History of 1030 Waverly Street – Walla Walla, WA

Legal Description

Ingram’s Addition to the City of Walla Walla, Lot 1, Block 5 (formerly a portion of Isaacs’ Addition)

Title and Occupant History

Washington Territory was created in 1853. In 1854, the new territorial legislature created Walla Walla County, which stretched from the crest of the Cascade Mountains to the crest of the Rocky Mountains in the present states of Washington, Idaho and Montana. In 1855, Isaac Stevens, governor of Washington Territory, held a council on the banks of Mill Creek at the present site of Walla Walla with representatives of regional Indian tribes to purchase land from them. The Yakamas, Cayuses and Walla Wallas were dissatisfied with the treaties and the intrusion by whites into their lands before the treaties’ ratification, and war followed. Missionaries, former French-Canadian employees of the Hudson Bay Company trading post at Wallula, and soldiers at the military Fort Walla Walla were the primary European occupants of the area prior to 1859, when the treaties were finally ratified and the land was opened for settlement. The transfer of ownership occurred by virtue of a treaty signed on June 9, 1855 in Walla Walla and ratified on March 8, 1859 by President James Buchanan, in which all of the land in the Walla Walla area was acquired from the Cayuse and Walla Walla Indian tribes.

The town of Walla Walla was originally laid out by County Surveyor Hamet Hubbard Case in 1859, prior to its formal incorporation as a city in 1862, as a one-quarter mile square with its eastern side centered on the point where Main Street crossed Mill Creek (at roughly the point where it does now). Case’s plan was filed and recorded July 5, 1867 in Book A of Plats, Page 1. The City of Walla Walla received a Trustee Town site from the U. S. Government that consisted of 80 acres, issued on July 20, 1869 by the Vancouver, W. T. District Land Office.

11/10/1874, Bond for Deed, William Matzger and wife to Asa Fall, 35 and 1/16th acres, $6,000; paid $1,500 in gold coin with balance to be paid quarterly for 19 months; upon payment in full a Warranty Deed will be given to Asa Fall; signed by William Matzger and with an “X” by Abigail Matzger.

4/18/1876, Warranty Deed, William and Abigail Matzger, grantors; Asa Fall, grantee, 34 and 53/100th acres, $3,000.

2/1/1878, Warrant Deed, Asa and Mary Ann Fall, grantors; Henry P. Isaacs, grantee, 34 and 53/100th acres, $2,720.40. Henry Isaacs arrived in Walla Walla in 1862 and established North Pacific Mills. His brother, Joshua, operated a store in Walla Walla during the 1860s. Henry Isaacs served in the Washington Territorial legislature in 1885–1886, introducing a bill that established the Washington penitentiary in Walla Walla. He started several flour mills in eastern Washington, Idaho and Oregon (1858 in Ft. Colville, 1862 in Walla Walla, 1864 in Boise, 1865 in Middleton, 1883 in Prescott, and 1898 in Wasco, OR). W. D. Lyman referred to him as “the foremost miller on the Pacific coast” in his History of Walla Walla County (W. H. Lever, publisher, 1901, p. 313). The Isaacs mill in Walla Walla was located on the parcel that currently is Wildwood Park; water to furnish power for the mill was diverted from Mill Creek via a mill race. In addition, Isaacs was instrumental in developing the city water system, growing wheat in this area and establishing flour mills throughout the Northwest and in Asian countries.

9/22/1881, Lease, H. P. and Lucie Isaacs, lessors; Joshua C. Isaacs, lessee, “…for subterranean waters to supply the City of Walla Walla and inhabitants thereof with water…with ditches…[a] reservoir and [a] building to enclose same…”; 34 and 53/100th acres and 80 acres, 25-year lease, $10,000.

9/11/1886, Right-of-Way Deed, H. P. Isaacs and J. C. Isaacs to The Walla Walla Water Company, a Corporation, (same stipulations as the Lease of 9/22/1881), $1 and other valuable considerations.

