This was the location of one of five nearly identical red-brick double houses on the south side of Fountain Street built around 1890 in a vernacular Italianate style. Known as “Brick Row,” they were originally intended to provide housing for workers in the factories and mills operating at 701 Fountain Street. The houses first appeared on the 1894 Sanborn Insurance Map. The duplex closest to Juniata Street was demolished several years ago for a parking lot and the easternmost duplex at the corner of Adams Street was demolished in 1997. The remaining three duplexes are 706-708, 716-718, and 726-728 Fountain Street.

The five duplexes were sold in 1904 by the The Havre de Grace Improvement Company to Robert G. Gambrill, President of Gambrill & Melville Mills, of 701 Fountain Street. Robert Gambrill later sold each one of the houses separately.

The eastern side of this duplex (#726) was bought in 1921 by Lewis Goldsmith “Goldie” Miller (1878-1961) and Lizzie Walker Miller. Goldie was working as a farm hand when he met Lizzie and after they married in 1900 they lived with George Kennedy and his wife at Grover’s Hill farm, near Havre de Grace. In 1901 they had their first child, Robert Lewis Miller, and Lizzie was told by her doctor she shouldn’t have any more children. She, however, proceeded to have ten more children. As their family grew, Goldie got a job as a brakeman on the Pennsylvania Railroad from which he retired in 1944. In 1950 Goldie and Lizzie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary while still living in this home. They continued living here and in 1958 they added the name of their son, Arthur William Miller (1907-1969) to the deed.

In 1961, after the death of his parents, Arthur Miller added the name of his sister, Gladys A. Adams (1912-1985) to the deed. She was married to Clarence Adams, who predeceased her. Through her Will, Gladys Adams left the home to her daughter Donna J. Harter (1947-2019) as Trustee for Donna’s daughter Doris A. Harter (1968-1991). However, after Doris Harter’s death, Donna as Trustee distributed the Trust to her sisters (Gladys Adams’ daughters) in 2004: Donna J. Harter, Doris L. Fuqua, Shirley R. Ishbaugh, and Ramona Jimeniz (in place of the deceased Blanche Lane, her mother). Over the next couple of years, each one of them signed over their interest in the property to their sister, Doris L. Fuqua. Doris Fuqua is now the owner and resident of this home. She was extremely pleased when the City succeeded in finding a new owner for the adjoining home at #728. For approximately 30 years from 1986 forward, nobody lived in #728 and the property was neglected and its condition was deteriorating (as can be seen below).

The house now closest to Juniata Street was sold by the Gambrills in 1907 to George A. Price (1875-1961) who lived here for about three years. The next owners were Martha Steltz and Elwood L. Steltz (1881-1960). In 1910 Mary A. Mitchell bought the home and it descended from her to J. Franklin Mitchell and several other Mitchell family members in both Harford and Cecil Counties.

As mentioned above nobody lived in this home for about 30 years from 1986 forward and due to its deteriorating condition was so threatening to its adjoining home that the City considered demolishing that side of the structure. A city staff member, however, succeeded in having Mitchell family members deed the remaining structure to Michael D. Bowman in 2016. Bowman’s company, Above the Best Remodeling, completely rebuilt this side of the duplex from the studs—fireplace in living room, hardwood flooring, carpet in bedrooms, new kitchen with granite and stainless appliances, walk-in pantry, laundry room, and a parking pad at rear. They sold the newly finished home in 2019 to Bobby L. and Charlotte M. Davis.

County Records
#726: Built 1890, 1312 sq ft, 1 bath, 2 stories, no basement, 3920 sq ft lot. #728: Built 1890; rebuilt 2019; 1312 sq ft, 1.5 baths, 2 stories, no basement, 4200 sq ft lot