This small building or cottage existed in 1885 but its exact age is not known. It is on a parcel of land that was sold by court trustee Albert Constable, Sr., Esquire (1805-1855), at public sale in 1834 to Abraham Jarrett Thomas (1777-1842). The public sale was the result of a property dispute between William Williams and the Havre de Grace Ferry Company. The land was “five contiguous Lots 33, 38, 44, 50, 56 in Square 247, which is bound on the north by Warren Street, south by Franklin Street, west by St. John Street, and east by Susquehanna River.” It later became owned by the Havre de Grace Water Company.

The building was the B&O Railroad Telegraph Office in 1885 and appears as such on the 1885 Sanborn Insurance Map. However, the 1894 Sanborn Map show oysters being sold here. Some locals also believe that this was the toll house for the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Bridge in 1910 after the eight local men bought the bridge.

This property was owned by the Havre de Grace Water Company in 1927 when it was sold by its stockholders and President, Carroll Albaugh (1880-1930), to its Secretary, George W. Albaugh, both of Carroll County. George Albaugh was an entrepreneur and co-owner of the Albaugh and Babylon Grocery Company. George Albaugh’s Executor sold this property in 1940 to Christopher J. Rosemer. The property then went to Herman and Naomi Fritsche, followed by David Walden and Willa Gaitanis.

In the 1970s this became Dooley’s Locksmith Shop, which he ran for several years. Dooley is well remembered for always being at the very end of the Havre de Grace 4th of July Parade with a “potty chair” on his float. Zoe Lambros, an attorney with Medical-Legal Research & Education Association, Inc. was here for a time in the 1980s, followed by Poole’s Taxi stand in the early 1990s.

In 1994, David W. Walden and Willa Gaitanis sold this building, along with the 429 St. John Street property, to John A. Stephens, Jr. Willa Gaitanis was the owner of “Encore Apparel” in 1991. In 1996, this was Crafters at Waters Edge, a very cute overnight rental that Chandler Blake says her grandmother ran for a few years. That was followed by “Wishful Thinking Antiques.” When Salon Marielle opened next door in 429 St. John Street they set up their massage room in this cottage building. After that it became the Blaze Cigar House for a short time, which closed in 2016. It became Color Images Salon after that with Stacie Redman as the stylist. It continues to be owned by John Stephens.

County Records
Built 1900. 392 sq ft, one story, 1312 sq ft lot.