2/27/1890, Warranty Deed, Henry P. and Lucie Isaacs, grantors; James H. Ingram, grantee, 4 and 2/5th acres “more or less, with right to plow or discharge the waste of surplus water of mill race over and across the land,” $727.50. The first listing for James Ingram in a Walla Walla city directory was in the 1900-01 edition, showing him only as a county resident. In the 1902 directory, he was included with Walla Walla City residents even though he lived outside the eastern city limits of Division Street, described as a “farmer, res Boyer av ¼ m east city limits.” In 1904, he was again listed with county residents, having a net worth of $485. The following year his net worth had decreased to just $11.55. In the 1907 directory, his name appears with city residents once again, “h Bellevue st, Isaacs add.” The 1908 directory showed him with the same address as in 1907, but listed his occupation as carpenter. The 1909-10 edition described his residence thus, “h Bellevue ne cor Garden.” And finally the 1910-11 edition listed his residence as “h ns Garden 2 e Bellevue.” The 1909 edition of the Walla Walla County Atlas (see below) shows no street where Waverly Street is currently located, nor did White Street continue south of what is now Isaacs Avenue. Note that in the map from the 1909 Atlas the name Isaacs Avenue terminates at Division Street; east of Division it is referred to as Tacoma Avenue. Garden Street ran perpendicular to Bellevue Avenue, Waverly Street is laid at a slight northeast-southwest diagonal. It would thus appear that when Garden Street was vacated, Waverly was not laid precisely where Garden Street had been.

6/3/1899, Declaration of Homestead, James H. Ingram to the Public, in which Ingram states that he, his wife and 7 children and reside on 4.25 acres, including a dwelling and other outbuildings, with an estimated cash value of $2,000.

11/1/1913 (filing date), referencing an Agreement of 8/1/1912, to establish James H. and Mary J. Ingram as “owners of certain and real property in the City of Walla Walla,” and declaring whichever of the two of them dies first the surviving spouse will become full beneficiary.

10/6/1919, Warranty Deed, Oscar L. Ingram, as administrator of the estate of Mary J. Ingram, deceased, grantor; A. Eugene Kelley, grantee, Lots 1 and 2, Block 5, Ingram’s Addition, $3,200.  Oscar Ingram, a court reporter, was a son of James and Mary Ingram.

12/30/1919, Quit Claim Deed, Oscar L. Ingram to The Public, to establish that the seven  surviving children of James H. Ingram, deceased, and Mary J. Ingram, deceased, quit-claim “all platted lands, streets and alleys as shown in Exhibit A [missing] to the public and present owners of said lands,” $1.

5/4/1920, Quit Claim Deed, Elmer E., Oscar L., Jesse W. and Morton M. Ingram, and Carrie E. Cornwell, Ella I. Blair and Myrtle M. Proudfit, as the only legal and surviving heirs of Mary J. Ingram, deceased, grantors; A. Eugene Kelley, grantee, Lots 1 and 2, Block 5, $1.  Mr. Kelley was secretary of the Walla Walla Farmers’ Agency.  His first listing in a city directory was in the 1921-22 edition, with residence at 1030 Waverly Street.

5/13/1925, Warranty Deed, A. Eugene and Ethel Kelley, grantors; John A. Cameron, a bachelor, grantee, Lots 1, and 2, Block 5, $1 and other valuable considerations.  There is no evidence that John Cameron resided at 1030 Waverly Street.

11/21/1925, Warranty Deed, John Cameron, a bachelor, grantor; J. O. Dague, grantee, Lots 1 and 2, Block 5, $1 and other valuable considerations.  J. O. Dague went by his middle name, Oscar and was a rancher.

9/20/1937, Writ of Attachment, Milton Steadman, plaintiff, v. Oscar, individually, and Oscar and Jane Doe Dague, to recover a debt of $311.10.  Jane Doe Dague’s true name was Mamie.

