History of 415 McKinley Street – Walla Walla, WA

Legal Description

Lot 12 in Block 5 of Watertown 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 56.  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.

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.

The first patent holder of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 21, Township 7-North, Range 36-East in what is now the City of Walla Walla was Samuel Phinney.  He purchased 160 acres from the United States Government on 4/1/1865, registered in the Vancouver, W.T. Land Office.

1/9/1878, Warranty Deed, C. S. and Nancy J. Bush, grantors; Thomas Collins, grantee, beginning at a point 472 feet North and 745 feet West from the corner to Sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, Township 7-North, Range 36-East of the Willamette Meridian, thence West 1,460 feet; thence with a right hand deflection Northwesterly along a curve described with a radius of 420 feet for 515 feet; thence West 130 feet; thence at right angles North to the North line of the South half of the South half of Section 21; thence East along said North line 1,985 feet; thence South to a point 840 feet North from the place of beginning; thence from a line extending East with a right hand deflection along a curve described with a radius of 420 feet for a distance of 1,3191/2 feet to the place of beginning.  Containing 44 acres more or less.  Also, the following premises in said County: commencing 371/3 rods West of the Northwest corner of the Southeast 1/4th of the Southeast 1/4th of Section 21, Township 7-North, Range 36-East running thence West 64 rods; thence at right angles North 30 rods; thence at right angles East 64 rods; thence at right angles South 30 rods to the place of beginning.  Containing 12 acres.  Thomas Collins was proprietor of The Walla Walla Driving Park that was located on the site that later became Walla Walla’s early fairgrounds.

1/27/1883, Lease, Thomas and Laura Collins, grantors; James A. Messenger, grantee, a 3-year lease for the 12 acres, beginning 1/1/1882 at $80/month in gold coin.  James Messenger was a constable.

5/11/1883, Assignment of Lease, James A. Messenger, lessor; Charles Russell, lessee, who was the quartermaster at Fort Walla Walla, for whom Russell Creek Road that passes by his ranch was named, to transfer and assign forever Messenger’s rights to the 12 acres, $975.  Charles Russell was a farmer described as living “3 mi se” of the city.  That would have been east of this property, that was also east of the city limits at that time.

6/5/1883, Warranty Deed Against Grantor, Thomas and Laura Collins, grantor; Charles Russell, grantee, for the 12 acres in the amount of $13,200.

3/12/1886, Warranty Deed, Charles and Annie Russell, grantors; Walla Walla Driving Park and Agricultural Association, a Corporation,  44 plus 12 acres more or less, $8,000.

9/2/1886, Warranty Deed, Walla Walla Driving Park and Agricultural Association, a Corporation, grantor; Walla Walla Consolidated Agricultural Society, a Corporation, grantee, 44 acres plus 12 acres more or less, $10,000.

5/29/1895, Certificate of Purchase of Real Estate,  W. P. Reser, Alex Cameron, Chris Ennis, Harvey Shaw, Milton Aldrich, Mike Toner, F. M. Lowden, Phillip Yenney, Hiram Nelson, W. O’Donnell, James McInroe, Thomas Quinn, John Dooley, John Alheit, B. Ferrel and John G. Paine, plaintiffs vs. The Walla Walla Consolidated Agricultural Society, a Corporation, defendant, to confirm the Sheriff William Ellingsworth’s sale of said property on 5/28/1885 for $20,795.85 in gold coin, “the highest and best bid,” in an action against the Agricultural Society in the Superior Court for Walla Walla County.

5/29/1897, Sheriff’s Deed Under Foreclosure of Mortgage, William Ellingsworth, Sheriff of Walla Walla County to W. P. Reser, Trustee for various creditors of the Walla Walla Valley Consolidated Agricultural Society, including W. P. Reser, Alex Cameron, Chris Ennis, Harvey Shaw, Milton Aldrich, Mike Toner, F. M. Lowden, Phillip Yenney, Hiram Nelson, W. O’Donnell, James McInroe, Thomas Quinn, John Dooley, John Alheit, B. Ferrel and John G. Paine, to confirm the Sheriff’s sale of said property on 5/29/1885 for $20,795.85 in gold coin, “the highest and best bid,” in an action against the Agricultural Society in the Superior Court for Walla Walla County.

3/27/1903, Quit Claim Deed, Harvey and Martha Shaw, grantors; The Garden City Land Company, a Corporation, grantee, $1.  Identical deeds were executed by Hiram and Sarah A. Nelson; Alex and Gean Cameron; F. M. and Mary E. Lowden; W. P. Reser as Trustee and W. P. and Linda Reser; and Sarah Aldrich

4/24/1903, Sheriff’s Deed Under Foreclosure and Mortgage, Charles S. Painter, Sheriff of Walla Walla County to W. P. Reser, Trustee, to confirm the above sale of 5/28/1895.

