In part 2 of the series on the McCombs Old Post Office Building, our ‘casual historian’ discusses the addition to the post office on the north end. The entrances face N. Union Avenue.
To refresh your memory from Part 1 (Eps 78), in 1927, William McCombs (son of Abraham McCombs) received a renewal of the post office lease with the requirement that he add an addition to give the busy post office much-needed space.
The post office stayed at this location until 1936, when it moved to 308 N. Union Avenue (where the Susquehanna OB/GYN and Nurse Midwifery offices are now).
Visit Historic Havre de Grace site for more info on local buildings.
Before the addition:
1921 Sanborn Map
After the addition:
1930 Sanborn Map
Photo of the iron beam found on the 2nd floor:
In the late 1920s – early 1930s, Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power Company of Baltimore located in the new addition. The company actually moved from the McCombs building across the street (now the Bowman Building). Following are ads from a 1931 newspaper:
1933 – 1946 Vogue Beauty Salon, owned by a Margaret Butler, was in this space.
Sometime after that (1950s), it was the Country Cove Ice Cream and then The Goodie Shop.
The space was vacant for quite a while. Then, Blanche Hutchins came into Bahoukas one day to share her story about being “The ‘H’ in L&H Cleaners!” She also shared the story of the fire in the building and a woman rescued by some Hell’s Angels guys who were at the restaurant across the street. (See EPS 10)
Then around 2004 it became T. C. Cleaners, Chuel Witt.
Following Chuel’s retirement, the building needed a major remodel. Mike Lustt, with his wife Renee, took the space. And Mike did a fabulous job. Both are artists and they created an amazing space. They opened Bearwood Designs.
Mike was there for a couple years. Then the space was leased to a construction company for a short time. It’s currently Chanel Jewels Beauty Bar.
Stop in and chat with our ‘casual historian.’ George is always ready to share a story or two, but also is waiting to hear what you might have to share.
Remember, don’t throw the Havre de Grace ‘stuff’ out when you’re cleaning out a home, settling an estate, or just ‘downsizing,’ without checking in with George. Don’t give him cause to cry!!!
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Be sure to visit the site for historic building information he now owns, created by our friend, Marita O’Connell.
