20 East Park Road
6 Bedrooms & 4 Bathrooms
Built around before 1897
20 East Park Road was originally a fully-white home prior to its refurbishment c. 2022. It was purchased by news owners and restored from its then-chipping and flaking paint on the exterior.
Inhabitants
| Names | Years |
|---|---|
| R.R. Thomas | c. 1897 |
| Ludwig Theodor Brehm & Marie Elizabeth Hall Brehm | c. 1920 |
| Harry Reiss Axelroth & Gertrude Knight Axelroth | fl. 1930–1935 |
| Tauline Spiess | ?–1942 |
| William Tharp Simmons & Helen Constance Scheerer Simmons | 1941–1968 |
History
According to A. H. Mueller & Co's 1897 Atlas, the tract of land was owned by family "Thomas". I believe this corresponds to R.R. Thomas, who is mentioned as a resident in a relative's obituary.
1920 census: Danish motor secretary Ludwig is living with his family and Marylander maid of African-American descent.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| Ludwig T. Brehm | 52 | Head |
| Marie Brehm | 42 | Wife |
| Marie Brehm | 18 | Daughter |
| Ruth Brehm | 15 | Daughter |
| Laura Travis | 25 | Servant |
1930 census: Attorney Harry of German-Austrian descent is living with his family.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| Harry R. Axelroth | 39 | Head |
| Gertrude K. Axelroth | 38 | Wife |
| Phoebe K. Axelroth | 10 | Daughter |
| Gertrude A. Axelroth | 6 | Daughter |
The Axelroths lived in the home at least as late as 1935, when Harry was driving in Carbon County & became "confused" with the highway, causing his car to crash into a shoulder and flip over.
Allentown Morning Call, April 27th, 1935, page 17
By 1941, the Simmons family was living in the home, and the home was finally sold to them by its owner, Taulane Spiess, in 1942. The house is not present in the 1940 census.
1950 census: Public utilities executive William is living with his family.
| Name | Age | Relation to Head of Household |
|---|---|---|
| William Simmons | 47 | Head |
| Helen Simmons | 47 | Wife |
| William T. Simmons | 22 | Son |
| John W. Scheerer | 79 | Father-in-law |
In 1955, John Scheerer's son of the same name, a second Lieutenant, completed military training at the engineers' school at Fort Belvoir. John, Sr., died in 1962, and the Simmons lived in the home as late as 1968 The Deptual family purchased the home in 1979 for $62,900, and the house was sold by them in 2021 for $537,500, after which its renovation began.