11/3/1903, Warranty Deed, The Garden City Land Company, a Corporation, grantor; Joseph McCabe, grantee, 44 acres plus 12 acres more or less, $17,500.   Identical deeds were executed by Chris and Annie E. Ennis; Milton and Sarah Aldrich; The Walla Walla Valley Consolidated Agricultural Society; Phillip and Rachel Yenney; Frances Dooley, widow and residuary devisee of John Dooley, deceased; Clara Louise Quinn, widow and residuary devisee of Thomas Quinn, deceased; Rose Alheit, widow and residuary devisee of John Alheit, deceased; B. and Caroline Ferrel; W. O’Donnell, unmarried; James and Jennie McInroe; Mike and Julia R. Toner; and The City of Walla Walla.  Joseph McCabe was Vice President and General Manager of the Washington and Columbia River Railway with offices and depot on the northwest corner of East Main and South Palouse Streets.  He lived at 260 East Birch.  McCabe platted the town of Watertown, filed 11/4/1903.

10/2/1905, Quit Claim Deed, Joseph and Ella L. McCabe, grantors; Thomas Mosgrove, grantee, Lot 12, Block 5 plus 95 other lots and blocks in Watertown Addition.  Thomas Mosgrove was a realtor with offices in the old Jones Building on the corner of South 2^nd and Alder Street, current site of the main branch of Banner Bank.  He was also president of The Watertown Company.  He lived at 104 Park Street.

5/10/1906, The City of Walla Walla approved and adopted Joseph McCabe’s 11/4/1903 plat of Watertown as Watertown Addition to the City of Walla Walla.

6/7/1906, Deed, Thomas Mosgrove, grantor; Kittie Mosgrove, grantee, the 96 lots in the above Quit Claim Deed, for love and affection.

6/9/1906, Warranty Deed, Kittie Mosgrove, grantor; The Watertown Company, a Corporation, grantee, same as Quit Claim Deed of 10/2/1905, $1.

10/1/1912, Warranty Deed, The Watertown Company, a Corporation, grantor; David Vaughn, grantee, Lot 12, Block 5, Watertown Addition, $1 in gold coin.  This is the first sale of the above lot exclusive of any other properties.  David Vaughn was manager of the Washington Loan & Investment Trust Company.  Previously residing on South Palouse Street and more recently at 816 Alvarado Terrace, David and Gwen Vaughn were first listed as residing at 415 McKinley Street in the 1911-12 City Directory that contains a publishing date of November 1911.  The property was apparently sold to Vaughn by unrecorded contract in 1911, and the home was constructed by him that year.

5/5/1928, Quit Claim Deed (Statutory Form), Mary Vaughn, a spinster, grantor; Gwen Vaughn, a widow and devisee under the will of David Vaughn, deceased, grantors; Gwen Vaughn, a widow, grantee, Lot 12, Block 5, Watertown Addition and numerous other properties in other additions, $1.  Mary Vaughn may have been the daughter of Gwen and the late David Vaughn.  (Interestingly, the last year a Vaughn was listed in a city directory as residing at 415 McKinley was the 1925-26 edition.

5/10/1928, Partial Release of Lien, T. C. Elliott to Gwen Vaughn, a reconstruction of a $5,000 loan,with the grantee paying the grantor $1,000 with payments for the $4,000 balance to be set.  T. C. Elliott operated an investment broker and loan company out of his house at 314 East Poplar Street.

5/10/1928, Quit Claim Deed, Mary Vaughn, grantor; Gwen Vaughn, a widow, grantee, Lot 12, Block 5, $1.

5/10/1928, Statutory Warranty Deed, Gwen Vaughn, a widow, grantor; O. D. Keen, grantee, Lot 12, Block 5, $4,500.  Orlan D. Keen was a prominent building contractor in Walla Walla.  He was listed as building contractor for the Union Bank & Trust Company, and for the H. L. Gray Company.  He lived at 1321 Walla Walla Avenue.

2/8/1929, Warranty Deed,  O. D. and Bertha O. Keen, grantors; Jennie I. Richmond, grantee, $1.  Jennie was the wife of Frank Richmond, president of Star Laundry and vice president of H. L. Gray, Inc.  Also residing at 415 McKinley was C. Leland Richmond, a farmer.  O. D. Keen’s involvement with 415 McKinley is surmised to have been for needed renovation for the Richmonds after widow Gwen Vaughn’s long occupancy and possibly briefly unoccupied condition.  It was not until 1929 that it was again occupied for certain.  (Reverse directories by street address were not included in city directories until 1930.)

3/31/1932, Lis Pendens, The City of Walla Walla vs. numerous property owners in Watertown Addition for delinquent street assessments, including Lot 12, Block 5 for $89.38.

8/13/1945, Quit Claim Deed, Lester F., C. Leland and Harold A. Richmond, grantors; Jennie I. Richmond, grantee, Lot 12, Block 5, “for love and affection.”

5/20/1946, Warranty Deed, Jennie I. Richmond, a widow, grantor; Fred W. and Nellie J. Cline, grantees, $10.  The Clines did not occupy 415 McKinley and were not listed in city directories.

5/20/1946, Warranty Deed, Fred W. and Nellie J. Cline, grantors; Walter K. and Laura E. Sandahl, grantees, $10.  Walter Sandahl was a farmer and the Sandahls occupied 415 McKinley.

