In the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, cited above, it appears that this large building at the southeast corner of South Washington and Fountain Streets may have been constructed in two phases—a federal style house that was later enlarged. Unfortunately deeds were usually prepared based on the lot of land and its location, without reference to the presence of or lack of a building. The deed clause, “with improvements,” or similar phrases were standard in all deeds and legal advice says this does not necessarily mean that a building was present.

Records show that this property was sold by Oliver T. Rogers and his wife, Jennie, in 1904 to Sylvester E. Penning (1840-1929). Rogers served as City Attorney in 1889 and Penning was a Justice of the Peace appointed by the Governor from 1885 to 1908. Penning also was an attorney for the City Building and Loan Association. Rogers owned the original house, which may have been expanded by Penning into the “Susquehanna Inn.” In the 1916 Annual Report of Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Baltimore, the Susquehanna Inn in Havre de Grace was described as “general hotel, apartment house, restaurant, café business, listed as a new corporation in Maryland.” And in the Hotel Monthly, Vol. 27, Issues 310-321, 1919, E.F. Piersol is listed as the agent of the Susquehanna Inn in Havre de Grace.

The Pennings sold the Inn in 1919 to Albert and Sarah Chesney. They owned it through the death of Albert, when Sarah sold it in 1938. The Susquehanna Inn is shown on the 1930 Sanborn Insurance Map at this location. New owners were William and Annie Morton of Philadelphia, who kept it for eight years.

In 1947, the property was bought by Howard M. Smith, Sr. and his wife who passed it on to Howard M. Smith, Jr. in 1965. The latter was the owner when the MIHP inventory was prepared. Because the inventory makes no reference to the building’s history as an Inn, it is assumed that when the Howard Smith Sr bought it in 1947, it returned to being a single family home for the Smith family. It is known, however, that the Smiths operated a small grocery store on the first floor of the home. When someone entered the store, a buzzer would ring in the kitchen, and one of the Smiths would tend to the customer. On one such occasion in 1968, Howard Smith, Sr. responded to the store and found two robbers there who beat him badly, breaking both of his jaws. He recovered and the offenders were convicted and spent 10 years in prison.

The next owners, Curtis and Penelope Golladay purchased this home from the Estate of Howard M. Smith, Jr. in 1996 and maintained this as a single family home with a beautiful porch stretching around this corner onto Fountain Street. In late 2020, however, the home was sold at public auction to Allen J. Fair, who is well known in the city as a real estate investor. In May 2022 Allen Fair sold this property to Richard and Katherine Denny who appear to be renovating this historic property for their personal needs. Richard works in the information technology and services industry.

County Records
Built 1930. 3642 sq ft, 2.5 stories with basement, 2 full baths, detached garage, 7620 sq ft lot.