3 North Holcomb Road

While 1979 research for this house listed circa 1850 as a probable date of construction, it would seem more likely the house was built by/for W.C. Scranton between 1881 and 1883. An 1872 map of the Village shows the owner as J. M. Clark who owned both Lots 8 and 9 in the Northwest Addition to Nelson W. Clark's Original Plat of the Village. This corresponds with 1863 tax record information which listed a value of $600, for the two lots, indicating a building of some kind somewhere on the site at the time. The footprint of a building may be seen on the 1872 map, but it is on Lot 8 and is 17 N. Holcomb not 3 N. Holcomb. In 1881 W. C. Scranton was shown for the south 1/2 of Lot 9, assessed value $400. The value jumped to $1,000 by 1883, certainly indicating major construction, probably this house. W. C. (Washington Clark) Scranton, owned property on the east side of North Main St. in the 1850s (see 42.52 & 58 N. Main). In 1895 a small store building, which according to the bill of sale was known as Washington Scranton's store, was moved from this lot to the southeast corner of South Main & East Washinton Streets. This building became the store of Daniel Addis, 2 S. Main. The late Victorian farmhouse style of the building and its tall slender proportions also seem to support the 1880s construction date. The only distinctive architectural detail, the pointed arch window hoods, seem to be inspired by the earlier Gothic Revival Style. The house can be seen in photos, pages 18 & 19, Heritage, a view from the rear, and page,56, from the south looking northeast.