The original structure here was a two-story, four-room, frame house under a slate gable roof and the land stretched to where the Susquehanna River meets the Bay—and where the Decoy Museum now stands. One of the earliest owners of this property was Jacob Tome (1810-1898) of Port Deposit, who was better known as the founder of the Tome School for Boys in that town just upriver from here. He and his wife, Caroline, sold this property in 1855 to Dr. John Boyd and Alice Boyd. “J. Boyd” is marked on the Herrick and Jennings 1858 Map of Harford County at this location. It became home to the Boyds’ daughter, Julia Josephine Russell and her husband Samuel Lewis Russell, in 1875 and to Robert Russell Vandiver (1843-1884) and his wife Annie in 1883.

After the death of Robert his brother Murray Vandiver (1845-1916) sold the property to Captain William B. “Billy” Chesney (1853-1935) and his wife, Alice, in 1903. Captain Billy Chesney was well-known for hunting ducks on the Susquehanna Flats in his scow, “Dixie.” Even in very bad weather one day in 1905 he shot 157 canvasbacks and redheads. In 1930 Captain Billy sold this home to James Alexander “Jim” Currier (1886-1969) and his wife, Grace, who lived here until Grace’s 1968 death and Jim’s in 1969. Jim was the uncle of Jane Currier who now owns The Currier House at 800 Market Street. Jim had worked in the livery stable at Franklin and Stokes Streets before becoming the Postmaster for Havre de Grace for 43 years while at the same time working as a guide for wealthy sport hunters in his own 40-foot gunning rig on the Susquehanna Flats. He also carved decoys in a workshop behind the house and became one of the area’s prominent carvers.

Jim Currier was also known as an excellent gardener who loved azaleas, for which this house became widely known in the area. The azaleas in the gardens of this house used to almost obscure the building and when they bloomed people drove here to see them. Jonny Gessig Harvey says he used to live across the street from them and has numerous photos of the azaleas. Emily Hatton White’s mother used to love going to see them and she shot many 8mm films of the azaleas.

Grace Currier died a year before her husband Jim and when he died intestate his estate was inherited by his brother, Oliver M. Currier, and his five sisters. They sold the property in 1969 to William Chesney “Billy” deGroat (1910-2001) and his wife, Margaret deGroat (1911-1988) who had just moved to Havre de Grace. In 1987 they celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary, the year before Margaret died. They had two children, Donna DeGroat and William Chesney deGroat, Jr. Billy DeGroat continued to own this home until his death after which his executors sold the home to Barton J. and Deborah S. Brandon. The Brandons sold this historic home in 2008 and moved the short distance to Giles Street, even closer to the Decoy Museum.

Charles and Carol Creghan purchased this home in 2008 and went about an extensive renovation of the house while managing to maintain its 19th century character. They opened the house to the Annual Candlelight Tour where visitors entered a large great room with a picture window they created facing south, straight down the water. That is now the central area of the house and includes a slate fireplace and crystal chandelier. The renovations included a new kitchen that features a breakfast bar that also has an expansive water view.

County Records
Built 1850. 1619 sq ft, 2 stories no basement, 1.5 baths, 5002 sq ft lot.