History of 109 East Main Street, Walla Walla, WA

Legal Description: furnished by owner:

Parcel A (27.35′ x 124.5′ in lots 6, 7, & 8 of Block 1, Cain’s Addition to the City of Walla Walla) and Parcel B (42.65′ x 124.5′ in lots 6 & 7 to the west of, and adjacent to Parcel A).

Title and Occupant History:

March 5, 1862–A. J. and Emma R. Cain sold lot 6 in Block I of Cain’s Addition to Artirnus Dodge for $250. (Deed Book B, Page 300, hereinafter B/300)

May 3, 1862–A. J. and Emma R. Cain quit claim deeded their interests in lots 7, 8, 9, & 10 in Block I of Cain’s Addition to Way, Bush& Co. for $500. (B/354)

July 4, 1864–Artimus and Fanny Dodge, husband and wife, sold lot 6 in Block I to Matilda Frank for $1000. (0/203)

February 11, 1867–Heustin Way, Charles S. Bush and Nancy J. Bush, husband and wife, sold the north half of lot 7 and the south half of lot 8 to M. V. B. Wormington and M. Van Winkle for $150. (E/401)

March 21, 1867 –M. Van Winkle sold his interest in the north half lot 7 and south half lot 8 to George Hunter for $500. (E/435)

July 24, 1867–H. Way, by his attorney H. J. Cady, sold his interest in lots I, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, & 10 and other properties to ‘T. J. Swezea, Jr. for $ 2,392.32. (E/488)

September 14, 1868–M. V. B. and H. A. Wormington, husband and wife, sold their undivided half interest in parts of lots 7 & 8 to J. F. Boyer for $300. (F1I97)

September 16, 1868–George and Elizabeth A. Hunter, husband and wife, sold their undivided half interest in parts 01 lots 7 & 8 to Joel Smith for $450. (F/225)

March 26, 1869–Joel and Isabella Smith, husband and wife, sold the undivided half interest in parts of lots 7 & 8 to J. F. Boyer for $300. (F/381)

February 18, 1870–John F. and Sarah E. Boyer, husband and wife, sold, the north half of lot 7 and 10′ x 120’ of lot 8 to Heuston D. Gholson for $500. (G/73)

September 26, 1870–Charles S. and N. J. Bush, husband and wife, sold the west half of lot 7 and lot 10 in Block 1 to Thomas J. Swezea for $400. (G/479)

October 29, 1870–Heuston D. and Isabell Gholson, husband and wife, sold their parts of lots 7 & 8 to James Kidwell for $300. (G/594)

December 13, 1870–James and Mary E. Kidwell, husband and wife, sold their parts of lots 7 & 8 to Joseph Freeman for $500. (G/608)

February 15. 1371–Thomas J. and Melissa Swezea, husband and wife, sold their part of lot 7 to Joseph Freeman for $280. (H/88)

August 10, 1872–Joseph and Christena Freeman. husband and wife. sold lot 8 + 10′ of lot 9 to James Ward for $600. (1/695)

May 12, 1876–Matilda and Abraham Frank. wife and husband, quit claimed their interest in the east half of lot 6 (60′ X 60′) to Charles S. Bush for the listed consideration of $1. (N/253)

October 10. 1878–Joseph and Christena Freeman conveyed their interest in lots 6, 7 & 8 to James Ward for the listed consideration of $1. (0/396)

August I. 1881–James and Mary Ward. husband and wife. sold part of lots 6, 7 & 8 (begin on Main 81. at S.E. corner of store erected on said lot, the westerly 50′ x 120′) to John Dovel! for $1200. (W/121)

May 26. 1886–Sheriff^‘s Deed: 25′ x 120′ of lots 6. 7 & B (105′ East of corner Main & Colville) sold at public auction on July 27, 1885 to W. Charles Bardsley for $900. (36/405)

August 11, 1886–Sheriff’s Deed: 25^‘ x 120′ of lots 6 & 7 (80′ East of corner Main & Colville) sold at public auction on July 27, 1885 to James Chadsey for $825. (36/572)

