(Also known as Neighbor's Place, People's Service Station, Millenson's Department Store, Johnson Store & Dwelling, and Webster & Reid.)
Key date analysis:
In 1866 Levi Johnson purchased a house and lot from Mary Bramble. Mary Bramble was listed with one house in an 1852 tax record. This house was the Bramble House. Therefore it is not likely there was a house on this lot at that time. From 1853 through 1866, her taxable real estate decreased in value from $1100 to $900 and only the one house was noted. The 1867 tax assessment lists her with $1350 in real estate and Levi S. Johnson with $1600 in real estate. This record marks the first year that Levi Johnson was listed. Therefore it is believed that Mary Bramble has the house built in 1865 or 1866 and sold it to Levi S. Johnson upon its completion. By 1876 the property was listed as a house and store house combined. This house and storehouse was destroyed in a 1915 fire.
Who built it:
Mary Bramble likely had the original house built in 1866.
Longest Residents:
It appears the Johnson family owned and lived in the store & dwelling from the time it was built until it burned down. William E. Johnson & family lived there the longest.
More Research:
Historic Records:
RSM 68/187 - 3 January 1949 - Carroll F Dill to the East New Market
Volunteer Fire Department for $5:
Lot No. 1 - all that lot improved by a brick garage, lying at the
northeast corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue, fronting 50 feet on
the north side of said Railroad Avenue and 57 feet on the east side of
Main Street; beginning at the northeast corner of said Main Street
and Railroad Avenue; thence runs with the north side of Railroad Avenue,
in an easterly direction, 55 feet more or less, to the land hereafter
described as Lot No. 2, thence runs with said Lot No. 2, in a northerly
direction, 60 feet to the rear of the property that was conveyed to
Jacob Millenson by Margaret H. Johnson, by deed 6 February 1915, WLR
8/541; thence runs with said last named property in a westerly
direction, 50 feet to said Main Street, and thence runs with the
eastward side of said Main Street, in a southerly direction, 57 feet,
more or less to the place of beginning. It being the same land
that was conveyed to the said Carroll F. Dill by the Eastern Shore Trust
Company by deed dated 9 June 1927, JFD 20/280.
Lot No. 2 - all that lot enjoining Lot No. 1 above described, fronting
25 feet on the north side of Railroad Avenue and extending back in a
northerly direction, of even width for a distance of 60 feet, and being
all that parcel of land conveyed to Charles Webster to Jacob Millenson
and wife, by deed dated 26 March 1915, (WLR 8/697); all that lot
on the northern side of Railroad Avenue beginning at the same at a stone
on the northern side of said Railroad Avenue situated 50 feet to the
east from the northeast corner of the said Railroad Avenue and Main
Street; and from thence runs with said Railroad Avenue in an easterly
direction, 25 feet to a point distant 20 feet more or less, from the
property of the Eastern Shore Trust Company, conveyed unto it by Mrs.
Margaret H. Johnson; thence in a northern direction, parallel with the
Western line of said property, 60 feet more or less, and to the rear
line of the property conveyed unto the said Jacob Millenson by deed 75
feet from said Main Street, thence with said rear line in a western
direction to a point 50 feet distant from said Main Street, and thence
in a southern direction to place of beginning; and being part of the
same land conveyed unto the said Jacob Millenson by Margaret H. Johnson
by deed dated 6 February 1915, WLR 8/541 and being the same land, and
all thereof, that the said Charles Webster and wife conveyed unto the
said Carroll F. Dill by deed dated 16 August 1927, JFD 20/492.
1930 Census
possibly dwelling #
JFD 20/492 - 16 August 1927 - Charles Webster & Daisy H. Webster, his wife, to Carroll F. Dill for $325: parcel which was conveyed to Charles Webster by Jacob Millenson & wife by deed dated 26 March 1915, WLR 8/597; described as above as Lot 2.
JFD 20/280 - 9 June 1927 - The Eastern Shore Trust Company to Carroll F. Dill for $4000: storehouse property at the northeast corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue; property was conveyed to Charles Webster by Jacob Millenson & wife by deed dated 26 March 1915, WLR 8/697.
1920 Census
undetermined
WLR 8/697 - 26 March 1915 - Jacob Millenson & Rebecca Millenson, his wife, to Charles Webster for $5: lot on northern side of Railroad Avenue, situated 50 feet from the Northeast corner of the said Railroad Avenue and Main Street. Part of the same land conveyed unto Jacob Millenson by Margaret H. Johnson by deed dated 6 February 1915, WLR 8/541.