3/30/1959, Quit Claim Deed, Oscar and Mamie Dague, grantors; Phyllis Dague Miller as her separate property, Lots 1 and 2 “to receive the rents, issues and profits… and to use and occupy same during the natural lives of the grantors…” $1.

4/23/1968, Statutory Warranty Deed, Phyllis Dague Miller as her separate property, grantor; Marvin P. and Marian S. Perini, grantees, Lot 1 only, $10.  This is the first legal transaction that separates Lot 1 from Lot 2.  Marvin Perini was listed at a sergeant in the U. S. Air Force in 1968, as a student at Walla Walla Community College in 1969, and later as the owner of Perini Sprinkler repair, operated out of the home at 1030 Waverly Street.

6/30/1978, Statutory Warranty Deed, Marvin P. and Marian S. Perini, grantors; Ronald E. and Mary A. Bruce, grantees, $10 and other valuable considerations.  Ronald Bruce was employed at Grassi Refrigeration Service.

11/6/1980, Statutory Warranty Deed, Ronald E. and Mary A. Bruce, grantors; John F. and Cheryl L. Kosky, grantees, $10 and other valuable considerations.  John Kosky was a pilot for Cascade Airway.

9/14/1987, Statutory Warranty Deed, John F. and Cheryl L. Kosky, grantors; Terrence F. T. and Mary W. Todd, grantees, $10 and other valuable considerations.  Terrence “Tiger” Todd owned Todd Productions, no further description available.

11/28/1989, Statutory Warranty Deed, Empire of America Realty Credit Corporation of Buffalo, NY, grantor; Secretary of U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Spokane, grantee, $10 and other valuable considerations.

12/1/1989, Notice of Trustee’s Sale, Terrance F. T. and Mary W. Todd, grantors; Walla Walla Title Company, Trustee, $47,020.88 balance; sale to be held on steps of Walla Walla County Court House, 7/13/1990 at 2:00 PM.

1/7/1991, Deed, Secretary of U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, grantor; Michael G. and Diane M. Cahill, grantees, $10 and other valuable considerations.

3/16/1999, Notice of Trustee’s Sale, Michael G. and Diane M. Cahill, grantors; Washington Administrative Services, Trustee, $7,967.55 delinquent owing; sale to be held at the main entrance of Walla Walla County Court House, 6/18/1999 at 10:00 AM.  No listing for the Cahills could be located in Walla Walla city directories.

8/19/1999, Notice of Trustee’s Sale, same stipulations as Trustee’s Sale of 3/16/1999, $12,980.90 delinquent owing; sale to be held at the main entrance of Walla Walla County Court House, 11/19/1999 at 10:00 AM.

2/15/2000, Statutory Warranty Deed, Bank of New York, Trustee; Ryan and Rebecca Leighty, grantees, $10 and other valuable considerations (actual sale price $87,500).

No listing for either Leighty could be located in Walla Walla city directories.

2/15/2001, Quit Claim Deed, Rebecca Leighty; grantor; Ryan Leighty as his separate property, grantee.

1/16/2002, Quit Claim Deed, Ryan Leighty as his separate property, grantor; Ryan D. and Becca L. Leighty, grantees.

8/29/2003, Statutory Warranty Deed, Ryan D. and Becca L. Leighty, grantors; Michael Breland, a single person, grantee, $125,000.  Michael Breland, M.D., was director of Physical Therapy at St. Mary’s Medical Center.

11/17/2017, Statutory Warranty Deed, Michael Breland, grantor; Christina Barquist Sloan, grantee.

