History of 115 Locust Street, Walla Walla, WA
Legal Description: furnished by owners
Lot 2 in Block F of Foster’s Addition plus 60′ x 30′ of Lot 1
Title and Occupant History:
December 19, 1890–John& Jane Singleton sold Lots 1, 2, & 3 in Block I of Singleton’s 2nd Addition to the City of Walla Walla, 3 1/2 acres containing the property, to Mrs. Harriet Young. (Deed Book 47, Page 196; hereinafter 47/196)
November 12, 1897 –Harriet Young sold the property above to Frank Foster for $1200. (62/345)
Frank Foster acquired hundreds of acres of land in Washington and Oregon, along with other business interests, which his widow, Maud S. Foster, inherited when he died in 1900. They were married in 1894 and had on child, Arthur S. Foster. (W. D. Lyman’s An Illustrated History of Walla Walla County. W. H. Lever, 1901, 332-333)
May 8, 1905–Maud S. Foster platted Foster’s Addition to the City of Walla Walla. (Walla Walla County Auditor’s Office, Plat Book C, page 43)
Maud Straight Foster was the widow of Frank Foster and daughter of Z. K. Straight. Z. K. Straight was a pioneer “who has followed the jewelry business continuously for a longer period of time in the state of Washington than has any other man.” (Lyman’s An Illustrated History, p. 333)
Construction of the house: the assessor lists the date as 1913, but there is no other corroborating evidence. Maud S. Foster did not live at the address, and I could not locate the names of anyone who may have rented from her at that address. C. C. Loney could have built the house in 1919, since he is the first owner listed at the address 115 Locust.
November 10, 1919–Maud S. Foster sold Lot 2, Block F, of Foster’s Addition to Hazel V. & C. C. Loney. (Deed #103520)
C. C. Loney is listed in Polk’s 1920 Walla Walla City& County Directory as a partner in Loney, Ginn & Kerrick: Farm Lands& Investments with offices in the Jaycox Building; his residence is listed as 115 Locust.
August 17, 1920–Charles C. & Hazel V. Loney sold the property to Eret L. Casey for $4250. (#110500)
Eret L. Casey is listed in the city directories of 1920s as a lawyer and notary public with offices in the Drumheller Building and residing at 1/5 Locust.
April 4, 1950–E. L.& Dencie K. Casey transferred the property to First General Savings & Loan. (248/#331418)
1960–Norman L. Smith acquired the property from First Federal Savings & Loan in an unrecorded deed.
Hart’s 1961 city directory lists Norman L. Smith as a brakeman for the Union Pacific Railroad.
June 28, 1965–Norman L.& Lois H. Smith sold the property to Dean Lodmell for $12,000. (#468132)
Dean Lodmell is listed in Hart�s 1966 city directory as a civil engineer.
March 20, 1970–Dean Lodmell sold the property to Gary Richardson for $17,900. (355/#506857)
Gary Richardson is listed in Hart�s 1971 directory as a machinist at Inland Machine Works.
July 31, 1975–Gary Richardson sold the property to Carver D. Van Hemert for $27,000. (#546793)
Hart’s 1976 directory lists Carver Van Hemert as director of Wall Walla City-County Regional Planning.
October 1, 1976–Divorce action resulted in transfer of title from Carver Van Hemert to Juanita Wallin “Van Hemert.”
December 27, 1991–Juanita Wallin sold the property to Gary Rittenhouse for $67,500. (#9109068)
Gary Rittenhouse owned and operated -Rittenhouse Construction Co.
June 15, 1993–Gary Rittenhouse sold the property to Robert Thissen & Aria Thissen. (#9306007)
June 27, 1994–Robert W. Thissen and Aria N. Thissen sold the property to LaVern and Suzanne J. Young for $94,500. (221/30; #9407622)
Eret L. Casey is listed in the city directories of 1920s as a lawyer and notary public with offices in the Drumheller Building and residing at 115 Locust.
April 4, 1950–E. L. & Dencie K. Casey transferred the property to First Federal Savings & Loan. (248/#331418)
1960–Norman L. Smith acquired the property from First Federal Savings & Loan in an unrecorded deed.
Hart’s 1961 city directory lists Norman L. Smith as a brakeman for the Union Pacific Railroad.
June 28, 1965–Norman L. & Lois H. Smith sold the property to Dean Lodmell for $12,000. (#468132)
Dean Lodmell is listed in Hart’s 1966 city directory as a civil engineer.
March 20, 1970–Dean Lodmell sold the property to Gary Richardson for $17,900. (355/#506857)
Gary Richardson is listed in Hart’s 1971 directory as a machinist at Machine Works.
July 31, 1975–Gary Richardson sold the property to Carver D. Van Hemert for $27,000. (#546793)
Hart’s 1976 directory lists Carver Van Hemert as director of Wall Walla City-County Regional Planning.
October I, 1976–Divorce action resulted in transfer of title from Carver Van Hemert to Juanita Wallin “Van Hemert.”
December 27, 1991–Juanita Wallin sold the property to Gary Rittenhouse for $67,500. (#9109068)
Gary Rittenhouse owned and operated Rittenhouse Construction Co.
June 15, 1993–Gary Rittenhouse sold the property to Robert Thissen & Aria Thissen. (#9306007) for $94,500.
June 27, 1994–Robert W. Thissen and Aria N. Thissen sold the property to LaVern and Suzanne J. Young for $120,000. (221/30; #9407622)
prepared by Michael W. Smith, 12/94
