FOW - 627 Main Street

February 18, 2022 - A group of us walked through this building at 627 Main Street, Wheeling, WV. It is nicknamed "The Bates" by the locals. There was a fire there recently. All residents have moved out and left their stuff, lots of stuff.

Some information on the building:
North Wheeling Historic District (Boundary Amendment), 2007
627 Main is listed as a 4-story Italianate building, c. 1880, that is a “contributing structure” to the district. [This designation makes it eligible for state preservation grant funding.

•1879-80 and 1880 city directories show James Roberts, nailer, at 625 Main [1872 directory shows his residence on Market]
•1886 city directory – James Roberts, nailer, 627 Main [did he move next door, or is there a street number error?]
James Roberts, born c. 1831, died on January 26, 1891, age 60. He died of typhoid fever and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery with a Masonic Ritual.
•1901 and 1903 city directories – Mrs. Susan Roberts, widow of James, 627 Main [note – no death record was found for her]

1902 Sanborn Insurance map showing a 2-story brick house (denoted by pink color) at 627 Main

•1905 city directory – Henry J. Stolze – 627 Main
•1907 city directory – Henry J. Stolze and C.W. Wickham – 627 Main
•1915 city directory
oJay Wolferd (basement)
oDr. Andrew Coyle
oWilliam J. Scroggins (2nd floor)
oHenry J. Stolze (3rd floor)
•1921 city directory
oJay Wolferd (basement)
oS. Charles Hill
oWilliam J. Scroggins (2nd floor)
oHenry J. Stolze (3rd floor)

1921 Sanborn map showing a much deeper brick building that is 4 stories tall and has a 4-story wooden (yellow) attachment (porch?) on the rear.
Was the original house demolished to build the current building, or was the original just expanded?

Sales History
•September 19, 1903 – Henry J Stolze purchased from James Roberts’s daughters, Katherine & Mary Roberts, for $6,100 (Wheeling Intel, Oct 24, 1904). Note: Wheeling Daily Register 1909, Mrs Henry Stolze purchased building permit for 4 story brick building.
•May 29, 2002 – Jeffrey W. Arensberg purchased the property for $105K. [The initial asking price is $200K. Did he make improvements over the past 20 years that would make it worth nearly double that amount?]
•August 14, 1996 – Michael A. and Krina M. Marino purchased the property for $59.5K.
•June 20, 1988 – Boyd Star, Inc. (President Barry Boyd) purchased the property for $47K.
•February 28, 1984 – James B. Thomas purchased the property – amount not shown.

February 2022 the building was listed for sale exclusively by Kennon & Kennon. As of March 2022, the build was sold to 2 residents of North Wheeling.