In 1843, Simon Truby of Warren (now Apollo) purchased 156+ acres of land from Dr. James R. Speer and his wife Hettie of Pittsburgh, at a cost of $3,000. Truby’s original farm included the north end of Apollo above 5th Street, parts of Oak Hill, Pegtown, and North Apollo up to about 16th Street.
The exterior walls of Simon Truby’s house are 4 bricks deep, and they’re arranged in an American (or common) bond pattern, with 6 rows of lengthwise bricks sandwiched between single rows of crosswise “header” bricks. 
The American bond pattern is also seen in the brick houses built by Simon’s brother Capt. Henry Truby of Gilpin Twp. and by Dr. William McCullough at 323 First Street, Apollo.
