The land on this northwest corner of Bourbon and South Stokes Streets was sold by Abram P. McCombs (1824-1916) in 1903 to Robert N. Sentman (1856-1909) of Cecil County. McCombs was a wealthy citizen who owned other properties as well as the Havre de Grace Republican and was president of the First National Bank by 1911. Robert Sentman was the son of Eli S. Sentman, a building contractor who built several properties in Havre de Grace, including the Hecht Hotel and the Newmeyer Building. It is assumed that Robert Sentman constructed these two buildings; he and his wife, Sarah, sold them to William M. Lawder (1883-1919) in 1907.

The property passed to Murray V. Lawder, Jr. (1891-1970) and his wife, May B. Lawder in 1918. By 1920 they had established the “Murray V. Lawder Grocery” on the ground floor of #126, which became a very popular store for many years. They were the parents of Murray Bauer Lawder (1918-1993). Lawder’s store sold a little of everything from food and ice cream to tools, diamonds, meats, kerosene, and guns. And they originally also had a gas pump at the curb. Murray was known to lend money at times and some people pawned items such as jewelry and shotguns there. During The Graw Racetrack days, Murray sold hay to the track. Sharon Coakley Boyd says it was above the shop that her father, Jack Coakley, was born in 1921. Jack worked there in the store for his whole life. The building today still has a “shop window” on the first floor, even though the business closed years ago.

Jean Bines DeBaugh’s memories are of Murray V. Lawder’s kindness. She was hospitalized in Baltimore for two years as a child during WWII and Murray Lawder used to drive her parents down to visit her. And he never went empty handed—she said he used to bring Hershey bars for the kids and nylons for the nurses.

Many people who grew up in Havre de Grace still have fond memories of the Lawder store. Laura Skinner said she liked “old Murray Lawder—he always had a huge wad of cash and a small pistol in his pocket.” Donald Laye remembers that he and other kids would run to the store between Sunday School and church to buy a Dr. Pepper and a Moon Pie or Hostess Snowballs; Murray would be sitting behind the counter with a cigar and a big smile on his face. Jay McSpadden recalls buying his first electric guitar and amp there and Ronda Bennett loved the arcade games in the back. But James Simpers remembers buying the gallon bottles of hard cider that were siphoned from a barrel with a hose. And John Correri recalls delivering potatoes, onions, and other items from his family’s fruit market to the Lawder shop.

Joey Jobes, one of our local decoy carvers, had his first decoy workshop behind 126 South Stokes Street. Joey is the youngest of Captain Harry Jobes’ three sons and now has his large workshop on Bourbon Street. His brothers, Bob and Charles, have their own shops on Otsego Street.

This property is now owned by Lawder Properties #1 LLC, who own a number of properties around the city. Harford County records #126 and #132 together, although they are two separate buildings. No. 126 is the former Lawder grocery store, just north of a white-colored duplex that is on the northwest corner of Bourbon and South Stokes Street.

County records
Built 1920. 4664 sq ft, 2 stories with basement, 3 baths, 5984 sq ft lot.