This is indeed a tiny home on the Goldfields:- his is Mary Howell nee Hughes at her home in Lane Street Boulder with her baby daughter, Agnes Lillian Howell, who was born in Boulder in 1903.
Mary Howell with baby Lillian Agnes in Boulder 1903
Mary was married to Gwilym (Bill) Howell and they already had a son Endaf Howell aged 5 yrs. It appears that Endarf was not born in WA and the family may have traveled from either Charters Towers in Queensland or Newcastle in NSW. Mary and Gwilym were also not married in WA.
It is not known why, but the couple seems to be living separately by 1910, when Mary was to die at the young age of 42 in Claremont WA. She is buried in the Fremantle cemetery. Gwilym is still listed as resident in the above house in Lane Street Boulder at this time. Perhaps if she was ill she traveled to Perth for treatment.,
The following notice appeared in the Kalgoorlie Miner:-
HOWELL.— On January lst 1910, at Claremont, Mary Howell, the beloved wife of Gwilym Howell of Boulder, aged 42.
(Charters Towers and Newcastle papers please copy.)
Gwilym was a produce merchant who operated a business in Wittenoom street, Boulder in partnership with Emanuel Hagley. This business was closed in 1912 and the partnership dissolved. The family was not to be spared more sadness when Gwilym and Mary’s son Endaf was also to die in Claremont two years later at the age of 14 yrs, he is buried with his mother.
HOWELL.-The Friends of Mr. Gwilym Howell of Boulder. are respectfully invited to follow the remains of his late beloved son. Master Endaf, to the place of interment, the Wesleyan portion of the Fremantle Cemetery Died 11th March 1912.
Only a few months after the death of his son Gwilym was to re marry to Margaret Delbridge in Boulder in 1913. Margaret was a widow who had also lost her husband recently in 1912. His name was William Leonard Delbridge who had killed himself by swallowing cyanide whilst under the effects of drink. He left his wife £115.
From the Evening Star 7 June 1913:- The wedding was celebrated at St. Matthew’s Church, Boulder, Tuesday last, of Mr. G. Howell and Mrs. Delbridge, who until quite recently filled the position of matron at the Willard House, Boulder. A very pleasant function took place at ‘Willard House’, Piesse street, Boulder, on Thursday evening on the occasion of the marriage of the matron of the house, Mrs Delbridge, to Mr Howell. Mrs. Baker, president of the W.C-T.U, presented the retiring matron with a set of carvers. Afterwards a hearty welcome was accorded to the incoming matron, Mrs Page. Mrs. Baker, in her remarks, was very eulogistic regarding Mrs. Howells’ good work and while regretting her resignation she wished her every success for the future.
(Willard House was run by the Womans Christian Temperance Union)
The marriage was to only last 10 years with the death of Gwilym in 1923. It is not know what became of Margaret as there is no mention of her in the funeral notices. Gwilym seems to have been very involved in many community groups. He is buried alone in the Boulder Cemetery. There is also the mention of another son, Eurian (Eric) Howell.
From the Kalgoorlie Miner 7th April 1923 – HOWELL.— The friends of Mr. Eurian Howell and Miss Lillian Howell are respectfully informed that the remains of their late dearly beloved father, Gwilym (Bill), will be removed from his late residence, No. 163 Piesse-street, Boulder, at 4 o’clock This Day Saturday), for interment in the Methodist portion of the Boulder Cemetery – J. H. Greenwood and Son., Undertakers, Boulder.
The Grave of Gwilym Howell Boulder Cemetery
HOWELL. — Coolgardie Federated Miners’ Union (Boulder Branch). — Members of the above union are respectfully invited to follow the remains of our late Comrade and President (Gwilym Howell) to the place of interment in the Boulder Cemetery. The funeral will leave his late residence, No. 163 Piesse street, Boulder, at 4 o’clock This Day. F. E. Goyder, Secretary,
HOWELL.— Members of the E.G. Division of the National Labour Party are invited to attend the funeral of the late Gwilym Howell, delegate of the Boulder Branch to the District Council, which leaves his late residence, 163 Piesse-street, at 4 p.m. Today. — F. E. Goyder, Acting Secretary.
HOWELL.— National Labour Party (Boulder Branch).— Members of the above are requested to attend the funeral of our late member, Gwilym (Bill) Howell, to the place of interment in the Boulder Cemetery. The funeral will leave his late residence, No. 163 Piesse St, Boulder, at 4 o’clock This by C. J. Wearne, Secretary.
HOWELL.— All Black Entertainers, — Members of the above society are respectfully invited to follow the remains of our members (Eric Howell) late father to the place of interment in the Boulder Cemetery. The funeral will leave his late residence, No. 163 Piesse St., Boulder, at 4 o’clock This day.W. J. Adams, Hon. Sec.
1908 Post Office Directory for Lane St Boulder
This excerpt from the WA Post Office Directory for 1908 shows the location of the little house. I am not sure if it still remains but maybe someone who lives nearby could look for me. As you will see it was on the Left hand side of Lane Street coming from Boulder and is the fifth property between the cross over of York St and Davis Street.
