Return to Index

1. SUBJECT:

Isaac Paul Home.

2. LOCATION:

Northeast corner of South Main and Paul Streets, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

3. DATE:
   1860 possibly before.
4. OWNERS:

• George Conrad, burnt records prevent getting further back.
• Susan Conrad and other heirs.
• A.M Newman from Susan Conrad, December 8, 1855, B.D.B. 32, page 334.
• Isaac Paul from A.M. Newman, July 1, 1865, $30, 807.50, B.D.B. 1, page 132.
• Emma E. Effinger from Isaac Paul, December 15, 1869, $6,000, D.B. 5, page 169.
• Cytherea A. and D.C. Jones from William H. Effinger, March 21, 1872, $6,500.00.
• Warren S. Lurty from Cytherea A., and D.C. Jones, February 19, 1874, D.B. 10, page 421.
• A.M. Newman, Jr., from Warren S. Inrty, January 10, 1898, $6,000.00. D.B. 57, page 493.
• Hattie A. Newman from A.M. Newman, Jr., by will, Will Book S., page 211.
• Mollie A. Polk Alexander from Hattie A. Newman’s Administrator, December 15, 1917, $11,000.00, D.B. 109, page 195.
• B.P.O. OF Elks Lodge from Mollie A.P. Alexander, April 17, 1929, $28,015.00, D.B. 144, page 547, present owner.

1. DESCRIPTION:

See form #3686, attached.

2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

This residence was built by A.M. Newman, but has been known in recent years as the Isaac Paul residence, possibly because of the fact that it is said to have been the Headquarters of General P.H. Sheridan in 1864 when his army was encamped in and around Harrisonburg.

At this time it was built the section in which it is located was almost entirely devoted to farming and other agricultural purposes, with here and there homes, though the town was and had for some time beginning to extend it’s borders and today is the preferred and rare desirable residential part of the city. At the time this house was built Newman Avenue was the furthermost south real street, Franklin and Paul, then as yet unnamed, being lanes or alleyways.

On account of the burnt records of 1864 it is not possible to trace the property back to the original owner. George Conrad seems to have been the owner before 1855. In that year it was conveyed by his widow and heirs to A.M. Newman who it is said built the present brick house, though changes both exterior by additions, and interior by changes were made when it became the property of Mrs. Mollie A.P. Alexander.

While this place has been known in recent years as the Isaac Paul residence, yet other prominent people have owned and occupied it also. It might also be called the A.H. Newman residence, as he is said to have built it.

Isaac Paul was born in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, March 10, 1804, and died at Harrisonburg, October 28, 1879. His wife, Mary Jane Castleman, died September 5^th, 1901, aged eighty-two years.

 

Isaac Paul Home

Page 2

Their son, William I. Paul, married Julia, the daughter of the Rev. William Houstan and wife, Nancy, nee Harrison. They resided in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Other sons of Isaac Paul were Dr. Isaac, born August 19, 1849, died August 15, 1872, Lieutenant Samuel B. Paul, 17^th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Killed in battle near Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia, March 31, 1865. Sad to think that only a week later the order to "cease firing" was issued. How tragic that last week, more tragic it seems, than all the other weeks of the preceding four years.

Julia, the beloved wife of William I. Paul, was born September 23, 1839, and died June 15, 1868. Their children were; Samuel, died October 12, 1925, married----Mrs. Paul died October 18, 1926, leaving three children.

Isaac Paul engaged in farming and also in the wholesale produce business.

Alexander Moffett Newman, (1810-1900) was a practicing physician in Harrisonburg for many years and also engaged in farming. His conveyance of this property to Isaac Paul was three hundred and eight acres including the brick residence which he is said to have built about 1860 or before.

3. ART:

Photograph.

4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: