Scott Martyn's Page

Hi Scott,

I've been researching the history of the house my family rented at 420 Dawson Street in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan from 1955-1966. It was a grand old house. I grew up there and have many fond memories of it. 

The house seems to have been built in 1902 for James T. Burnett, but I'm not certain about that, so I've been trying to find out who he bought the lot from (Lot 15) and who may have built the house. In the process, I came across some information about your ancestor Edmund Martyn.

In the 1901 Soo city directory, he was listed as a resident at 312 Dawson Street. At that time, he and Arthur Stuart owned a real estate, loans, and house-building business called "Martyn & Stuart." Their business address was 412 Ashmun.

According to a 1900 plat document, Martyn & Stuart, along with a few others, owned private land claims on the 400 block of Dawson Street and had the block platted so it could be divided into lots, presumably with the intent to sell them.

Finally, the 1900 Improvement Bulletin (Vol. 22) stated that "Martyn & Stuart have begun the erection of four dwellings on Dawson Street."

This information about Edmund Martyn and Arthur Stuart has made me wonder: Did they have anything to do with selling Lot 15 on Dawson Street (which would be 420 Dawson) to James T. Burnett some time from 1900-1902? And did they build the house for him, or did Burnett build it himself (he was a carpenter)?

I know it's a longshot, but would you have any information on Edmund Martyn's business dealings in the Soo around that time? If he had anything to do with the 420 Dawson house that I grew up in (on Lot 15 in R. H. Carleton's Subdivision of part of PLC 106, 107,and 108), it would be very important for me to know. I'm writing a history of that house, and its origins are a bit misty.

Thanks for your time,

Ron Evensen    

Oh my, read your charts wrong - now fully awake:  it is your brother-in-law that is my relation, not your wife!