This house was listed in city address books as being a residence since the early 1880s, but it wasn’t until 1892 that it actually was assigned the street number of 168.
This home was built about 1881, before 172 and 176 College Street and 268 North Street, so it originally had commanding views both of Arlington Park and North Street, for when it was built it was described as being on the “southwest corner of North and College Streets.” Jacob J. Weller received permission to build this home from the Common Council in December of 1880 and building probably commenced the following spring.24 A deed
recorded at Erie County Hall states that Weller’s deed was dated 12/1/1880 and it was recorded on 2/9/81. According to the deed, Weller paid $10,000 for the property. However at that time, the property’s boundaries were 100 feet along North Street and 242 feet from North Street along College Street.
In October of 1883, Weller sold the North Street frontage of the property to George W. Francis of the Francis Axe Company. Francis purchased the land with the intent of building homes and reselling it to prospective buyers. Weller sold the lot with 100 foot frontage on North Street and 185 foot College Street frontage for the sum of $15,750. Weller retained the 57 foot by 100 foot Arlington Park lot for his own use.
After Weller died, his home was marketed by realtors Zink and Hatch. In early 1885 the home was advertised as the “northwest corner Wadsworth Place and College, two story frame with attic, all the conveniences, lot 57 x 100, $11,500.”
