History of 208 South Palouse Street, Walla Walla, WA

Legal Description: Abbreviated version:

Beginning at a point on the westerly line of Palouse St., which point is 95 feet north of intersection of westerly line Palouse St. with northerly line of Birch St., thence northerly along Palouse 115 feet, westerly 120 feet, southerly 115 feet, and easterly 140 feet to point of beginning.

Title and Occupant History:

December 17, 1873–Burrell W. Griffin, Sheriff of Walla Walla County, Washington Territory, recorded the sale of the “A. B. Roberts” tract in the Roberts Addition to the highest bidder at auction, Amelia E. Ward, for #2400. This sale resulted from the district court decree in the case of Benjamin L. Sharpstein, plaintiff, verses Alvin B. Roberts et. al., defendants. (Deed Book L, Page 117, hereinafter L/117)

Amelia E. Ward was the wife of Michael B. Ward who retired from a rural life in 1876 and settled in the city of Walla Walla and, in the words of historian W. D. Lyman of Whitman College, they “erected there the most pretentious home in the city at the corner of East and Poplar streets [an (228 E. Poplar) apartment house south of the library today]. At the time of the visit of President Hayes and party [1880] the president and his wife were entertained at the home of Mr. Ward, as there were no suitable hotel accommodations to be found in the city.” (Lyman’s History of Old Walla  Walla County. Volume 2, Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1918, p. 54.)

December 8, 1892–M. B. and Amelia E. Ward and sold a 115 foot by 120 foot tract of the 115 foot by 140 foot tract in the legal description to Charles B. Upton for $2200. (511313, see also 73/211 and 53/494)

June 5, 1893–T. R. and Elizabeth Tannant released any claim on the 115 foot by 120 foot tract to Charles B. Upton for $1. (53/586)

The 1892 city directory list C. B. Upton as a partner in the firm of Upton & Upton (with W. H. Upton who was a Superior Court judge in 1892 and a residence at 128 Park St.) with no residence listed. In the directory for 1893-94, C. B. Upton is listed as having a residence on the west side of Palouse St., 3 south of Alder St. (Poplar St. ended west of Catherine St. at that time) In 1898 his residence is listed as being on the west side of Palouse between Birch and Alder. In 1900-01 it is listed as 208 S. Palouse.

Construction of, the House: the 1889 panoramic view of Walla Walla (pp, 145-146 in R. Bennett’s Walla Walla: Portrait of a Western Town. 1804- 1899 and in the Whitman Archives) shows no house on the site. This, together with the directory information above, indicates that the house was built after 1889 and before the publication of the 1893-94 directory. With the purchase date of December 8, 1892 by C. B. Upton, the house was probably built by him in 1893.

August 26, 1907– T: R. and Elizabeth Tannant, husband and wife, quit claim deeded all interest in the “A. B. Roberts” tract in Roberts Addition, and in other lots in Roberts Addition, to Augusta W. Rees, Frank W. Rees, Elma Rees Turner and Lora Rees Compton for $15. (108/573)

September 18, 1908–Augusta W. Rees, a widow, Elma L. Turner, formerly Elma L. Rees, Frank W. Rees and Lora Augusta Compton, formerly Lora Augusta Rees, devisees of Amelia E. Ward, deceased, sold the 115 foot by 20 foot tract (Which completed the ownership by the Uptons of the tract in the legal description) to Addie E. Upton for $300. (121/261)

Augusta Ward Rees was the only child of Amelia and Michael Ward. She married Major Raymond R. Rees in 1865. He came to Walla Walla in 1861 and started a weekly newspaper, the Washington Statesman, later he was a part owner of the Walla Walla Statesman. After his death, she planned and carried out the construction of the Rees Mansion on the corner of Birch and Palouse streets. (Lyman’s History. V. 2, p. 53)

April 11, 1910–Addie E. Upton, a widow, sold the 115 foot by 120 foot tract to Ida E. Cowan for $13,500. (123/128)

April 21, 1911–The building permit book for 1907-13 in the Whitman Archives shows permit #1009 to build a garage at 208 S. Palouse by H. W. Cowan.

November 17, 1913–Addie Upton, widow of Charles B. Upton, quit claim deeded the 115 foot by 20 foot tract to Ida E. Cowan for $1. (140/44, see also 134/72)

The 1914 city directory lists Harry W. Cowan as a traveling salesman living with his wife Ida at 208 S. Palouse. Three others live with them (probably their sons): Ben G. Cowan, Harry C. Cowan, and Walter G. Cowan.

July 21, 1919–Harry W. Cowan quit claim deeded his interest in the property in the legal description to Harry C. Cowan for $1. (Deed #101590)

The 1920 directory lists Harry C. Cowan, a physician with offices in the Baker Building, living at 208 S. Palouse with his wife Olive and with Ida Cowan.

December 1, 1919–Harry C. and Olive L. Cowan quit claim deeded their interest in the property to Ida E. Cowan for $1. (#104028)

January 5, 1924–Addie Upton, widow of Charles B. Upton, deeded her interest in the property in the legal description to Ida E. Cowan, former wife of Harry W. Cowan, for $1 “and other good and valuable consideration.” (#146873)

December 29, 1924–Harry W. Cowan quit claim deeded his interest in the property to Harry C. Cowan for $10 “and other good and valuable consideration.” (#146875)

December 31, 1924–Harry C. and Olive L. Cowan quit claim deeded their interest in the property to Ida E. Cowan for $10 “and other good and valuable consideration.” (#146876)

December 31, 1924– Ida E. Cowan, former wife of Harry W. Cowan, sold the property in the legal description to Harry Pellissier for $10 “and other good and valuable consideration.” (#146877)

Harry Pellissier is not listed in the city directories for 1925-27.

