History of 176 East Chestnut, Walla Walla, WA

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Abbreviated Legal Description

Singleton’s Second Addition, Block 3, Lot 15 in Walla Walla, Washington

Full Legal Description

Beginning at a point on the south line of Chestnut Street in the City of Walla Walla, Washington, which point is 11.37 feet east, measured along said south line of Chestnut Street from the northeast corner of Lot 15 in Block 3 of Singleton’s Second Addition to said City of Walla Walla, according to the official plat thereof of record in the office of the Auditor of Walla Walla County, Washington, and running thence west, along said south line of Chestnut Street, a distance of 11.37 feet to the northeast corner of said Lot 15; thence south, along the east line of said Lot 15, a distance of 120 feet to the southeast corner thereof; thence east, and parallel with the south line of Chestnut Street, a distance of 60.38 feet to the westerly line of the alley; thence northerly in a straight line along westerly line of said alley, a distance of 129.62 feet, more or less, to the point of beginning.  Also, beginning at the northeast corner of Lot 15 in Block 3 of Singleton’s Addition to the City of Walla Walla, Washington, according to the official plat thereof of record in the office of the County Auditor of Walla Walla County, Washington, and running thence west along the north line of said Lot 15, a distance of 50 feet to the northwest corner of said Lot 15; thence south along the west line of said Lot 15 and said line produced, a distance of 120 feet; thence east, parallel to the north line of said Lot 15, a distance of 50 feet to the southeast corner of said Lot 15; thence north along the east line of said Lot 15, a distance of 120 feet to the point of beginning.  Situated in the City and County of Walla Walla, State of Washington.

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.

Plat Map of Singleton’s Second Addition in Walla Walla, Washington

Plat Map of Singleton’s Second Addition in Walla Walla, Washington

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). The original plat was lost, probably in the fire of 1865. Thus, the earliest plat on file is one made by W. W. Johnson, City Surveyor, in July 1865 that claims to have made corrections to Case’s survey. Johnson’s survey was made the official plat of the City of Walla Walla on September 25, 1866, was filed and recorded July 5, 1867.

7/7/1883, Singelton’s Second Addition to the City of Walla Walla was platted by John and Jane Singleton.  According to Gilbert and Lyman (see Resources section below),

John Singleton was born in Cork County, Ireland in 1824 where he married Frances Jane Gowan.  They came to Walla Walla County in 1856 where Jane Singleton purchased “a squatter’s right,” which would be the 160 acres Gilbert denotes them as owning at 1207 South 2nd Street—not what became Singleton’s Second Addition.

Frances Jane Gowan Singleton

Frances Jane Gowan Singleton

They had six children:  Catherine (married Thomas Tierney and resided in San Francisco), Frank E., William H. (died early), Elizabeth, Eudora M., and Esther Belle (married J. W. Brooks, an attorney of Walla Walla).  These names are important because they are the names on the first known deeds for what is now 176 E. Chestnut.  John Singleton died in 1893.   Jane Singleton lived to be in her nineties.

7/20/1904, Quit-Claim Deed, grantor Esther Belle Brooks (daughter of John and Jane Singleton) quit claimed for $1.00 to grantees Francis Edward Singleton, Elizabeth Singleton and Mary Jane Eudora Singleton (Esther’s siblings) several properties including Lot 15 of Block 3 of Singleton’s Second Addition to the City of Walla Walla.

9/23/1905, Deed, grantors Jane Singleton, Francis Edward Singleton, Elizabeth Singleton and Mary Jane Eudora Singleton were paid $933.33 by grantee Gilbert Hunt Company, a corporation, for several properties including Lot 15 of Block 3 of Singleton’s Second Addition.