WLR 8/541 - 6 February 1915 - Margaret H. Johnson of the city of Baltimore to Jacob Millenson for $1000: lot on the northward side of Street leading from the said town of East New Market to the depot; beginning at the out bounds of the same at the end of the lot owned and occupied by the Eastern Shore Trust Company; running with the divisional line between the land hereby conveyed and the lot of the Eastern Shore Trust Company; thence running with said line in a northerly direction for a distance of 60 feet; thence running in a westerly direction 92 feet to the street leading from East New Market to Cabin Creek; thence running with said street a southerly direction a distance of 57 feet to the street leading to the Depot, thence running with said street an easterly direction 95 feet to the place of beginning. Being a part of the land that was devised unto Margaret H. Johnson by the last will and testament of her husband Elbridge S. Johnson, deceased, JWF 3/?. And likewise a part of the same lot of land, which was conveyed unto the said Elbridge S. Johnson by the said Margaret (Maggie) H. Johnson, by deed dated 10 April 1877, CL 2/132.
Philadelphia Inquirer - January
18, 1915 - Fire at East New Market Jan 17 -
Fire at East New Market early this morning destroyed the storehouse of
Webster and Reed, general merchants, and dwelling of Harry Webster, and
damaged the store of Mary K. Willey and residence of William Clifton.
Webster and Reed's loss will reach $3000 with $1500 insurance. Harry
Webster's loss was $1000, while Mrs. Willey's and Clifton's is several
hundred dollars.
Cambridge Chronicle - 1915 -
Another Fire at East New Market -
Early Morning Fire Destroyed Webster & Reed's General Store and Mr.
Harrison Webster's Residence - Sunday morning about five o'clock a fire
was discovered in the general store of Webster & Reid, East New Market,
which completely destroyed the store building and stock of goods, and
the home of Mr. Harrison Webster, who lived in the house which adjoined
and was a part of the store building. The man who brings the papers from
Bridgeville, Del., was leaving the papers at the store of Harry F.
Howard, Esq., and while he was doing so, a gentleman who was making the
trip with him, walked up to the corner to view the ruins of the fire
which visited E.N.Market some time ago, and after looking over these
ruins started back. He glanced across the street and discovered smoke
coming out of the Webster & Reid store. Thus the fire was discovered by
mere chance. Although the alarm of fire was immediately sounded, the
fire had made so much progress that it was impossible to arrest its
course, and the entire stock of goods was destroyed. The fire quickly
spread to the residence portion of the building, and while Mr. Webster
and his son were able to save a few of their household effects, most of
them were lost. The loss is estimated at from $4000 to $5000, as
follows: Stock of goods, from $1500 to $2000; the store building and
residence, from $2000 to $3000. The store was owned by Harrison W.
Webster, Esq., and Edward Reid, while the building was owned by Mrs.
Margaret Johnson. The losses on both stock and building were partially
covered by insurance. The heat from the fire was so intense that
practically every window in the front of the store of Mrs. Mary K.
Willey, which was on the corner opposite Webster & Reid's Store, was
broken, and the woodwork somewhat scorched. Mrs. Willey's store
occupies the lower floor of the building, while the Dorset Club occupies
the second floor. Also the residence occupied by Mr. William Clifton
was badly scorched. The Willey store was owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Smith,
while the Clifton residence is owned by Mrs. Margaret Johnson.
1910 Census
Dwelling #45, household of Wm E. Johnson
1906 Commercial Directory - East New Market
1900 Census
Dwelling #271, household of William E. Johnson, retired farmer
1896-1910 Tax Record
Elbridge S. Johnson
1896 - 1 store house & dwelling in ENM $1500
1896 Tax
Record
Elbridge S. Johnson
1 store house and dwelling in East New Market $1500
Denton Journal - 31 March 1888
-
John Webster, on of the wealthiest citizens of Dorchester county, died
at his residence, near East New Market, Thursday morning, at the age of
88 years. The deceased leaves an estate valued at $175,000. He was the
owner of sixteen farms in Dorchester, Caroline, and Queen Anne's
counties. He leaves a son and four married daughters. His youngest
daughter is the wife of President E.S. Johnson, of the Choptank
Steamboat Company.
1880 Census
Dwelling #3, household of William E. Johnson, speculation
CL 2/132 - 10 April 1877 - Maggie H. Johnson to E.S. Johnson for $5 and love & affection: lot beginning at a stone planted on the south side of the street leading to Cabin Creek at the fork of said street and from thence runs N 18 degrees E 11 1/3 perches, thence S 77 degrees E 8 perches to the lot belonging to J.H. Fletcher, there with said lot S 15 degrees W 12 perches, thence N 77 1/2 degrees W 8 3/5 perches to the place of beginning. Being the same real estate transferred to M.H. Johnson by E.S. Johnson by deed dated 18 June 1875, FJH 10/372.
