History of 219 Fulton Street, Walla Walla, WA
Legal Description:
Lot 7 in Block 2 of Brookside Park Addition to the City of Walla Walla, according to the official plat thereof of record in the office of the Auditor of Walla Walla County, Washington, in book C of plats at page 52.
Title and Occupant History:
May 23, 1863–John Haley sold 26 and 81/100ths acres in the S. W. quarter of the N.W. quarter of Section 21, Township 7 N., Range 36 East of the Willamette Meridian, including the property,” to William H. Patten and Elizabeth A. Patten, husband and wife, for $100. (Deed Book C, Page 112-hereinafter C/l12)
January 20, 1864–William H. and Elizabeth A. Patten sold 80 acres in Sections 20 and 21, Township 7 N., Range 36 E.W.M. to Henry P. Isaacs for $2000. (0/146, see also E/95)
Henry P. Isaacs started several flour mills in eastern Washington, Idaho, and Oregon (1858 in Ft. Colville, 1862 in Walla Walla, 1864 in Boise, 1865 in Middleton, 10, 1883 in Prescott, and 1898 in. Wasco, OR). W. D. Lyman referred to him as lithe foremost miller on the Pacific coast” in his History of Walla Walla County (W. H. Lever, Publisher, 1901, p 313). He also successfully experimented with almost every variety of fruit and vegetable grown in the northern temperate zone and was a “booster” for Walla Walla, encouraging rail lines in the valley and introducing the bill that established the state penitentiary in Walla Walla. He died July 14, 1900.
August 2, 1898–H. P. Isaacs and Lucie Isaacs, husband and wife, deeded 6 & 7/8ths acres in the S.W. quarter of the N.W. quarter of Section 21, Township 7 N., Range 36 E.W.M., including the property, to the Odd Fellows Lodge of the State of Washington for $1. (69/142, see also 69/139)
June 4, 1903–the Odd Fellows Lodge of the State of Washington quit claim deeded the above 6 7/8ths acres to Lucie Isaacs, et. al., for $1. (87/554)
February 5, 1904–the heirs of H. P. Isaacs quit claim deeded the aforementioned 6 7/8ths acres to Lucie Isaacs, widow of H. P. Isaacs, for $1. (91/112)
1905–Lucie Isaacs platted the Brookside Park Addition to the City of Walla Walla. (Plat Book C. Page 52. Office of the Walla Walla County Auditor. Walla Walla County Courthouse)
March 28. 1906-Lucie Isaacs sold lots 7 and 8 in Block 2 to J. L. Elam for $2200. The deed included an exception of subterranean water rights and the following restriction: “this deed made on condition that the party of the second part. his heirs or assigns, shall build on said premises, whenever he or they build at all. a dwelling house at an actual cost of not less than twenty-five hundred ($2500) dollars. and shall not build any other building thereon until after he or they have constructed such building at such cost, and a failure to comply with the said conditions shall forfeit all right and title of said second party, his heirs and assigns, to said premises …. ” (99/551)
J. L. Elam opened a bank in 1904 across First Street from the Walla Walla Paper and Stationery Company. He had sold his implement company to the Drumheller Company in 1905 and in 1906 sold his interests in the Eagle and Peacock Flour Mills in Milton, Oregon. Mr. Elam also owned a bantl in Milton. The Elam bank became The People’s Bank in 1911.� (R. A. Bennett, Walla Walla: A Town Built to be a City. 1900-1919, p. l05.)
The 1907 city directory lists J. L. Elam as president of J. L. Elam’s Bank, N.E. corner 1st & Alder, and as having a home at 735 Washington St
July l0, 1907– J. L. and Fanny M. Elam, husband and wife, sold lot 7 in block 2 of Brookside Addition (with the building restrictions set forth in the deed from Lucie Isaacs and the subterranean water exceptions) to John F. McRae for the recorded consideration of $10. (109/120)
The 1908 city directory lists John’ F. McRae as a salesman employed by the Drumheller Co. with a home at 914 Hobson. The 1909-14 city directories list John F. McRae as a salesman for the Drumheller Company with a home at 615 S. 3rd; the 1915 city directory lists him as manager of Cash Hardware Co. with a home at 219 Fulton.
September 23, 1911–John F: McRae quit claimed and conveyed lot 7 to his wife, Ivah May McRae, for the recorded consideration of $1. (127/281)
April 28, 1914–Grant S. and Etta S. Bond, husband and wife, conveyed and quit claimed all interest in lot 7 to John F. and Ivah May McRae for $1 “and other valuable considerations.� (134/302)
Construction of the House: the Walla Walla County Assessor lists the year built as 1910; this is an estimate and is sometimes based on information received from neighbors or the recollections of others. Unfortunately, the Whitman College Archives do not have a listing for McRae in their building permit files; however, the city directory listings and the 1914 clearing of title indicate a construction date of 1914.
December 17, 1918–John F. and Ivah May McRae sold lot 7 (subject to building restrictions and reservation of water rights) to E. V. Pence for $10 “and other valuable considerations. II (144/563)
The 1920. city directory lists Emanuel V. Pence as a farmer with a home at 219 Fulton.
November 13, 1922–E. V. and Grace Dunn Pence, husband and wife, sold lot 7 to James and Ida E. Archer, husband and wife, for $1 “and other good and valuable considerations. II (Deed #128793)
The 1923 city directory lists the Archers at 219 Fulton but lists no occupation; the 1931-32 directory list James Archer as a farmer with a home at 219 Fulton.
January 31, 1968�Executor�s Deed: W. Hesper Archer and Arden F. Archer, Sr., both individually and as co-executors of the will of Ida E. Archer, deceased, sold lot 7 to Bryon F. and Betty Alice Shields, husband and wife, for $17,500. (#492097)
June 5, 1975-Curtis G. and Eunice D. Hansens, husband and wife, quit claim deeded “The North 2 feet in width of Lot 6 in Block 2�� to Byron F. and Betty Alice Shields for “TEN DOLLARS and other valuable considerations.” (#546170)
January 16, 1984–Byron F. Shields, in consideration of a decree of dissolution, conveyed and quit claimed all interest and title in lot 7 to Betty Alice Shields, subject to a $15,000 lien. (#8402767; see also Walla Walla Superior Court Cause No. 83 3 000771)
November 12, 1987 –an acknowledgement of the satisfaction of the $15,000 lien (created in the Decree of� Dissolution dated October 26, 1983 and held by Byron F. Shields and Cornelis and Caroline Wagemans, husband and wife against Betty Alice Shields on lot 7) was filed. (#8708952)
prepared by Michael W. Smith, 7/96
