(Photo by Virginia Lawrence-Hope)

Reichard House (114 Spring Garden Street, now apartments)

2-1/2 story house, with Mansard roof, and second-floor oriel window; brick eastern extension with peaked roof and garage door at street level. The Mansard roof is indicative of the “Second Empire” building style1 that was popular in the U.S. after the Civil War, while its “popularity dropped rapidly following the economic depression of 1873.”2 The property owner at that time was Mary Keller, whose husband Thomas Keller3 was the proprietor of the Delaware Hotel at Front Street.4 The earlier history of the Delaware Hotel property and proprietors is included in the separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Delaware Row Houses triplex at 102-06 Spring Garden Street. The Kellers split off the westernmost portion of their hotel property in 1876 with a sale to Edward Chidsey.5 They then sold another portion from the western end in 1881 to William Reichard (also spelled Reichardt). Reichard’s portion included the property next door at No.118 Spring Garden Street,6 which itself may have contained another “Second Empire” style house at the time (the “Vogel House”).7

William Reichard was a Civil War veteran, who worked in the bottling department of the Seitz Brewing Company for 53 years.8 Reichard sold off the western part of his parcel (the Vogel House) the year after he bought it;9 a map as of May 1885 shows both of the houses at 118 and 114 Spring Garden Street in place at that time.10

Reichart apparently took up residence in the eastern portion of the property at 114 Spring Garden Street (the Reichard House),11 and remained a resident there until he and his wife (Amelia) died within 5 days of each other in 1918.12 The property then descended to the members of their large family.

In that same year (1918), James B. O’Hay purchased the property for $5,400, which was split among a total of 57 Reichard Family heirs and their spouses.13 Unfortunately, O’Hay still had to bring a partition proceeding in 1922 in order to get a property appraisal ($5,500) and pay off a remaining heir, whose share came to a total of $6.37.14 The costs of that appraisal and partition lawsuit are not recorded. James B.

1 See City of Easton, Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form, Attachment: Building Description Survey Area 1 Zone F (City Council Resolution approved 12 May 1982)(built c.1900).

2 Bruce Wentworth, “Ask the Architect: Second Empire”, askthearchitect.org/architectural-styles/second-empire-architecture (accessed 6 Oct. 2011). But see City of Easton, Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form, Attachment: Building Description Survey Area 1 Zone F (City Council Resolution approved 12 May 1982)(construction date c.1890).

3 Deed, Christian (Esther) Nagel to Mary A. Keller, F11 384 (1 Oct. 1866)(sale price $4,000).

? Floyd S. Bixler, The History with Reminiscences of the Early Taverns and Inns of Easton, Paper read before the Northampton County Historical Society on 25 Oct. 1930, at 10 (Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1931).

4 Floyd S. Bixler, The History with Reminiscences of the Early Taverns and Inns of Easton, Paper read before the Northampton County Historical Society on 25 Oct. 1930, at 10 (Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1931); see also Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 64, 86 (1873)(Delaware Hotel, proprietor Thomas Keller).

5 Deed, Mary A. (Thomas) Keller to Edward H. Chidsey, C15 156 (26 Feb. 1876); see generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for Edward Chidsey Mansion at 122 Spring Garden Street.

6 Deed, Mary A. (Thomas) Keller to William Reichard, H16 680 (22 Oct. 1881)(sale price $1800).

7 See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Vogel House at 118 Spring Garden Street.

8 Obituary, “William Reichard”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sat., 20 Apr. 1918, p.5, col.1; see 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.54B (William Reichard, a “Foreman” born 1844, living at 114 Spring Garden Street with his wife Amelia); 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.22A (William and Amelia K. Reichardt at 114 Spring Garden Street; William’s profession listed as a Bottler for a Brewing Company).

9 Deed, William Richard & wife to George E. Seiple, D17 67 (20 July 1882)(118 Spring Garden Street).

10 1885 Sanborn Map, Geography and Maps Division, Library of Congress (Washington D.C. May 1885), map excerpt transmitted as an email attachment by Dr. Stephen Paczolt to Darrin Volk on 25 Apr. 2010.

11 See J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1883-4 115 (1883)(William Reichardt, bottler, residence 114 Spring Garden Street); Census Directory of Northampton County, Eleventh U.S. Census, 1890 (Joseph H. Werner, assisted by Geo. W. West 1891), Q-Z transcribed online at

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O’Hay appears to have been the proprietor of O’Hay’s Restaurant at 50 Centre Square.15 His residence was at 321 Bushkill Street at this time.16 Although not confirmed by City Directory entries, in light of later events (see below) it seems likely that O’Hay had acquired the house for use as a parsonage by St. Michael’s Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church, which had purchased the church building on Spring Garden Street and begun services there only one year before O’Hay purchased the house.17

Just two months after the 1922 partition action, Mr. O’Hay sold the property for $6,000 to the Catholic Archbishop of Philadelphia,18 who held it until 1955 for St. Michael’s Parish,19 located just a block away at 219 Spring Garden Street.20 It was the

www.bethlehempaonline.com/beth1890/eastonqtos.html (bottler William Reichard at 114 Spring Garden Street); 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.54B; 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.22A.

