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1. SUBJECT:

K.M. Higgs Residence.

2. LOCATION:

#14 Graham Street, North side, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

3. DATE:

Present house about 1898 and added to in 1920, both brick. Original house frame built before 1815.

4. OWNERS:

• Thomas Harrison, part of Inclusive Patent of 1773.
• John Graham, supposedly from Thomas Harrison, record burnt.
• George W. Harrison from John Graham, June 27, 1815, $3,050.00 for whole lot including two dwellings; lot know at this time as number 9, on the original plat as lot Number 12, Northeast Square, B.R. Deed Book 3, page 86.
• Reuben Harrison from George W. Harrison, record burnt May 21, 1821.
• John Daughtery from Reuben Harrison May 21, 1824, $800 for part of lot, B.R. Deed Book 6, page 240.
• B.F. Martz from John Daugherty, April 12, 1855, $2,000 B.R. Deed Book 27, page 413.
• Elvira G. Martz from William B. Compton, Commissioner, December 18, 1875, $707.00 part of original lot.
• Virginia Fletcher from Elvira G. Martz June 8, 1878, $705.
• Granville Eastham from W.B. Compton, commissioner, July 3, 1884, $650.00 part of original lot Deed Book 25, page 322.
• James H. Harris from Granville Eastham, January 15, 1898, $1,800. Deed Book 57, page 542.
• H.A.W. Cox and K.M. Higgs from Jas. H. Harris’, Administrator, September 14, 1913, $4,300. 34.98 feet front on Graham Street, Deed Book 103, pages 8 and 9.
• K.M. Higgs, present owner, H.A.W. Cox, his part, April 24, 1916, Deed Book 105, page 27.

1. DESCRIPTION:

Of brick construction.

2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Nothing of special historical interest can be ascertained, except that the original house together with the B.F. Martz house both built on the original lot were among the early houses built in the town, possibly before or about the time of the authorization for the establishment of the town 1779.

As shown by the conveyance of George W. Harrison to John Graham in 1815, two houses were then standing on the lot, which I suppose was of a half an acre size, possible less.

A part of the present brick house is said to have been built about 1896, the present owner adding the front, of brick, in 1920 to accommodate his business of Funeral Director and as a home. All information indicates that the original houses were frame, or log and weatherboarded. Mrs. Maria Graham Carr in her My Recollections of Rocktown, Now Known as Harrisonburg. Speaks of this house as being a frame house, but does not indicate who lived in it at that time.

The property at that time was owned by Daugherty, though he lived in what afterwards was known as the Martz house and owned by Martz.

 

 

 

 

K.M. Higgs Residence

Page 2

 

3. ART:
4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Rockingham County Court Records, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

September 21, 1937 Geo. W. Fetzer

Harrisonburg, VA