This lot is part of a 1¼-acre parcel of land on the west side of South Union Avenue that was owned by Sarah Hale in the early 19th century who bequeathed it to her granddaughter, Sarah Ann Brooke (1807-1890) and her husband, James W. Brooke (1798-1870). The Brookes sold it in 1843 to William F. Bayless (1814-1873). Upon the death of William, he bequeathed the land to his son, Samuel Martin Bayless (1847-1923).

In 1900, Samuel Bayless sold the land to local banker and investor, A. Hamlin Carver (1857-1943). The widowed Carver, who lived elsewhere in town, sold this Lot 479 on the northwest corner of South Union Avenue and Giles Street in 1932 to William C. Bechtold (1890-1964). Deeds unfortunately did not indicate whether a house existed on this lot when Carver sold it in 1932. However, because this is one of three similar traditional American foursquare-style brick homes built in a row, and Carver was a banker and investor, it seems probable that the three houses were constructed by Carver prior to selling each of them.

William Bechtold was the son of August Bechtold who began Bechtold Bakery & Confections on South Washington Street. William sold this home the following year to Jesse Pusey (1896-1975) who was the son of Clarence and Mattie Pusey of the C.C. Pusey Company on North Union Avenue. Jesse sold this home to Omer Carson (1909-1998) and his wife, Catharine, in 1946. The Carsons had been living at 567 Congress Avenue until then. When they moved here, Robert Carson, their son, was 10 years old; he is now a practicing attorney in Havre de Grace. Omer Carson is a former director of the Harford Memorial Hospital and a real estate broker. The Carsons lived here until 1970 when they sold the home to Catharine Carson’s sister, N. Elizabeth Smith. When Elizabeth died in 1973 she bequeathed it to Catharine Carson who sold the home in 1974 to William T. “Bill” Foley, Jr. and Carolyn Foley.

Carolyn Foley has been an active member of the Havre de Grace Arts Commission for more than 30 years and now serves as its Vice Chair. “Bill” Foley is the eldest of three sons born to William T. Foley, Sr. (1906-1977) and Phyllis Foley, also of Havre de Grace. The Foleys received an award for this house from the Havre de Grace Historic Preservation Commission in 2004 and are still enjoying living here with porches in front and back overlooking their garden.

County Records Built
1940. 1672 sq ft, 1.5 baths, detached garage, 2 stories with basement, 12,000 sq ft lot.