12 See Obituary, “Husband’s Death Fatal to Wife – Mrs. Reichard, Unable to Withstand Shock, Passes Away at Her Home”, EASTON EXPRESS, Thurs., 25 Apr. 1918, p.5, col.5 (age 71); Obituary, “William Reichard”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sat., 20 Apr. 1918, p.5, col.1 (age 74).

It appears from the articles that Mrs. Reichard was already ill with “bronchial trouble” when her husband died of pneumonia.

13 Deed, Ida Gamo, et al., to James B. O’Hay, A47 171 (31 Dec. 1918)(sale price $5,400; 57 grantors listed, including Reichardt’s heirs and their spouses).

14 Deed Poll, William H. Best, Sheriff, to James B. O’Hay, H49 161 (29 Apr. 1922)(O’Hay’s action against Harry Brown to partition the property, resulting in an appraised value of $5,500 and O’Hay’s agreement to pay Brown his proportional share of that appraisal, amounting to $6.37).

15 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for The Clockmakers’ Property at 48-50 Centre Square, and authorities cited therein.

16 Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 419 (Union Publishing Co. 1920)(James B. O’Hay, restaurant at 50 Centre Square, residence at 321 Bushkill Street).

17 See Article, “Heptasoph Hall Now St. Michael’s Church – New Catholic Congregation of Lithuanians Dedicate Former Brainerd Presbyterian Edifice”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Mon., 6 Aug. 1917, p.7, col.5; separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 219 Spring Garden Street, and other sources cited therein.

O’Hay was Catholic, although his church was St. Bernard’s at South 6th Street. See Article, “Wedding at St. Bernard’s – Miss O’Hay Becomes Bride of Leon Joseph Kennedy”, EASTON EXPRESS, 2 Oct. 1926, p.11, col.3 (bride was Anne Julia O’Hay, daughter of James B. O’Hay of 321 Bushkill Street). See generally H.P. Delano (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton Pennsylvania 479 (Union Publishing Co. Inc. 1925)(James B. O’Hay and Miss Anna J. O’Hay (a student) both listed as resident at 321 Bushkill Street).

18 Deed, James B. O’Hay to His Eminence, Dennis J. Dougherty, Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia, G49 494 (30 June 1922)(sale price $6,000).

19 Deed, His Excellency, Most Rev. John F. O’Hara, Archbishop of Philadelphia, to Joseph (Mary) Segreto, A95 138 (2 Dec. 1955).

20 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for St. Michael’s Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church at 219 Spring Garden Street.

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residence of St. Michael’s Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church Pastors A.E. Bakunas,21 J. Simon Draugelis22 and Rev. Francis Garmus.23 Rev. Garmus was joined in 1951 by Rev. Joseph C. Gaudinskas, the Administrator of St. Michael’s.24 Father Gaudinskas himself later became the Pastor of St. Michael’s Parish, and ultimately of the St. Bernard’s “Mother Church”.25 In 1955, however, the two priests moved to the Theodore Sitgreaves Mansion at 217 Spring Garden Street (next to St. Michael’s Church),26 and the property at No.114 became vacant.27 Joseph and Mary Segreto purchased it from the Archdiocese for $12,000 in December 1955,28 and turned the house into apartments.29 The Segretos were the proprietors of The Colonial Pizza and Speghetti House at 136-38 Spring Garden

21 West’s Directory for City of Easton Pennsylvania 148, 582 (Union Publishing Co. Inc. 1927)(Rev. A.E. Bakunas, pastor of St. Michael’s Church, resident at 114 Spring Garden Street).

In 1923 and 1925, the pastor of St. Michael’s was listed as Wenceslaus Malulaitis, but no residence address was given in the City directory. However, in light of the recent purchase of the house, it seems likely that Rev. Malulaitis did in fact live there. See H.P. Delano (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton Pennsylvania 593 (Union Publishing Co. Inc. 1925); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 544 (Charles M. Barnard 1923).

22 West’s Easton, Pa and Phillipsburg, NJ Directory 207, 698 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1930); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1935 153, 619 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1935).

23 See Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1937-38 197, 727 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1937)(Rev. Francis Garnius at 727 is evidently a misspelling not followed at 197); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1942 538 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1942)(Rev. Francis Garmus); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1944-45 676 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1944)(Rev . Francis Garmus); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1949 186, 785 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1949)(same); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1951 185, 187, 569 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1951)(Rev. Francis Garmus and Rev. Joseph C. Gaudinskas); see also Article, “Rush – 50th”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Sun., 20 Dec. 1998, p.AA-3.

24 Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1951 187, 569 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1951)(Rev. Francis Garmus and Rev. Joseph C. Gaudinskas); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1953 874 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1953); see also Article, “Alive”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Thurs., 1 July 2004, p.C-10; Article, “Hirko – 50th”, EXPRESS-TIMES, Wed., 15 Nov. 2000, p.C-2 (Father Gaudinskas was a priest at St. Michael’s).

