The lower portion of Lot 1, everything to the immediate south of the home, became Lot 10 and now belonged to the homeowner at 123 South Canal Street. Everything to the immediate north of the home was now occupied by the saloon belonging to George Smith.
Had the lot retained its dimensions from 1851, it is likely that the original home would have been torn down in order to build a larger and more modern replacement.
But once the lot was reduced in size, it would have been no longer possible to build a larger home without further reducing the already tiny amount of outdoor living space, and so the original home was allowed to remain in place.
There was so little exterior space remaining, in fact, that I find it hard to believe that any homeowner would subject themselves to such restricted living conditions.
I suspect that the home was serving as a rental unit at the time the property was subdivided, since a landlord would not be as concerned about his tenant’s welfare.
This is further indication of the home’s early origin, as it makes little sense to build a new home on such a small lot, so the house must have been built prior to the property being subdivided.
The 1877 map appears to list this property as belonging to OFW.
Could this be Oliver F. Walker, local undertaker and proprietor of his own furniture store?
Walker had first arrived in Chesaning back in 1856, and worked for many years as a carpenter and furniture maker, before opening his own shop in 1869.
By 1877 he was living in a modest house on Chapman Street, just north of his store at the corner of Chapman and Broad Street.
Is it possible that 107 South Canal Street was his original home, and he retained ownership of the property after moving into a new house on Chapman Street?
If so, was Walker the original builder of the home on Canal Street, or did he move into an existing structure?
If the home does predate Walker’s arrival in Chesaning, then we have some information that could help identify it’s original builder.