath, 2 stories, no basement, brick, 6300 sq ft lot.