Gilbert Hunt

Gilbert Hunt

Gilbert Hunt was the inventor of the “Pride of Washington thresher,” head of a company on West Main Street known as the largest manufacturer of farm machinery in the northwest, and he served three terms as Mayor of Walla Walla from 1902-1905.  “In many instances Mr. Hunt initiated and carried to successful completion movements for public improvements, such as the paving of the center business district, the extension of the water system providing for the present intake twelve miles above the city, the betterment of the sewage system, the securing of the Carnegie library and the establishment of public parks.” (Lyman, vol. I, p. 545)

2/24/1906, Quit-Claim Deed, grantor Gilbert Hunt Company quit claimed for $1.00 to grantee Gilbert Hunt several properties including Lot 15 of Block 3.

According to Lyman, “Owing to financial difficulties precipitated by the hard times beginning in 1907 this great establishment [initially Hunt Threshing Factory later Gilbert Hunt Company], which employed from seventy-five to a hundred men, was obliged to close its doors.” (Lyman, vol. I, p. 194)  This quit-claim deed denotes transferring property of Hunt’s failing company to Gilbert Hunt personally.

1906, Rental, Cashatt C. Bert, driver for the Walla Walla Steam Laundry, rented the house at 176 E. Chestnut.  He moved out in 1909 after becoming a Walla Walla patrolman in 1908.  This is the first record found of a house at 176 E. Chestnut other than the date of 1890 noted by the Walla Walla County Assessor.

4/15/1909, Deed, grantor Gilbert Hunt and Hope M. Hunt were paid $2500 by grantee W. P. Leach for Lot 15, Block 3.  This is the first conveyance limited to this lot.  From this date on, Lot 15 is separated from the previously conjoined properties and maintains the legal description as shown above.

12/16/1911, Deed, Owner and Builder, W.P. Leach, obtained a building permit to construct a chicken house for $20–a structure apparently on the property currently listed as a tool shed

12/20/1913, Indenture, grantors W.P. Leach and Frances A. Leach were paid $10 by Patterson F. Waldrop for Lot 15, Block 3.

12/20/1913, Indenture, grantors Patterson F. Waldrop and Minnie Gertrude Waldrop of Umatilla County were paid $1150 by W.P.  Leach for Lot 15, Block 3, in the nature of a mortgage.

11/25/1914, Indenture, grantors Patterson F. Waldrop and Minnie Gertrude Waldrop were paid $1000 by grantee F. E. Rambo, whose wife is Hattie M. Rambo, for Lot 15, Block 3 and assumed a mortgage of $1150 and interest from and after the 20th Day of December 1914, which grantee assumes as part of the purchase price, the same being the W.P. Leach mortgage.

6/26/1918, Quit-Claim, grantor Hattie M. Rambo of Ayers Junction in the County of Walla Walla quit claimed for $1.00 to grantee F.E. Rambo Lot 15, Block 3.

12/24/1920, Deed, grantor F.E. Rambo was paid $2620 by grantee James E. Holliet and Rebecca Holliet  for Lot 15, Block 3

2/10/1922, Deed, grantors James E. Holliet and Rebecca Holliet were paid $2750 by grantee Stena Olson for Lot 15, Block 3, as follows:  “The sum of $1050 at the time of delivery of this agreement and the balance of $1700 as follows:  the sum of $25 on the 1st day of April 1922, and the like sum of $25 or more upon the 1 day of each and every month thereafter until the whole of said principal sum has been paid,…  Together with interest thereon at the rate of 7-1/2 per cent per annum, payable semi-annually on the first day of October and April of each year from date until paid.”

12/5/1922, Deed, grantor Stena Olson was paid  $3500 by grantee Erwin S. Rice  for Lot 15, Block 3 “in the manner following:  $400 at the time of the delivery of this agreement, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the grantor and the further sum of $3100 to be paid as follows in monthly installments of at least $30 per month beginning on the fifth day of January 1923, which monthly installments shall include interest at 7% per annum. 60 days grace to be allowed on any monthly installment.  Payable to Third National Bank of Walla Walla, Washington who are to apply such payments as they come in to pay off as they come due the $1475 balance on a certain contract for deed from James A. Holliet and Rebecca Holliet, his wife, to Stena Olson, for this property and dated Feb 10, 1922.

