This land at the northeast corner of Fountain Street and Freedom Lane (as well as other nearby lots) was inherited by Beulah Lyon Spencer (1875-1955) in 1910. Beulah had married into the Spencer family (of the Spencer-Silver Mansion) by marrying Harry Zehring Spencer (1874-1933). In 1924, the Spencers sold a parcel of land to India E. Inman (1880-1970), wife of Major Donald B. Inman (a WWI veteran, 1879-1961) that included this lot. The Inmans together had purchased the property on the west side of Freedom Lane at Fountain Street (551 Fountain Street) in 1930, where they operated Inman’s Grocery Store during the 1930s and 1940s.

In 1934 the Inmans had their attorney put both of their names on the deed for this lot, which is part of Lot 246 in Square 236. It is believed that they then ordered a Sears Roebuck Model Kit from the Sears catalog and built this home. A standard Sears Home Kit contained around 25 tons of materials, more than 30,000 parts, 750 lbs of nails, along with a 75-page instruction book that were shipped by rail directly to the purchaser. The 370 different designs were only offered in Sears mail order catalogs between 1908 and 1940 and many variations to the designs were offered. Sears houses built after 1916 have stamped lumber elements that might be found in attics or basements. Pictures of some models can still be seen online but many homes have since been modified. Several Sears kit homes exist in Havre de Grace for which the convenience of the railroad made delivery relatively easy. This particular home, with its nine-foot ceilings, is most likely the Wareham model home.

Donald Inman predeceased his wife, India, who lived in this home until her May 1970 death. Her estate sold the house to Dorothy L. “Dottie” Walker and James Austin “Sonny” Walker. Nine years later, the Walkers sold the home to Livingston P. Ellingham and family. Livingston was a US Army veteran who served in Vietnam. After his death his estate sold this home to Lee S. Mawyer in 1993. Ten years later Lee added the name of his wife (Patricia Mawyer) to the deed.

In 2009, the Mawyers sold this home to Daniel M. Driver and his wife, Mary D. Driver, who works in the Maryland real estate market. During the Drivers’ approximately 12 years of owning this detached property they made a lot of renovations to update it. That included the plumbing, electricity, windows, kitchen, baths, and more, while respecting the original design of this former Sears Model Home Kit.

Having been married in 2015, Alex and Sara Collis purchased this charming home in 2021 from the Drivers. Both Alex and Sara are employed by the Harford County Public School System.

County Records
Built 1942. 1368 sq ft, 1.5 stories with unfinished basement, 2 baths, 2700 sq ft lot.