East New Market

Property Reports

43 Main Street

Masonic Temple Building

Also known as Old Dorset Pharmacy, Jefferson Drug Store, Hitch & Jones, The Masonic Building

Key date analysis:

In 1851, Mary Bramble began to sell pieces of the lot she owned at the southeast corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue.  A structure appears at this location on the 1877 map.  In 1879, Mary Bramble sold the property to Isaac H. Wright.  Tax records from 1896 to 1910 refer to this property as the Masonic Building.  In 1910 the property was sold to Thomas O. Jefferson.  The deed mentions the property was formerly occupied by Dr. Edward L. Jones.  Other deeds indicate this store was a drug store.  During the fire of 1914 "the drug store owned by Mr. Thos. O. Jefferson, and managed for him by L.R. Dukes, caught fire, and was completely wiped out."

Who built it:

Mary Bramble or Isaac H. Wright built the drug store before 1877. 

Longest Residents:

The rear part of the Realty Building has stood here for 90 years.

More Research:

Would like to see scans of more old photos.

Historic Records:

43 RSM 448 - 6 September 1941 - County Corporation of Maryland to Clarance L. Saxton, Harry E. Parker, and Charles E. Morgan, Trustees for Choptank Lodge No. 138, Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons, for $3535:  lot in the town of East New Market at the corner formed by the intersection of the southward side of Railroad Avenue with the eastward side of Main Street.  Being the same lands that were conveyed to the County Corporation of Maryland by deed from W. Laird Henry, Assignee of mortgage for purpose of foreclosure in No. 6242 Chancery dated 25 July 1938 in 38 JFD 98. 
Lot No. 1 on the south side of Railroad Avenue, bounded on the East by the property formerly belonging to F.H. Dean; on the South and West by the property formerly belonging to Mary Bramble, lately belonging to Susan J. Wales, and on the North fronting 45 feet on Railroad Avenue.  Beginning on the southern side of said Railroad Avenue, which is the Northeastern corner of the said Mary Bramble lot, and from thence runs therewith two courses S17W 26f, S72/37E 45f to said Dean lot; thence with the same N17E 26f, to Railroad Avenue; and thence therewith N72/37W 45f to the place of beginning.  Being the same property conveyed by deed unto East New Market Realty Company, Inc. from Thomas O. Jefferson & Lena M. Jefferson, his wife, dated 27 May 1915 in 9 WLR 59. 
Lot No. 2 - lot at the Southeast corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue.  Beginning at the southeast corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue and from thence running with the southern side of said Railroad Avenue S73/30E 72f to the Drug Store lot; thence with same S17W 26f; thence with said Drug Store lot and part of same S72/37E 86 1/2f to the Seymour property; thence with same S15/10W 37 3/4f to a stone, thence N73/40W 158 3/5f to Main Street; and thence with same N16/10E 66f to the place of beginning.  Together with an easement of way for a 12 foot alley to be used in common by the abutting property owners, which alleyway is to run from said Main Street with even width along the N73/40W course for a distance of 123 feet.  Being the same lands conveyed by deed from Susan J. Wales unto East New Market Realty Company, Inc. by deed dated 25 May 1915 in 9 WLR 39.
Both the said lots being contiguous to each and used as one property.

38 JFD 98 - 25 July 1938 - W. Laird Henry to County Corporation of Maryland for $3900:  Whereas under power of sale contained in a certain mortgage from East New Market Realty Company, Inc. unto the Eastern Shore Trust Company dated 19 February 1916 in 1 WHM 477, which said mortgage was assigned unto County Corporation of Maryland and assigned to W. Laird Henry for the purpose of foreclosure.  And whereas the said W. Laird Henry, assignee, after filing the said mortgage for foreclosure in the Circuit Court in case No. 6242 Chancery did sell the property to County Corporation of Maryland.  [both lots as described in 43 RSM 448].

9 WLR 59 - 27 May 1915 - Thomas O. Jefferson & Lena M. Jefferson, his wife, of Caroline County, to the East New Market Realty Company for $5000:  lot on the south side of Railroad Avenue, bounded on the East by the property formerly belonging to F.H. Dean; on the South and West by the property formerly belonging to Mary Bramble, lately belonging to Susan J. Wales, and on the North fronting 45 feet on Railroad Avenue.  Beginning on the southern side of said Railroad Avenue, which is the Northeastern corner of the said Mary Bramble lot, and from thence runs therewith two courses S17W 26f, S72/37E 45f to said Dean lot; thence with the same N17E 26f, to Railroad Avenue; and thence therewith N72/37W 45f to the place of beginning.  Being the same property conveyed unto the said Thomas O. Jefferson by Frederick H. Fletcher and Emerson J. Harrington, Trustees, by deed dated 15 January 1910 in 1 WLR 666.

1915 Commercial Directory - East New Market
Old Dorset Pharmacy, T.O. Jefferson, proprietor

1912 Commercial Directory - East New Market
Old Dorset Pharmacy, T.O. Jefferson, proprietor

1 WLR 666 - 15 January 1910 - Emerson C. Harrington and Frederick H. Fletcher to Thomas O. Jefferson of Caroline County for $1000:   Whereas by decree of the Circuit Court  dated 19 March 1909 and passed in a cause wherein Frederick Wright & F. May Wright were complainants and Annie Leckie and others were defendants, the same being 2907 Chancery, the above named Emerson C. Harrington and Frederick H. Fletcher were appointed trustees to sell the real estate.  Lot which was conveyed unto Isaac H. Wright, deceased, by Mary Bramble, by deed dated 25 March 1879 in 13 FJH 226.  Lot in the village of East New Market on the South side of the street which runs from Secretary Creek through said village to the depot of the Dorchester and Delaware Railroad Company, and bounded on the East by the lands of F.H. Dean, on the South and West by the lands of Mary Bramble, on the North fronting 45 feet on the street and running back a depth of 25 feet.  Being the same property which is now in the occupancy of the said Thomas O. Jefferson, and likewise the same property which was formerly occupied by Dr. Edward L. Jones.

1909 Commerical Directory - East New Market
Hitch & Jones, drugs

1908 Commerical Directory - East New Market
Hitch & Jones, drugs

1906 Commerical Directory - East New Market
Hitch & Jones, drugs

1896-1910 Tax Record
Fred Wright
1896 - Masonic Building & Lot in ENM $1500
1910 - reduced Masonic Building & Lot to Thos. O. Jefferson

1896 Tax Record
Isaac H. Wright
Masonic Building & Lot in East New Market $1500

13 FJH 226 – 25 March 1879 – Mary Bramble to Isaac H. Wright for $100: lot in East New Market on the south side of the street of said village which runs from Secretary Creek through said village to the Depot of the Dorchester and Delaware Rail Road Company; and bounded on the east by the lands of F.H. Dean on the south and the west by the lands of Mary Bramble and on the north by the street first described; containing at its front 45 feet and running back the depth of 25 feet.

[For pre 1879 information about this property, see the historic record report for the Bramble House, which was formerly at this location.]