9/10/1935, Warranty Deed, grantor Stena Olson was paid $700 by grantees James C. Jones and Laura J. Jones  for Lot 15, Block 3.  Apparently the Erwin Rice failed to make his payments because his heirs quit-claimed the property back to Stena Olson, which allowed her to sell to the Joneses.

10/12/1949, Quit-Claim Deed, grantor Laura J. Jones quit claimed for $10 to grantee Leona Knott Lot 15, Block 3.

4/4/1951, Warranty Deed, grantor Leona Knott was paid $10 by grantees W. C. Sprague and LaJune Sprague for Lot 15, Block 3.

8/27/1951, Warranty Deed, grantors W. C. Sprague and LaJune Sprague were paid $10 by grantees Charles Weston Scoby and Gene B. Scoby for Lot 15, Block 3.

10/5/1962, Warranty Deed, Grantors Charles Weston Scoby and Gene B. Scoby were paid $10  by Grantees William F. Johnson and Alice I. Johnson for Lot 15, Block 3.

11/16.1983, Warranty Deed, grantor Alice I. Johnson was paid $10 by grantees Douglas E. Trainor and Rebecca L. Trainor for Lot 15, Block 3.

6/24/1987, Quit-Claim Deed, grantors Douglas E. Trainor and Rebecca L. Trainor quit claimed for $1 to Alice I. Johnson Lot 15, Block 3.

10/22/1987,Warranty Deed, grantor Elsie J. Hastings as personal representative of the estate of Alice I. Johnson was paid $10 by Frank P. Vaughn and Helen M. Vaughn for Lot 15, Block 3.

6/4/1993, Quit-Claim Deed, grantor Helen M. Self (Vaughn) quit claimed for to Frank P. Vaughn Lot 15, Block 3.

12/1/2000, Trustee Sale, “Notice is hereby given that the undersigned Trustee [James K. Hayner] will … at the main entrance to the Walla Walla County Courthouse, 315 W. Main, in the City of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder, payable at the time of sale, the following-described real property, commonly known as 176 East Chestnut [Lot 15, Block 3], Walla Walla, Washington”

12/6/2000, Trustee’s Deed, grantor James K. Hayner, successor trustee, conveyed to Banner Bank Lot 15, Block 3.

12/13/2000, Warranty Deed, grantor Banner Bank conveyed to grantee Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Lot 15, Block 3.

5/31/2001, Deed, grantor Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation was paid by grantee Timothy Flaherty for Lot 15, Block 3.

5/1/2003, Warranty Deed, grantor Timothy Flaherty was paid $175,000 by grantees Richard D. Taylor and Connie J. Taylor for Lot 15, Block 3.

2/4/2015, Trustee’s Deed, grantors Richard D. and Connie J. Taylor had Lot 15 in Block 3 repossessed by grantee New York Mellon Trust Company.

8/31/2015, Warranty Deed, grantor New York Mellon Trust Company to Cynthia Oster for Lot 15 in Block 3.

Construction of the House

Building Permits for the City of Walla Walla are only preserved as far back as mid-September 1907.  While the Walla Walla County Assessor lists the date of the house as 1890, there is no listing in the city directories for this property prior to 1906, and the 1905 Sanborn fire map shows no building on this property, despite homes on adjoining properties.

The City Directory for 1906 lists Bert Cashatt living at 176 E. Chestnut as a renter. He is listed as a renter at 801 Alder in 1905 and apparently moved in 1906 to 176 E. Chestnut into what was most likely a new house built by property owner Gilbert Hunt. Gilbert acquired this property together with others in late September of 1905 for $933.33, and subsequently sold this property alone for $2500 in 1909.

The house at 176 East Chestnut is a one and one-half story house with a prominent front gable and a secondary side gable roof.  It exhibits some Queen Anne style detailing in its inset front porch framed by a half-round arch over the front steps displaying machine-made ornament.   Siding of the main floor is clapboards with ornamental shingle cladding on the second level.  A small pediment featuring a sunburst is centered under the main front gable.”

Resources

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