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The Killing of Walter I. Holcomb

It was Monday February 28th, 1927- not too long past noon.

Ernest Frederick, 42, had gone into the post office at the corner of Market and Pine to mail a letter.
As he started to leave, Walter I. Holcomb, 55, entered the building.
Ernest supposedly greeted him with a “Hello Walter” before drawing two revolvers and firing.
Walter started to run after being hit by the first shot but fell on his front. Ernest stood over the body and fired the remaining of the 10 rounds into his head (later articles said 8: three in the chest, five in the head). Continue reading “The Killing of Walter I. Holcomb”

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Foreclosure!

Foreclosure happens now, but it happened then, too.

Exactly 140 years ago, in January of 1879, Mr. Hugh Love began foreclosure proceedings against Mr. Thomas M. Abell. The mortgage was for Mr. Abell’s residence of 4 years – the house at 22 Washington Avenue (modern day 284).

The mortgage he got to buy the house had a 1-year term.
In today’s money, he had a year to repay some $55k.
“Loan shark!”, you exclaim?
No. I don’t think so. Continue reading “Foreclosure!”