69 South Main St.
West side of street
This small building has long been known as the "Plumb House" after the owner Martha "Auntie" Plumb, Mrs. Winton Plumb, who at times acted as a midwife for Dr. Clark Sutherland. Historically, there was certainly a building on this site by 1855 when the assessed value for all of Lot 7 was $350. The 1872 map of the Village shows the footprint of a square building on the north half of Lot 7, which had an assessed value of $50, owner M. A. (Martha) Vliet. The property's assessed value changed very little until the 1890s. (Note: Did Martha Vliet become Martha Plumb?) In the 1950s the building was occupied by"Ye Olde Antique Shoppe". Oral history has it that the building was restored in the 1970s to look much as it did originally. The siding, windows, doors and brick chimney are products of this project. A needle work shop occupied the building in the late 1970s. It has remained vacant since then.
Official Property Description:
- North 1/2 of Lot 7 Block 26 Of Nelson W. Clark's Original Plat of the Village in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 20 of Independence Township.
- Lot 69 of the Assessor's Plat.
Significant Property History:
- 1845 J. Clark and wife, and Nelson W. Clark, and wife, to Wm. Wells Lot 7 Block 26. Wells to Milton H. Clark, assessed value $90.
- 1847 David W. Lawrence, "Youngs Co.", Lot 7 Block 26, assessed value $70.
- 1848 Arthur Davis, Lot 7 Block 26, assessed value $85.
- 1849 Arthur Davis, Lot 7 Block 26, assessed value $80.
- 1852 Geo. Smith, assessed value $100.
- 1855 Geo. Smith, Lot 7 Block 26, assessed value $350.
- 1856 Geo. Smith, Lot 7 Block 26, assessed value $400.
- 1857 Daniel Hamilton, assessed value $300 (he does not appear on the property abstract).
- 1861 Nelson Abbey, Lot 7 "Block 27", assessed value $300 (he also has Lot 6 Block 26).
- 1870 Richard Fisher, Lot 7 Block 26, assessed value $300.
- 1872 Map of the Village has the footprint of a building, owner M. A. Vliet.
- 1880 M. A. Vliet (Martha,), north 1/2 of Lot 7 Block 26, except 20' off the west end, assessed value $100.
- 1883 M. A. Vliet (Martha), assessed value $50.
- 1885 Martha Plumb, north 1/2 Lot 7 Block 26, assessed value $50.
- 1889 Martha Plumb, assessed value $50.
- 1891 Martha Plumb, assessed value $50, north 1/2 Lot 7.
- 1904 Martha Plumb, assessed value $50 north 1/2 Lot 7, assessed value $200.
- 1914 Martha Plumb, assessed value $400.
- 1931 as above, assessed value $250.
- 1937 Martha Plumb, Estate. Chas. H. Perry, the east 148.5' of the north 33' of Lot 7, assessed value $300.
Historic District Commission Documents:
