118 North 4th Street

(Photos by Richard F. Hope)

120 North 4th Street

Nevin Row Houses (118-20 North Fourth Street)

2-1/2 story brick row house duplex, today comprising two separate real estate parcels,1 built in “Federal / Victorian” style.2

These houses stand on part of original town Lot No. 256 that extended to the corner of Bushkill and North 4th Streets, as surveyed by William Parsons when Easton was established in 1752.3 Henry Barnet, a tanner, established his stone house on this lot. His daughter Elizabeth (wife of Conrad Bittenbender) inherited the stone house after Barnet died without a will c.1801. Another of Barnet’s daughters, Susanna, married Jacob Yohe. The stone house at the street corner stood until 1939, when it was town down.4

The duplex on this portion of the Lot were said to have been added c.1850.5 One of these buildings was, in the early 1870s, the residence of Mrs. Margaret Wilson, then

1 See Northampton County Tax Records, www.ncpub.org. 2 City of Easton, Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form, Attachment: Building

Description Survey Area 1 Zone A (City Council Resolution approved 12 May 1982).

listed as 64 North Fourth Street under the street numbering scheme then in effect.6 With the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in 1874, Jacob Weaver’s residence was assigned 116 North 4th Street, Mrs. Wilson’s residence No.118, and George Oberly No.120.7 In 1880, Jacob Weaver (identified as an engineer) and his family now were listed at No. 118,8 while tailor David Herst and his family occupied No.120.9 Herst’s clothing store was apparently located at 218 Northampton Street,10 which is now a parking lot.

The modern row houses were said to have been built c.1886 by Samuel Nevin. He is said to have built No. 118 for his son, George Nevin.11 An Easton Heritage Alliance plaque on the front of the building commemorates the “c. 1886” building date. It is not clear whether Nevin’s row houses were completely new, or (as many of Nevin’s buildings) were remodeled from the older structures. In 1890, No.118 was listed as the residence of stationer George B. Nevin and Lillias C. Nevin,12 as well as Harriette L. Dean.13 [Lillias Nevin is probably a reference to Lillias G. Nevin, David Nevin’s wife14 – and consequently George Nevin’s mother.] George B. Nevin and his family (but without his mother) continued in residence at No.118 in 1910, his occupation listed as a merchant of alcoholic beverages.15 At that time, No.120 was occupied by cement plant chemist Stephen A. Hartwell and his wife, Bessie.16

The property was later used as a boarding house for many years. It has been called the “Doerr Home” for Robert J. Doerr and family, the owner-occupants who extensively renovated and restored the home after 1988.17

In 1890, No.120 was the residence of Clarence H. Semple, a clerk, and his family.18

In 1920, No.118 was the residence of R.W. [Vigeline], while No.120 was the home of soda fountain manager Howard O. Transue.19

3 Compare A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937) with Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org.

4 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 261-62 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.59).

5 City of Easton, Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form, Attachment: Building Description Survey Area 1 Zone A (City Council Resolution approved 12 May 1982).

6 Compare Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 131 (1873)(alphabetical listing for Mrs. Margaret Wilson residing at 64 North 4th Street) with D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(Mrs. Wilson’s lot with two buildings next to W. Laubach property).

7 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Wed., 26 Nov. 1873, p.3, col.4.

8 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.413B. 9 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.413A. 10 See Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Friday, 21 Nov. 1873,

p.3.

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In 1930, No.118 was the residence of Malitta Sipley, while No.120 was the residence of John F. Tillman.20

11 Historic Easton Inc. Historic City Homes, Gardens & Architectural Treasures unnumbered p.20 (Historic Easton House Tour 1992); see George W. West, West’s Directory for Easton [Etc.] 167 (George W. West 1889)(George B. Nevin at 118 North 4th Street); George W. West, West’s Directory for Easton [Etc.] 106 (George W. West 1887)(George B. Nevin on N. 4th Street, no number listed); see also Historic Easton plaque on front of building (1886 date).

Samuel W. Nevin’s home was across the street at 115 North 4th Street, 12 Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H.

Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), J-POHL transcribed online at www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastonjtop.html.

13 Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H. Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), A-D transcribed online at www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastoncityabc.html.

14 See, e.g., Deed, David W. (Lillias G.) Nevin to Lillie R. Stewart, F20 449 (13 Mar. 1889)(sale of Nevin Town House at 111 North 4th Street); Deed, D.W. (Lillias G.) Nevin to D. Burrows Nevin, F40 177 (4 Jan. 1913)(sale of property on South 2nd Street that was incorporated into the Nevin Building at 24-28 South 2nd Street); see generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Nevin Building at 24-28 South 2nd Street).

15 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.72A. 16 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, pp.72A-72B. 17 Historic Easton Inc. Historic City Homes, Gardens & Architectural Treasures

unnumbered p.20 (Historic Easton House Tour 1992); Historic Easton plaque on front of building (1886 date). See also Advertisement for R.J. Doerr Co. in Easton Heritage Alliance, Spring House Tour: College Hill Classics 4 (21 May 1994)(listing Robert Doerr and the 118 North 4th Street address).

18 Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H. Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), Q-Z transcribed online at www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastonqtos.html.

19 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p.149B. 20 West’s Easton Pa. and Phillipsburg, N.J. Directory 720 (R.L. Polk & Co. of Philadelphia

1930).

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