Wheelin' and Dealin'

Murray V. Lawder (1891–1970) was a prominent and enterprising figure in Havre de Grace, known for his diverse business ventures and deep roots in the local community. He owned a grocery store on Stokes Street - affectionately known to generations as Lawder’s - where countless children spent their Sunday school offerings on penny candy. In addition to running the beloved store, Lawder operated a pawn shop, a feed business, and held a license to sell the Hupmobile automobile.

 

An avid outdoorsman, he hunted ducks from blinds along the water and was well-known among local hunters, many of whom brought their ducks and geese to him for cleaning. Alongside his brother, Robert Lawder, who served as Mayor of Havre de Grace, he co-owned warehouses that stored grain for The Graw racetrack. Murray Lawder’s life and work left a lasting imprint on the city’s commercial and cultural life, shaping the daily experiences and memories of multiple generations.