Walking Tour-37 E. Church Street-Walking Tour
(North Side of Street)

The original sections of this Gothic Revival style house was certainly here by 1872 since a footprint, much like that of the building today, may be seen on a map of the Village of that date. Judson Paddock, owner then, was listed in tax rolls for the property by 1859. This was probably Paddock's residence. (Paddock had a carding mill & foundry on the southwest corner of S. Main & Depot Rd.) The owners of this house beginning 1883 were Edward A. & Alice Urch. Urch owned a dry goods store on South Main St. After he died in 1918, Alice continued to live in the house until her death in 1944. (A 12/1/1944 Clarkston News item announced the auction of the contents of Alice's house.) The porch, a later Queen Anne style inspired addition, was added in 1895. According to an item in the Oakland County Post "E. A. Urch is building a wide porch across the front of his residence".

Official Property Description:

• The west 1/2 of Lot 9 Block 2 of Nelson W. Clark's Original Plat of the Village in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 20 in Independence Township
• Lot 18 of the Assessor's Plat.

Significant Property History:

[A Synopsis Of Property Transfers Derived From Abstracts
(when available) And Periodic Changes In Ownership Or
Assessed Value Derived From Township Tax Records]

• 1831 United States to Butler Holcomb.
• 1833 Butler Holcomb & wife, Mary To Roswell/Roosevelt Holcomb, the west 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20.
• 1833 Butler Holcomb & wife, Mary To Roswell/Roosevelt Holcomb, and wife, Elvine Holcomb, and Daniel B. Holcomb and wife, Alimira to Jeremiah Clark, the south part of the west 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20.
• 1839 Jeremiah Clark to Nelson Washington Clark, the undivided 1/2 of the west 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20 commencing.......
• 1842 Jeremiah Clark & wife, Polly to Nelson W. Clark, the south part of the west 1/2 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 20. Also other land.
• 1842 Jeremiah Clark & Nelson W. Clark to Village of Clarkston (Original plat of the Village).
• 1850 Eleazer James, the south 3/4 of Lot 9 (or 7 ?) Block 2, assessed value $60.
• 1859 Judson Paddock, east by E. Buzzell, south by Church Street, west by the Methodist Church & J. Millard, north by Mrs. Pratt, assessed value $200.
• 1861 Judson Paddock, assessed value $300.
• 1872 map of the Village has a building footprint, owner, J. Paddock.
• 1873 Mrs. Paddock.
• 1874 Mrs. Paddock.
• 1875 Calvin Paddock, east by Charles Bower, south by Church St., west by Methodist Church & Parsonage, north by Demerest, assessed value $200.
• 1880 Calvin Paddock, assessed value $500.
• 1881 J. M. Clark.
• 1883 E. Urch.
• 1910 Edward A. Urch, north by Della Tucker & Jacob Gulick, east by C. Bower estate, west by Methodist Church property & land of Hattie Casement, assessed value $400. (Casement had the south 1/2 of Lot 3 & 3/4 of Lot 6 Block 2, assessed value $800.)
• 1918 Urch, north by Gulick & east by Gulick, south by Church St., west by Methodist Church, assessed value $1500.
• 1944 Alice (Mrs. Ed. A. Urch) died.
• 1948 A. E. Butters.