Older Than We Thought???

Here's a bombshell~

I have spent a little time researching the history of our home~

I had been told that the St. Bernard Coal Company which operated the coal mine that funded the City of Earlington and was named after Mr. Earl, a coal exec. built the home for their coal doctor, Dr. Nisbet in 1909. Interesting findings show that while St. Bernard Coal did own and parcel out the land as town lots, there were two intermediary owners who could have built the home thenselves OR sold the lots and Dr. Nisbet may have built the home himself. (Because there is a home listed in the 1880 transaction between Robinson and McCarley, did Mr. Robinson build our home?? This is VERY likely given that the other homes on the other lots were built much much later.)

Now this is exactly what we know:

• St. Bernard Coal Co owned lots 5,6,7,and 8 and was parceling out town lots from 1870-1880.

• In 1874, St. Bernard Coal Co. sold these four town lots to Mr. Benjamin Robinson, a local store merchant (four lots 200X190). (Cross street is Robinson Street.)
  

• In 1880 Mr. Robinson sold all lots and a house (MINE???) to William McCarley.

• In 1905 Mrs. McCarley (widow of William McCarley) sold lots 5 & 6 to Dr. William K. Nisbet. NOTE: Dr. Nisbet bought and sold properties all over Earlington throughout several years on different blocks. The clerk told me that his name appears in several places where he owned and sold properties all over Earlington.

• In 1939 Mrs. Nisbet, widow of Dr. Nisbet sold only lot 6 to Mrs. Mary P. Wyatt. The deed said, land and improvements. Is this the time period our home was built by Dr. Nisbet or did indeed Mr. McCarley build it and sell it in the lots 5 & 6???

• Sometime prior to her passing, Mrs. Wyatt deeded the lot 6 (our home and property~40X190 lot and home) to her son, Omer J. Wyatt.

• 1974 sold by Mr. Wyatt to Mr. Terry Stewart.

• 1978 sold by Mr. Stewart to Mr. Arnold Walker.

• 1981 sold by Mr. Walker to Mr. Roy Agnew.

• 1982 sold by Mr. Agnew to Mr. Edward Mauk.

• 1993 sold by Mr. Mauk to Mr. Bueler Travis.

• 2004 sold by Mr. Travis to Mr. Willaim Jackson.

• 2006 sold by Mr. Jackson to Rev. Eric McDunnell, Sr. (current owners)

In reference to the plat the lot numbers of this block begin at Days Street with Lots 1 & 2, 3 &4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to Robinson Street running east to west. http://1909homeforsale.blogspot.com/2009/06/plat-map-of-earlingtonlot-dimensions.html Click to see plat. Section 24. Now as I compare the deed info to this plat, the numbers are not the same. Was it redrawn and this an older map? I KNOW the last three owners myself, personally knowing the ownership and authenticated it from Mr. Mauk to us. I was told by the clerk that our home is lot 6, but it's not what the map calls it, and also the owners who I know have ck'd their information and their lot numbers do not correlate to this plat. I do suspect that the numbers have been redone at some point after this plat also because this plat shows a railroad yard/depot which I know from historical accounts did exist at this turn of the 20th Century that does not exist now. This is shown on this plat. At Earlington Elementary School and in the Trover Clinic medical facility, there are pictures and artist renditions of the old town which show an old historic depot and even the old schools. So the plat really is of little value other than to show that the town is a small quaint place and that it is very much residential in nature.

Here is the info from the Hopkins County Clerk's office:

206 E Main St Earlington
Book		Seller		Notes
	Year		Buyer
DB 032.450		St Bernard Coal Co		lots 5-6-7-8 Earlington
	1873		Benjamin Robinson
DB 040.119		Benjamin Robinson & Wife		lots 5-6-7-8 block F Earlington- 1 house & 4 lots 200x190
	1880		William McCarley
DB 072.446		Lillie V. McCarley (widow)		Lots 5 & 6 block F. See Will Book 12.510
	1905		William K Nisbet
DB 145-284		Eva Nisbet (widow of Arlington VA)		lot 6 block F lot & improvements. See will book 14-277
	1939		Mary P Wyatt
DB 367.293		Omer J. Wyatt (seed Will Book 22-206)
	1974		Stewart
DB 421.496		STEWART
	1981		WALKER

Vicki Peyton, Deputy Clerk

So according to this, our home could be as old at 1880 or before~my goodness! You know, since I love historic homes, this doesn't surprise me really. This home has had a few changes over the years and the double lot may account for a renovation that added a kitchen adjacent to the dining room when we know by the way the wall dividing the two spaces was built entirely too close to the double pocket door trim~a practice not done by the skill and pride of those Victorian builders! So when we removed 1/3 of that wall to open the area for easy access and a modern flow, we discovered lath and plaster just like the rest of the home but understand that this practice continued into the 30's. The original kitchen and out house most likely were located on the lots somewhere! IS MY HOME Pre1880? It's entirely possible! The style and craftsmanship is present~also the upstairs bath was added later by dividing a bedroom and there was an upper back porch that has been enclosed and today are the laundry and walk in closets! I can say WHAT a SURPRISE and how wonderful it is to KNOW that our home was LOVED~I KNEW it had to have been because it has been so well cared for over the years: LOVED, Valued and a wonderful HOME!

Well, well, well, I am amazed and thrilled all at the same time!

If our home interests you, contact me, SisterTipster@gmail.com or call 216-759-7596 for your private showing! Qualified buyers only please. No owner financing or land contract/rent to own~thanks!