11/10/1954, Warranty Deed, Walter K. and Laura E. Sandahl, grantors; Leonard A. and Wilma J. Dorsch, grantees, $10.  Leonard Dorsch was the owner of Healy’s Service Station at 402 West Main Street.

5/26/1970, Statutory Warranty Deed, Leonard A. and Wilma J. Dorsch, grantors; Dale F. and Antonia A. Ross, grantees, $10.  Ross was a real estate manager at Sherwood & Roberts.

7/20/1972, Statutory Warranty Deed, Dale F. and Antonia A. Ross, grantors; Michael J. and Deedra A. Donovan, grantees, $10.  Michael Donovan owned Decorative Iron by Donovan; Deedra Donovan was a circulation clerk for the Union-Bulletin.

5/2/1983, Quit Claim Deed, Carla K. Donovan, a single person, grantor; Michael J. Donovan, a single person, grantee  (“a single person” presumably refers to a divorced man).

6/10/1991, Statutory Warranty Deed, Michael J Donovan, a single person, grantor; Samuel G. and Diana J. Crider, grantees, $10 and other valuable consideration.  No Crider was listed in city directories and the house was listed as vacant until 1996 when Samuel Crider was listed in the city directory as administrative coordinator at Whitman College.

4/21/2003, Statutory Warranty Deed, Samuel G. and Diana J. Crider, grantors; Phil Lynch and Anita Foffenof-Lynch, grantees, $10 and other valuable consideration.  Philip R. Lynch is an adjunct instructor of music at Whitman College.

8/16/2006, Quit Claim Deed, Phillip R. Lynch, grantor, in order to create a separate property, conveys and quit claims to Anita J. Foffenof-Lynch, grantee, as her separate property.

6/26/2008, Statutory Warranty Deed, Anita Foffonof-Lynch, who appears of record as Anita J. Foffenof, a married person as her sole and separate property, grantor; Bruce A. and Jennifer C. Garner, grantees, $435,000.

6/13/2012, Statutory Warranty Deed, Bruce A. Garner, grantor; David J. Schulz, grantee, $385,000.

5/30/2019, Statutory Warranty Deed, David J. Schulz and Jessica Ann Cerullo, grantors; Heidi McFarley, a married person, grantee.

Construction of Building

The Walla Walla County Assessor lists 1916 as the construction date for 415 McKinley Street.  Assessor dates are generally approximations, as is often evidenced by locating a building permit at Whitman College Archives.  City of Walla Walla building permits are preserved as far back as mid-September 1907, so there should be a permit for 415 McKinley; however, no such permit could be found.  Building permits were checked and double-checked from 1909 through the Assessor’s year of 1916 by both the owner’s name and the property location.

The only permit for any construction on McKinley Street during those eight years was for a house in the 500 block.  The first issue of the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map for 1905 does not extend as far east as McKinley Street.  Additional pages were added to the 1905 Sanborn map to include a number of streets east of the 1905 eastern city limit; a page showing McKinley Street was added in January 1923.  It shows both 415 McKinley at the corner of Olive Street and the former house on the east corner of the block at 1104 East Alder Street.  That house was demolished several years ago and replaced with a larger house.  415 McKinley’s footprint on the page added to the 1905 Sanborn map shows a rectangular house with a full-width front porch.

The Walla Walla city directory for 1911-12 was published in November 1911, and lists David and Gwen Vaughn at 415 McKinley Street.  The property was apparently sold to Vaughn by unrecorded contract in 1911, and the home was constructed by him that year.  In the previous directory, 1909-10, the Vaughns lived at 816 Alvarado Terrace.  David Vaughn was the manager of Washington Loan & Investment Trust Company.  David Vaughn died 12/8/1924 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.  Death records for Gwen Vaughn, wife of David Vaughn, and Mary Vaughn, described as a spinster, who may have been a daughter, could not be located, and neither is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

415 McKinley is a Dutch Colonial house with a full-width front porch supported by three square posts.  The porch has a roof, and, unlike most Dutch Colonials, the façade is not centrally-massed, with the front door on the left. To describe the house as having a front gambrel roof would be deceiving.  Certainly that is the focal point, but it is more correctly a cross gambrel roof, the side gambrels spanning the entire sides of the house, slightly elevated above the front gambrel.  The large side gambrel forms the rear portion of the roof; a rear gambrel matching the front gambrel is lacking.  The large side gambrels afford considerably more headroom on the second level.  Projecting eaves exist between the main and second floors.  A half-round window on the front gambrel directly under the peak indicates a small attic.  The first two stories are clapboard; the attic level is shingled.

Although the footprint for the house as of 1923 shows a rectangular structure, a small addition to the rear of the house has been added.  Currently the owners are in the process of adding onto the back of the house for an enlarged kitchen, and the back yard is undergoing significant restoration.  New concrete steps on Olive Street at the back yard replicate precisely the front steps.

Resources

• TitleOne Title & Escrow (formerly Pioneer Title)
• Whitman College Archives
• Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1905 edition with additions
• Walla Walla City Directories, various years
• City of Walla Walla building permits, 1909-1916
• Walla Walla County Auditor online deed search
• Mountain View Cemetery Records