Construction of Building

The house at 1030 Waverly Street presents somewhat of a conundrum in terms of establishing a precise date of construction. Sanborn Fire Maps are often helpful in dating a building, but when the 1905 edition was printed Ingram’s Addition was still east of the city limits of Division Street. Building permits for the City of Walla Walla are only preserved as far back as September 1907. However, as the house was in all likelihood still east of the then-city limits when it was built, a building permit was probably not issued. The Assessor dates the year of construction to 1905, which may well be correct, even though Assessor’s construction dates are often “guesstimates.” In his Declaration of Homestead of June 1899, James Ingram stated he, his wife and children were residing in a dwelling on the land, and several other dwellings were also mentioned. However, 1030 Waverly certainly does not predate the turn of the last century. If there were other dwellings on Ingrams’ acreage, however, that could account for the multiplicity of locations given for Ingram residence in various early editions of city directories, not to mention what appears to be a slight shifting of Waverly Street north from its predecessor Garden Street.

Building permit no. 401 was granted to Oscar L. Ingram on 3/2/1909 to “remodel dwelling” located on “Belleview [sic] near Isaacs.” Oscar Ingram listed himself as both owner and contractor. Estimated cost of the remodel was $800, and he paid 50¢ for the permit.

Ingram’s Addition to the City of Walla Walla is undated and was originally unrecorded. The plat was filed eventually on 8/6/1921 when the seven children of James and Mary Ingram quit claimed the land to the present owners (see Quit Claim Deed of 12/30/1919).

In conclusion, a build date of ca. 1905 by James Ingram is the closest as can be determined.

The house itself is a large two-story frame structure with a single fore and aft gable roof and large projecting side gables.  It has a full width recessed front porch with the second story projecting overhead, supported by four unadorned square columns.  The most striking feature of the house is the unusual use of Tenino sandstone blocks for the first story.  The facing of the second floor is not original, having been replaced, as were many of the windows of the house, during a “modernization.”  One wonders what the original appearance might have been; it’s entirely possible that the main front gable may have displayed ornate shingles.

Resources

• Whitman Archives
• Pioneer/Columbia Title
• City Directories, various years
• Walla Walla County Assessor
• Walla Walla County Auditor
• Standard Atlas of Walla Walla County, Washington, George A. Ogle, Chicago, 1909

ADDENDUM

In June 2021, Walla Walla 2020 received an email from the owner of the house at 1030 Waverly Street.  She wrote that due to discoveries she had made since purchasing the house in November 2017 information in the report completed in January 2019 might not be fully accurate.  This researcher met with her at the house on July 2, 2021.  She believes that the house predates the Assessor’s build date of 1905, and that it was probably constructed as a one-story sandstone block dwelling.  Alterations on the backside of the house show inconsistencies in the placement of the sandstone blocks that might indicate different dates of construction.  A house on the opposite side of Waverly Street and two houses west of 1030 has a small gable roofed farm building in the back yard that may have been constructed to house animals.  It is of sandstone and displays a single band of sandstone blocks containing spirals that match a single band of spirals on 1030 Waverly Street.  Finally, the back of the existing garage on the property is also of sandstone blocks.  Whether this represents repurposed blocks from the house or if it is part of an earlier building of which this is the only remaining portion is not known.

In his Declaration of Homestead of June 1899, James Ingram, who later had the land platted as Ingram’s Addition, noted that he was living in a dwelling on the land and that there were several other “dwellings” (dwellings may have referred to farm and/or utilitarian buildings) on the land.  While sandstone might be seen as an unusual – almost extravagant – choice for a farmer to construct a house and outbuildings as early as the 1890s, that cannot be entirely dismissed.  At the same time, Ingram likely did not possess sufficient funds to construct a house as large as 1030 Waverly Street is today.

Oscar L. Ingram was granted a building permit on 3/2/1909 to “remodel dwelling.”  That may be the year a second story was added to the house, along with alterations to the existing first floor.

Due to a lack of preserved Walla Walla building permits that pre-date September 1907 a definite date of construction for 1030 Waverly Street cannot be determined.  It is worth considering that the house as originally constructed may well predate the Assessor’s assumed 1905 date of construction.