The parcel of land on which this double house was built was sold by Murray and May Lawder in 1925 to Clarence McCommons (1867-1957) and his wife, Margaret McCommons (1887-1978). Clarence was a well-known local contractor who is said to have constructed a lot of the buildings at The Graw Racetrack and to have also done work in the city. It is probable that McCommons built this house in 1925 and he sold both sides of the duplex house that year.

This double house is said to have been a Sears Roebuck Model Kit Home, one of only a few duplexes for which Sears made kits. A Sears Home Kit contained around 25 tons of materials, more than 30,000 parts, 750 lbs of nails, along with a 75-page instruction book that were shipped directly to the purchaser. The 370 different designs were only offered in Sears mail order catalogs between 1908 and 1940. Sears houses built after 1916 have stamped lumber elements that can be found in attics or basements. Pictures of some models are listed online at: http://arts-crafts.com/archive/sears/, but many homes have since been modified. This house partners with 416 South Washington Street but they are separate homes.

Both sides of the double house were first sold to Julia Pohl Coakley in 1925. She was one of the daughters of C. Lambert Pohl who ran the Daylite Bakery until he died there in a fire in 1926. Julia was married to S. Carle Coakley, and they became parents to Lambert Coakley (1924-2015) and Margaret Coakley, who married Mark C. Mcdairy in 1951 in St. Patrick’s Church. Julia and Carle owned both sides this house until 1983 when they sold both sides to Richard and Lisa Bennett.

The Bennetts appear to have lived here for about 16 years before divorcing, when Richard Bennett deeded his half of ownership to Lisa Bennett in 1999 in a property settlement agreement. Lisa Bennett, now known as Lisa Newman, continues to be the owner of both sides of this duplex and she lives elsewhere.

County Records
#414: Built 1935. 1290 sq ft, 2 stories with basement, 1 bath, 3000 sq ft lot. #416: Built 1935. 1290 sq ft, 2 stories with basement, 1 bath, 3000 sq ft lot.