1876 Tax
Record
Elbridge S. Johnson
Dwelling house & store house combined in ENM - $2200
FJH 10/372 - 18 June 1875 - E.S. Johnson to Maggie H. Johnson for $2400: lot described above; being the same real estate purchased at Trustee's sale of the Johnson's heirs by the said E.S. Johnson.
1870 Census
Dwelling #371, household of Alward Johnson, farmer
1867-1876 Tax Record
Elbridge S. Johnson
1876 - House & Lot in ENM from Alward Johnson heirs $1600
Alward Johnson
1871 - House & Lot from Levi S. Johnson $1600
reduced
1876 - House & Lot to Elbridge S. Johnson
Levi S. Johnson
1867 - House & Lot $1600
removal
1871 - House & Lot to Alward Johnson $1600
1866 Tax
Record
Levi S. Johnson
House & lot from Mrs. Bramble $1600
6 FJH 361 - 22 March 1866 - Mary Bramble to Levi S. Johnson for $500: part of a lot of land with improvements thereon in the town of East New Market which is embraced within the following courses. Beginning at a stone planted on the south side of the street leading to Cabin Creek and at the fork of said street and from thence runs N18E 11.33p, then S77E 8p to the lot belonging to the heirs of John Dean, then with said lot S15W 12p, then N77.5W 8.6p to the beginning. Containing 96 square perches.
[Levi S. Johnson purchased a square part of Mary Bramble's triangular lot east of Main Street and north of Railroad Avenue. The top part of the triangle was later sold to John Baker.]
1860 Census
Dwelling #
1852-1864 Tax Record
Mary Bramble
House & Lot $800, Blacksmith's Shop $200, Lot, Shop $100
20 HD 398 - 25 October 1802 - Commission Certificate to Joseph Ennalls, John Stevens, Joseph Whiteley, Edward Whiteley and William Ennalls, gentlemen. Henry King petitions the court that a certain John Anderton Mitchell died intestate and seized of lands in Dorchester County. Your petitioner and a certain Mary King, sister of your petitioner, of full age, and a certain Mary King the only child and daughter of a certain Edward King, who was a brother of your petitioner and is now dead, are entitled to the said lands by inheritance as heirs at law and representatives of the said John Anderton Mitchell, deceased. The Mary King, last aforesaid, is a minor. Your petitioner therefore prayed that the said court will appoint a commission to divide the lands. Notice was given to Betsy King who the court appointed as guardian of the said Mary King, who is a minor under the age of 21 years. The Commission estimated the value of the land at 3618 pounds and divided it for Mary King, daughter of Edward King, deceased, land valued at 1206 pounds... (3) one other lot. Beginning at the end of 50 perches on the 2nd line of the land that John Rix sold to John Anderton and at a stone marked X at M on the plot and from thence runs S 15 W 39 perches to the main road that leads from Crotchers Ferry to New Market, then S 75 E 11 perches and 6 feet to the 2nd line of the land that John Rix sold to John Anderton and then with a straight line to the place of beginning. Containing 1 1/4 acres and 30 square perches.
[Mary King, daughter of Edward King obtained possession of part of her uncle's 50 acre lot]
25 Old 9 - 13 June 1771 - Francis Anderton, planter, to John Anderton, merchant, for 10 pounds and a tract called "Sandwich" in the forks of Cabin Creek's branches: (3) Also part of a tract called "Buckland" and part of a tract called "Debate Enlarged", being the land granted by a certain John Rix to the aforesaid John Anderton, deceased. Beginning at the end of 6p in an E course drawn from a marked live oak standing in the edge of a swamp in the fork of Secretary's Creek, being the beginning tree of said John Anderton, deceased, his part of a tract called "Bath", then runs still E 32p, then N 172 1/2p, then E 3p, then N to the branch, then binding with the branch until it intersects a N course from the beginning. Containing 50 acres. John Anderton, deceased, is the father of said Francis Anderton.
11 Old 200 - 29 June 1743 - John Rix to John Anderton in consideration of 50 acres of land lying in the fork of Secretary's Creek being a part of a tract of land called "Westward" as by deed bearing equal date with there presents may more fully appear: land being a part of "Buckland" and part of "Debate Enlarged". Beginning at the end of 6p in an east course drawn from a marked live oak standing in in the leg of a swamp in the fork of Secretarys Creek, being the beginning of said Andertons part of a tract Bath, then runs still East 32p, then N 172 1/2p, then E 3p, then N to the branch, then binding with the branch until it intersects a north course from the beginning. Containing 50 acres.