August 12, 1886–John and Margaret Dovell, husband and wife, conveyed all interests and rights to parts of lots 6, 7 & 8 (begin 80′ East of S.W. corner of Block 1, run easterly 50′ x 120′) to J. Chitwood for $300. (36/582)

August 26, 1886–James Chadsey sold 25′ x 120′ in lots 6& 7 (begin 80′ East of S.W. corner Block 1) to Christopher Ennis for $950. (36/581)

October 2, 1886–W. Charles and Kate M. Bardsley sold 25′ x 120′ (begins East of S.W. corner Block 1) to William G. Cullen for $2000. (37/32, see also 42/597, 42/600, 45/387, 461166, 46/267, and 145/319 relating to clearing title for William G. Cullen)

March 13, 1888–Christopher and Annie Ennis sold part of lots 6 & 7 (begin 60′ East of S.W. corner Block 1,  then easterly 21 1/2′ x 120′)) to N. B. Dimmick for $1550. (40/6)

June 8, 1889–N. B. Dimmick. an unmarried man, sold the above property to William J. May for $2000. (43/195)

August 16, 1889–William J. and Rachel M. May sold the above property to Pinkney L. Courtney for $2500. (43/266)

July 21, 1890–Pinkney L. and Jane E. Courtney, husband and wife, sold the above property to Michael McCarthy for $1950. (46/325)

July 31, 1890–Christopher and Annie E. Ennis. husband and wife sold 25′ X 120′ of lots 7 & 8 (begin 80′ East of S.W. corner Block I) to William G. Cullen for $2000.(48/4)

December 6, 1892–William G. Cullen and Theresa C. Cullen, husband and wife, quit claim deeded 1.5″ x 120′ (begin 80′ easterly from S.W. corner Block I. run east 1.5′) to Christopher Ennis for $1 consideration. (53/24)

December 7, 1892–Christopher and Annie Ennis, husband and wife, conveyed the above 1.5′ x 120′ to Michael McCarthy for $1 consideration. (54/2)

December 15, 1902–Lease of 21.5′ x 120′ (begin 60 ‘ east of S.W. corner Block I, run east 21.5′), “together with the I and 1/2 story building thereon,” from Michael McCarthy to Mrs. M. Shank. The first least ran from January I, 1903 and the second from January I, 1907; the first was for $22/month and the second for $25/month. (86/137, 1031133)

June 9, 1903–Lease: by William G. Cullen of 109 E. Main to N. R. Norman for $360 + $40/month starting July 1, 1903. (87/636)

October 31, 1904–William G. Cullen, Viola Cullen Gose, Leo W. Cullen. Mary Cullen Kennedy, Herbert Cullen and Victor Cullen, only children and heirs of Teresa Cullen, deceased wife of William G. Cullen. sold 21.15′ x 120′ (begin 81.5′ northeasterly from N. E. line of Colville Street and run along Main Street 21.15′) to Michael McCarthy for $4230. (95/539. see also 93/464)

May 3, 1909–lndenture between George and Cynthia E. Struthers. husband and wife, and George H. and Clara J. Snell, husband and wife, who own the 60′ x 124.5′ of lots 6 & 7 along Main St. and Colville St., and M. McCarthy, a single man, owner of Parcel B. This was a Party Wall Agreement drawn up because the parties of the first part were constructing a two-story building with a basement on their corner lot, adjacent to Parcel B, but not abutting any existing building on the property. (116/478, see also Deed # 169502)

April 30, 1915–Indenture recording that Helen McCarthy, executrix of the will of Michael McCarthy, deceased, inherited property including Parcel B. (136/56)

October 30, 1918–Leo W. Cullen, a bachelor, Mary Cullen Kennedy and William Kennedy, husband and wife, Herbert T. Cullen, a bachelor, Victor K. Cullen, a bachelor, and Viola C. Gose, a widow, sold Parcel A + 20′ X 120′ in lot 8 to L. Youdovitch and Rachel Epstein for $1 “and other money consideration.” (144/488)

January 17, 1924–Rachel Epstein, a widow and unmarried, conveyed her undivided half interest in Parcel A + 20′ x 120’ in lot 8 to L. Youdovitch for the listed consideration of $10. (Deed #139463)