July 20, 1925–Harry and Bertie Pellissier, husband and wife, sold the property to H. F. and Eva Mengee, husband and wife, for the consideration of $10. (#151520)

H. F. Mengee is not listed in the city directory for 1925-26.

November 30, 1925–H. F. and Eva Mengee sold the property to S. V. Davin. a widower, for $10 “and other good and valuable considerations.” (#154847)

S. V. Davin is listed in the 1925-27 directories as the president of Union Iron Works with a home on Chase Avenue.

March 19, 1926–S. V. Davin sold the property to Catherine Garn, a widow, for $26,500. (#166278)

Catherine Garn is listed in the 1926-27 directory as having furnished rooms and a residence at 208 S. Palouse.

July 9, 1927–Catherine M. Garn quit claim deeded the property to S. V. Davin for $10 “and other considerations. II (#166520)

October 10, 1931–Seraphin V. Davin sold the property, and other properties, to Wahluke Investment Co., a corporation, for $10 “and other valuable considerations. II (#195038, see also #214405)

In 1931-35 the property was called the Marshall Apartments with 17 units. In 1931-32 Mrs. Beulah Davin was the manager, her husband Jackson J. Davin was an accountant.

June 4, 1935–Wahluke Investment Co. quit claim deeded the property to Edith Holt, a widow, and Mabel Bryant, a widow, for the consideration of $10. (#214404)

From 1937-1983 the property is listed as the Palouse Apartments with 12 units. Edith Holt and Mabel Bryant resided in #7 in 1937.

September 5, 1935–Edith Holt and Mabel Bryant leased apartment 16 of 208 S. Palouse St. to Minnie M. Sharpstein for one year for #300/year. (#215953)

Minnie M. Sharpstein was the widow of Frank B. Sharpstein and occupied #2 in 1939.

October 15, 1937–Edith Holt and Mabel Bryant sold the property to Annabel Sharpstein for the consideration of $10. (#230856)

Annabel Sharpstein was the widow of John Sharpstein and occupied #1 in 1939.

December 22, 1948–Annabel Sharpstein, a widow, sold the property to Clarence R. Rogers for $28,500 with the provision that the party of the first part (Sharpstein) reserves the right to occupy apt. no. 10 for one year with the option for another year at $34/month. (#317614)

Clarence G. Rogers is listed in the 1951-52 directory as the principal of Sharpstein School with a residence at 208 S. Palouse, #2.

February 18, 1958–Clarence R. and June E. Rogers, husband and wife, quit claim deeded the property to Pat and Annette M. Corr, husband and wife, for the consideration of $1. (#401000)

The 1958 and 1960 directories list Pat Corr as havinq a home at 2029 Delmont, and in 1960 he is listed as retired.

July I, 1960–Pat and Annette M. Carr sold the property to Carl L. and Maude E. Oberholtzer, husband and wife, for $17,000. (#421950)

The 1961 directory lists Carl Oberholtzer as the manager of the Palouse Apts. and his wife, Maude E. Oberholtzer as a clerk for J. C. Penny & Co.; their residence is listed as 208 S. Palouse, #2.

January 12, 1966–Maude E. Oberholtzer, a widow, sold the property to Marshall C. and Lorleen Ehlers, husband and wife, for $18,500. (#473964)

Marshall C. Ehlers is listed in the 1967 directory as secretary to Dwelly Jones (prominent local farmer) and as residing in apt. #2.

December 8, 1969–Marshall C. and Lorleen Ehlers sold the property to Paul F. and Myrtle S. Gneiser, husband and wife, for the consideration of $10. (#516516)

Paul F. Gneiser is listed in 1972 as retired.

June 30, 1971–Paul F. and Myrtle S. Gneiser sold the property to G. Paul and Elizabeth K. Johnston, husband and wife, for a consideration of $10. (#531831)

G. Paul Johnston is listed in 1972 as retired, living in apt.#2.

September 25, 1973–a real estate contract was made between Shirley E. Smyth, as the personal representative of the estate of Elizabeth K. Johnston, deceased, and Peter H. and Karen Dahlquist, husband and wife. (#8802925, see also #9305699)

Peter Dahlquist is listed in 1983 as an apartment manager and owner of Disposal Services; Karen Dahlquist is listed as a physical therapist for S1, Mary’s Hospital. Their home is listed as 1345 Monroe.

February 2, 1983–an assignment of the real estate contract was filed between Peter and Karen Dahlquist and David H. and Jana Kay McClelland, husband and wife. (#8300775)

The 1984 directory lists David McClelland as vice president of Sporleder’s with a home at 2341 Wainwright Pl. In 1987 his home is listed on Gray Lynn Dr.

In 1984 the property name was changed from the Palouse Apts. to the Sharpstein Manor.

March 31, 1988–assignment of Contact and Deed was made by David and Jana Kay McClelland to Joyce A. Adamson, a single person. (#8801938)

 

prepared by Michael W. Smith, 3/95