Page 299 - WPA Book
P. 299
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
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.R.D.B. 32 [?], page 334.
Isaac Paul from A.M. Newman, July 1, 1865, $30, 807.50, B.R.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.
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, D.B. 57, page 493.
Hattie A. Newman from A.M. Newman, Jr., by will, W.B. S, page 211.
Mollie A. Polk Alexander from Hattie A. Newman’s administrator, December 15, 1917, $11,000, D.B. 109,
page 195.
B.P.O. of Elks Lodge from Mollie A. P. Alexander, April 17, 1929, $28,015, D.B. 144, page 547, present
owner.
5. DESCRIPTION:
See form 3686, attached.
6. 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 the 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 been for some time beginning to
extend its 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 5th, 1901, aged eighty-two years.
Page 298 of 482
HOUSES
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.R.D.B. 32 [?], page 334.
Isaac Paul from A.M. Newman, July 1, 1865, $30, 807.50, B.R.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.
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, D.B. 57, page 493.
Hattie A. Newman from A.M. Newman, Jr., by will, W.B. S, page 211.
Mollie A. Polk Alexander from Hattie A. Newman’s administrator, December 15, 1917, $11,000, D.B. 109,
page 195.
B.P.O. of Elks Lodge from Mollie A. P. Alexander, April 17, 1929, $28,015, D.B. 144, page 547, present
owner.
5. DESCRIPTION:
See form 3686, attached.
6. 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 the 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 been for some time beginning to
extend its 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 5th, 1901, aged eighty-two years.
Page 298 of 482