July 30. 1925–Helen McCarthy. a spinster. sold Parcel B to John A. Cameron, a bachelor, for $4500. (Deed #150624)

March 6. 1926–John A. Cameron quit claimed and conveyed several properties, including Parcel B, to Leslie Hoagland, as receiver of Cameron-Yenney Grain Co., a Corp for $1 and other good and valuable considerations. (#156495)

March 5. 1928–R. E. Allen. as trustee in the bankruptcy of the Cameron-Yenney Grain Co., sold Parcel 8 to Wallace A. and Norma Pratt, husband and wife, for $5600. (#170805)

Construction of the Buildings: Parcel A: March 23, 1909–W. G. Cullen was issued permit #424 to build a one-story concrete store building at 113 E. Main for $2750. the builder was Mr. Crites. (Building Permit Book 1907-1913, Whitman College Archives)

March 13, 1926–M. Youdovitch was issued permit #4516 to build a store building at III E. Main for $4000, the builder was Schrinek & Zier. (Building Permit Book 1918-1926)

Construction of the Buildings: Parcel B: June 27, 1928–Dr. Wallace A. Pratt was issued permit #5202 to build a new brick building on E. Main St. for $14,000, the contractor was Taylor & Gross. (Building Permit Book 1926-1935.

This information is supported by the 1923 photograph on pp. 53-54 of Robert A. Bennett’s Walla Walla: A Nice Place to Raise a Family. 1920�ill..4Jl which shows the 1909 Struthers & Snell Building (Up-To-The-Times Magazine, June 1909, p. 1990. Whitman College Archives) on the N.E. corner of Main & Colville abutted by three smaller buildings on Parcels A & Band the aerial view of Walla Walla in the mid-1940s on pp.189-190 of the same book showing the corner building abutted by the taller, current building on Parcel B and the one-story building on Parcel A.

April 19, 1944–lillie Youdovitch, widow of L. Youdovitch, quit claim deeded her interest in Parcel A + 20^‘ x 120^‘ of lot 8 to P. Youdine, Mrs. Mary Gumbert, and Mrs. Lena Blumenthal for the consideration of $1 “and love and affection.” (#278105)

June 9, 1960–Philip and Lorna Youdene, husband and wife. aquit claim and convey Parcel A to Joan Louise Friedman, et. aI., “in consideration of love and affection.” (#421519)

January 23. 1971–Party Wall Agreement between Joan L. Friedman owner of Parcel A, and Rosanna Sondheirn, owner property to the East. (#512339)

February I, 1971–Joan Louise Friedman sold Parcel A to Lawrence W. and Margaret M. Cummins for $10 “and other valuable consideration.” (#512340)

July I, 1976–Norma Pratt sold Parcel B to Lawrence W. and Margaret M. Cummins for $38,000. (#555673)

January 31. 1989–Lawrence W. and Margaret M. Cummins sold Parcels A & B to Alfred and Linda Colton for $80,000. (#8900730, see also #8900847 and 9105055)

Businesses Located on the Property (from city directories):

111-113 E. Main:

1889-1898: William G. Cullen Agricultural I mplements; in 1900-01 Hardware, Carriage & Wagon Woodwork; in 1902-1905 Cullen Hardware Co.

1925-26: Raft Meats at 113 E. Main 1926-32: Mckinney & Rasmus, grocers 1933-52: McKinney, John F., grocer

1953-55: State Hardware & Wallpaper Co. (in 1956 F. W. Woolworth & Co. is listed at 109-111 E. Main)

109 E. Main:

1893-1914: The East End Saloon (The 1916-17 and 1921 business directories do not list 109 E. Main) 1929-1932: Sears Roebuck & Co., department store

1933-1935: Vacant

1937: Consumers Co-operative Inc .� grocers 1939-1941: Gamble Stores. hardware

1946-1952: Western Auto Supply Co., auto accessories 1953-55: Gamble’s Western Auto

1956-1962: F. W. Woolworth & Co., department store 1963-1968: Vacant

1969-1988: Bonanza 88 Store 1989: Vacant

1990-95: . Stone Creek Trading Co .� furniture store

 

prepared by Michael W. Smith, 7/95