The first ownership record of this land appears to be when William B. Stokes (son of Robert Young Stokes) wrote a deed in 1821 granting this property to Mary A. O’Brien (widow of James O’Brien), and her children, Margaret and James. William Stokes was a Town Commissioner in 1812 and sold property in Havre de Grace. It is not known whether there was a building on the lot at that time but by 1882 the property was sold by Mary O’Brien’s son, James O’Brien (of Baltimore City), to Jacob Galloway (1844-1926) of Havre de Grace. Captain Jacob Galloway had a steamboat, the “Keystone,” and was a local fishing and hunting guide. He also was elected to the City Council in 1909.

It is assumed that Captain Jacob Galloway and his wife, Marion, built this house in the 1880s for their family. They had a daughter named Emma in 1875, who became Emma Galloway Atha after marrying Charles Atha of Philadelphia. In 1916, Charles Atha moved to Havre de Grace and resided with the Galloway family here at least for a short time.

From 1920 to the present day this has been the home of the well-known Asher family who own other property and several businesses in town. Captain Jacob Galloway sold this property to Arthur P.G. Asher (1891-1942) and Ada M.K. Asher, his wife, in 1920. They ran a grocery store on North Washington Street. In 1984, Ada bequeathed the home to her children, Kathryn J. Asher (1918-2005) and her brother, Arthur “Donald” Asher (1920-2000). Kathryn ran the Havre de Grace Distributing Company, a wholesale beer business, for about 50 years while Donald operated the Greenleaf Supply Company on North Washington Street with his wife, Betty Gordon Asher. Donald Asher also was instrumental in founding the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum in the 1980s—it has been said that it was his “brainchild.”

Ownership of the house descended through Donald and Betty Asher to their daughter, the current owner, Donna Mae Asher.

County Records
Built 1936. 1962 sq ft, 2 stories with basement, 1 bath, 6000 sq ft lot.