Restoring the Vanvert and Sadie Tyrell House in Metuchen, New Jersey
Raymond M. Laing (1880-1956) and Anna M. (Tyrell) Laing (1879-1958), his wife, purchased the property at 63 McCoy Ave on August 22, 1924. The deed was recorded September 12, 1924, in Book 784 of Deeds for Middlesex County, page 414. Laing worked for the Barber Asphalt Company, before retiring in 1946. His wife Anna May Tyrell (1879-1958) was sister of Vanvert H. Tyrell, Sr., (1873-1911). Apparently following the death of her brother she took an active interest in her nephew Vanvert H. Tyrell, Jr., and his family.
At the time Vanvert enlisted in World War I on September 12, 1918, he worked as a “Machinist Apprentice” for the Barber Asphalt Company of Perth Amboy. The 1926 city directory lists Vanvert Harned and Sadie Tyrrell as the first people to live at 63 McCoy Ave and among the first people living on McCoy Ave. The family were active members of the First Baptist Church in Metuchen. The 1947 Perth Amboy City Directory lists Vanvert Tyrell as an assistant cashier at PSE&G Co. and still residing in Metuchen.
The second family that had an association with the house was Eugene and Rose Mancuso. A deed for the house was recorded February 3, 1960 in the Middlesex County Book 2115, Page 13. A native of Newark, Gene served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Upon returning from service he married his wife in 1951. They moved to Metuchen in 1956 and lived here the rest of their life. Gene passed away September 12, 2012. His wife rose passed away February 24, 2019. Both were active members of St. Francis Cathedral in Metuchen.
Our first visit to the house was the summer of 2019. We began comparison shopping with other houses. When none of these worked out for us, we returned on September 9, 2019 and gave 63 McCoy Ave a second look.
Still uncertain, we came back just over a month later on October 8, 2019 and gave it a third look before placing our offer.
-What followed were several months of back and forth with the realtor, bank, and owner. We finally were able to close on January 9, 2020.
Following closing, almost immediately we commenced on a full renovation. Literally not a single square inch went untouched. All walls were painted, new kitchen, two new bathrooms, and the floors refinished.
