This building was bought in 1895 by Emanuel Hecht who two years later sold it to his brother, Isaac Hecht (1864-1913) who had built the Hecht Hotel on Green Street in 1890 and owned other properties. Isaac Hecht also became President of the Havre de Grace Banking & Trust Company prior to his unexpected death in 1913. This property obviously became a rental property after that because in the 1916 telephone directory, this address is listed as having phone service; “D. A. Fisher” of Havre de Grace is listed in the Rand McNally 1917 International Bankers Directory. D. A. Fisher is also listed as a Director of the Havre de Grace Banking & Trust Company, along with Lee I. Hecht, J. W. Maslin, F. C. Lawder, and others in Trust Companies of the United States, 1921 Edition. And Lee I. Hecht was one of the two sons of Isaac Hecht, to whom (with his wife Miriam) this property was deeded in 1931.

Lee I. Hecht sold the building in 1935 to Vasiliki “Bessie” Doukas (1895-1973), who continued to own it until 1960 as an investment property. She and her husband, Agesilaos “Harry” Doukas (1882-1941), were Greek immigrants. The widowed Vasiliki (sometimes spelled Vasilike) sold the entire building, including the second floor apartment, to Domenick Saponaro (1907-1987) and his wife, Mary J. Saponaro, in 1960, who were already operating the barber shop on one side of the ground floor.

This side of the ground floor was the store of the Friendly Oil Company in the 1960s, under the partnership of George C. Pensell and J. Leonard Rhinehart—they moved the business to Pulaski Highway around 1960. Leonard Rhinehart was President of the Antique Automobile Club of America in 1962 and drove his 1909 “Mitchell” in the Havre de Grace 4th of July Parade in 1962.

For several years into the early 2000s, this was the office of the local newspaper, The Record, but when it, along with The Aegis, were acquired by the Baltimore Sun Media Group, this office closed.

In 2009, Jack Kelly moved his Courtyard Books store from across the street to this location and called it “Courtyard Redux.” However, in 2016 Jack retired and closed the book shop. In 2017, the store gained two new tenants. Gaby Frank with her business, Stickdesign Embroidery and Garment Printing; and Tammy Gamble of Blue Earth Leather that moved here from Washington Street. Area folks who own motorcycles are fans of Tammy’s craftsmanship in her leatherwork from repairs to creating something new.

The building contains two stores on the ground floor; the second store is described under 314 St. John Street. When Mary Saponaro died in 1989, she left this building to her four children, Donato J. Saponaro, Anthony J. Saponaro, Margherita S. Coudon, and James M. Saponaro, who continue to own the building.

County Records
Built 1870. This property is recorded as 314-316 St. John Street.