25 Obituary, “Rev. Joseph Gaudinskas, 63, Easton Priest, Dies”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sat., 1 Oct. 1966, p.1, col.6 (Pastor of St. Michael’s for 15 years; became Pastor of St. Bernard’s and Administrator of St. Michael’s in 1964). This article’s claim that Father Gaudinskas had been the Pastor for 15 years was apparently mistaken, because in 1951 (when he joined St. Michael’s Parish) and for a period of time afterwards Father Garmus was the Pastor, and Father Gaudinskas was the Administrator. He was actually promoted to Pastor in 1956. See Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1951 187, 569 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1951)(Rev. Francis Garmus and Rev. Joseph C. Gaudinskas); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1953 874 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1953); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1955 293-94 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1955); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1956 356-57 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1956)(Gaudinskas listed as pastor, Father Garmus no longer listed).

26 See Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1955 293-94 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1955).27 Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1955 999 (R.L. Polk & Co. 1955). 28 Deed, His Excellency, Most Rev. John F. O’Hara, Archbishop of Philadelphia, to Joseph

(Mary) Segreto, A95 138 (2 Dec. 1955). This deed recites that Cardinal Archbishop Dougherty died on 31 May 1951, and Archbishop O’Hara was his successor.

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Street,30 as well as the purchasers of the western strip of property at Green Alley (next to the Edward Chidsey Mansion two doors away at 122 Spring Garden Street),31 which today appears to support a garage.

The Segretos sold the Reichard House in 1963 to Augustus and Deanne Miller, who ten years later (in 1973) sold it for $19,000 to the current owners, Chafiq and Badawiyeh (“Betty’) Melhem,32 who are also the current owners of the Vogel House next door at No.118.33 In 2003, a fire on the second floor caused “significant heat and smoke damage”, mostly confined to one room.34 Mr. Melhem and his wife Badawiyeh (“Betty”) reside in Palmer Township35 and own other properties, including until recently the 30’ strip of property at the rear of the entire old Delaware Hotel lot,36 which was taken by the Easton Parking Authority in a settlement of an eminent domain proceeding in 2006 for the Riverwalk Project.37 The Melhems are the parents of Sia Bassil, the proprietress of the Carmelcorn Shop in Centre Square.38

29 See, e.g., Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1956 937 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1956)(3 different named residents listed); Polk’s Easton and Phillipsburg City Directory 1957 970 (R.L. Polk & Co., Inc. 1957)(same).

30 See Obituary, “Joseph Segreto, 71, Pizza House Owner”, EASTON EXPRESS, Sat., 15 Aug. 1970, p.22, col.3. See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for The Colonial Pizza and Spaghetti House at 135-38 Spring Garden Street.

31 Deed, Andrew (Anna) Gall to Joseph (MaryAnn) Segreto, E86 320 (2 May 1950). See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Edward Chidsey Mansion at 122 Spring Garden Street.

32 Deed, Augustus L. (Deanne) Miller to Chafiq (Betty) Melhem, 465 599 (24 July 1973). According to the deed recitals, the Millers lived in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Melhems live on Greenwood Avenue, according to the Northampton County Tax Records, www.ncpub.org.

33 Deed, Helen E. Bachman to Chafiq Melham, 308 278 (2 Nov. 1967); see Deed, Chafiq (Badawiyeh) Melhem to Chafiq (Badawiyeh) Melhem, 647 781 (22 Mar. 1983).

34 Article, “Fire at Apartment Complex Still Under Investigation”, MORNING CALL, 30 Oct. 2003, p.B-3; Tracy Jordan, “3 escape building fire in Easton ** Most of blaze was kept from spreading beyond 1 room of 1 apartment”, MORNING CALL, 29 Oct. 2003, p.B-11.

35 See Northampton County Tax Records, www.ncpub.org; www.whitepages.com (Chafiq Melhem).

36 See Deed, Jahjah Melhem and Yousfieh Melhem (Antoine E.) Bassil to Chafiq (Badawiyeh) Melhem, 761 14 (8 Dec. 1988). For a history of these transactions, see separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Anderson Triplex Row Houses at 102-06 Spring Garden Street.

37 Tracy Jordan, “Easton parking authority buys land for garage, $100,000 sliver needed for driveway onto N. Riverside Drive”, MORNING CALL, 23 Oct. 2006, p.B-3; see also Edward Sieger, “Parking plan reaches new heights”, EXPRESS-TIMES, 6 July 2006, p.B-1.

38 See, e.g., William J. Ford, “A sweet return in Easton: Carmelcorn Shop reopening”, MORNING CALL, 4 Feb. 2007, p.B-1; Tracy Jordan, “Lebanon to Cyprus to London to Newark: Easton teens back, Trying to escape war, sisters end 2-week ordeal with tearful reunion”, MORNING CALL, 25 July 2006, p.A-1.

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