History of 920 Fern Street, Walla Walla, WA

Title and Occupant History:

The Spring Grove Addition No. I to the City of Walla Walla was platted by Joshua C. Isaacs. June 14, 1890. (Plat Book “B,” page 48)

May 7. 1900–Bessie Savage, Charlotte M. Doheny, and Grace G. Isaacs devisees of Joshua C. Isaacs, deceased, sold the following to Christopher Columbus Gose for $700:

“The N. E. quarter of Block 3 of Spring Grove Addition Number 1 to the City of Walla Walla. State of Washington. (Deed Book 74. Page 16, hereafter 74/16)

Construction of building: The house on the lot was probably built in 1900 or 1901 since C.C. Gose is listed in Polk’s Walla Walla City & County Directory. 1902,  as residing 1  mile east of city limits (in Farr & Nicars Walla Walla City & County Directory 1900-1901, he is listed at 207 Colville) and he is listed at 1 mile east of city limits in the city directories through 1908. From 1909 to 1914, C.C. Gose is listed in the directories on Fern Ave., S.E. corner of Juniper. He was a lawyer in the firm of T. P. & C.C. Gose with offices in the Barrett Building at 9 E. Main (later moved to the Jones Building, corner of Main and Second).

May 20, 1919–Viola Cullen Gose, widow of C.C. Gose, for $6250, granted, conveyed, and warranted the following property to E. H. Storie:

“The South 220 feet of the N.E. quarter of Block 3. Spring Grove Addition No. 1.” together with the right to build and maintain a flume. (146/296)

In the city directory of 1920, Elmer Storie is listed at Fern Ave. near Pleasant and in 1921-22 at Fern Ave. near Vine. He was with Sturgis & Storie, agents for the Holt Manufacturing Co., general farm implements & machinery. 606 W. Main.

December 7, 1921–Elmer H. & Mary Storie grant C.O. & Edna Whiteman of Walla Walla:

‘The South 220 feet of the N.E. quarter of Block 3, Spring Grove Addition No. 1,” together with right to maintain a flume. (158/420)

From 1923-31. Calder O. & Edna Whiteman are listed in the city directories as residing at a home on Fern Ave., RD 6. He is listed as a farmer.

June 16, 1929–Viola Cullen Gose, now of Los Angeles, California, granted the following property to S.P. Royse (who owned a real estate company) of Walla Walla:

“N, 80 feet of N.E. quarter of Block 3 of Spring Grove Addition No. I and lots 22 through 31 in Block 2 of Spring Grove Addition No. 2.” (I79/215)

November 24, 1934–V.C. Gose of Los Angeles, CA granted quit claim deed to J. Gordon Gose of King Co., WA for the following property:

“N. 80 feet of N.E. quarter of Block 3, Spring Grove Addition No. 1 to City of Walla Walla.” (190/448)

April 9, 1938–C.O. & Edna Whiteman sell the following property for $6000 to the First National Bank of Walla Walla, trustees for the Wahluke Investment Co. & Investment Securities Co.:

“The South 220 feet of the N.E. quarter of Block 3, Spring Grove Addition No. 1.^� (199/16)

September 30, 1938–The First National Bank of Walla Walla, trustee for the Wahluke Investment Co.& Investment Securities Co., conveyed to Martin Stearns the following property:

“The South 220 feet of the N.E. quarter of Block 3, Spring Grove Addition No. I to the City of Walla Walla.” (199/216)

In 1939 the city directory listed Martin L. & Margaret E. Stearns at 120 Fern Ave. In 1941 her business, The Barn, is listed and in 1946 it is identified as antiques’ with the address 100 Fern Ave (see next entry). He is listed as being with the firm of Crowe, Stearns & Snyder, lawyers, in 1941. Later, in 1948, he is identified as a laboratory technician with Walla Walla Canning Co. and, in 1949-50, as a purchasing agent for the Marcus Whitman Hotel.

February 16, 1942–John Gordon Gose & Violet N. Gose of King Co. WA granted a quit claim deed to Martin L. & Margaret E. Stearns for the following property:

“The North 80 feet of the N.E. quarter of Block 3, Spring Grove Addition No. I to the City of Walla Walla.� (208/598)

In 1953 Polk’s City Directory the address changes from 120 to 920 Fern Ave.

May II, 1964–Ralph E. Stearns as executor of will of Margaret E. Stearns (died 7/5/63) conveyed and warranted the property to Darrell D. & Edythe Clements as fulfillment of contract of sale, January 2, 1960, between Martin L. & Margaret E. Stearns, sellers, to William C. & Martha Eloise Hilborne, purchasers, said purchasers assigned property to Darrell and Edythe Clements. (Mortgage Book 7, number 531214) The property description for this sale is the current one.

Darrell D. Clements listed as being with the U.S. Corps of Engineers and Edythe was listed as a partner in The Barn antique shop.

August 3, 1973– The Clements sold the property to William K. & Gladys L. Trzcinski. (Mortgage Book 7, number 531215) The property description is the current one.

In the 1974 Walla Walla Residents and Business Registration, William K. Trzcinski is listed at the Walla Walla Clinic, department of otolaryngology.

May 30, 1979–The Trzcinskis sold the property to David & Mary Meeker. (Mortgage Book 105, page 155, number 7905)

 prepared by Michael W. Smith. 3/94