The following information was sent in by OFH reader – Heather Harvey
Gwilym Howells and Mary Hughes married on 6 Oct 1890 at Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. Endaf was born in Queensland on 6 Aug 1897, Registration number 006550. Eurion was born 1900 in NSW, Registration number 33756 and Agnes Lilian was born at Boulder in 1903, Registration number 280. Mary and Gwilym were both enrolled at the same address in Boulder on the 1909 and 1910 electoral rolls – the fact that she died on 1 Jan 1910 and yet is on the 1910 roll suggests that the roll was compiled at the end of 1909, for an election early in 1910 and she clearly must have taken ill suddenly and was taken to Perth for treatment, with her dying there. Eurion and Agnes returned to Wales after the death of their father in 1923, travelling together on “Orcades” which arrived in London on 13 Sep 1923. Eurion died the following year in a mining accident in Pontypridd and in 1929 Agnes married William Charles Stephens in Pontypridd. They had 2 sons together and she died in 1969, in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales.
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Moya Sharp
Owner at Outback Family History
My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.
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Moya, I’m loving your little stories about Kalgoorlie history. Keep them coming.
Many thanks Gale!
Hi Moya.
By the name, Gwilym ( Welsh form of William) was Welsh, and I suspect his wife Mary (Hughes) was as well – Endaf is a very Welsh name and would have been unusual even in Wales at that time, as Eurion would also be ( not Eurian, that’s the female form! – both mean golden or gilded in Welsh) by the children’s names, I’d be pretty certain Gwilym, at least, was Welsh speaking
You sent me some time ago a copy of the Kalgoorlie Welsh choir, so there was certainly a more significant Welsh presence in the goldfields than has been acknowledged so far. Among journalists, there was Harry Charles Rhys-Jones, of Welsh parentage, who died in Perth at the age of 38 in1897 .He was a well-known journalist who in his time in the goldfields, wrote under the pen-name of ‘Harry Faithful’ – and there was another, whose name now escapes me
When referring to the newspaper reporter I’d forgotten I was thinking of ‘The Vagabond’ otherwise known as Julian Thomas. However, he was actually not Welsh, but from Walsall, in England ( though he had spent time in Wales as a railway clerk and stationmaster). He was an extremely popular journalist and lecturer who attracted large crowds in Melbourne; but much of his self promoting history was fabular. He died suddenly at the age of 53 of cardiac problems after an asthma attack. The reason I thought he was Welsh, was because of the astonishing supplement he produced for the Melbourne Leader of 30 May 1896 where he describes in detail his experiences on a tour of Western Australia. While there, he talks about meeting in Coolgardie an old friend, none the than the notorious ‘Gold King’ of North Wales, W Pritchard Morgan,MP for Merthyr, South Wales, together with his daughter Kate i(whom he claimed had previously met in school in Brussels!).
His birthplace was variously attributed to Virginia and Wales, but he was actually the born in Walsall the son of an attorney and iron foundry owner, , and his real name was John Stanley James – He’s in the Australian Dictionary of National Biography, and his TROVE references are also worth reading!`
Love reading these stories. Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind comments Izzy, much appreciated.
Moya – Gwilym Howells and Mary Hughes married on 6/10/1890 at Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. Endaf was born in Queensland on 6/8/1897, Registration number 006550. Eurion was born 1900 in NSW, Registration number 33756 and Agnes Lilian was born at Boulder in 1903, Registration number 280. Mary and Gwilym were both enrolled at the same address in Boulder on the 1909 and 1910 electoral rolls – the fact that she died on 1/1/1910 and yet is on the 1910 roll suggests that the roll was compiled at the end of 1909, for an election early in 1910 and she clearly must have taken ill suddenly and was taken to Perth for treatment, with her dying there. Eurion and Agnes returned to Wales after the death of their father in 1923, travelling together on “Orcades” which arrived in London on 13/9/1923. Eurion died the following year in a mining accident in Pontypridd and in 1929 Agnes married William Charles Stephens in Pontypridd. They had 2 sons together and she died in 1969, in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales.
Hi Heather, that is wonderful information, may I add these details to the blog post? Could I also include your contact details in case any other family come across it. Or if you would rather not Im happy to pass on any comments to you.
Of course you can add the information to the post. I’m more than a little snowed under with research for an exhibition at the York Town Hall at the moment but please pass comments on to me.
I believe my grandparents lived in Lane St. They were married in Coolgardie in 1903 and went on to have 5 sons and 1 daughter. My grandfather, Peter Docherty died in 1946 and My grandmother Jessie died in 1952 (I think) and both were buried in the Boulder Cemetery My dad told me the walls of the house were papered with newspapers. I would love to know more.
I’ve just noticed in the WA post office directory that Peter Doherty live 4 doors from the Howells. I wonder if this was my family’s place with the surname spelled incorrectly
Hi Liz, Anything is possible, I did try to locate the exact spot the house was at through the Post Office Directories but we could only make a rought guess from how the houses are configured now. I think it may have faced the main road.
Hi Liz Both your Grandparents are buried in the Kalgoorlie Cemetery as follows:-
DOCHERTY Jessie Lumsden 74 PRES 23/08/1952 (Maiden Name McNeil)
DOCHERTY Peter 72 PRES 8/10/1946
Yes he would have been correct about the newspaper on the walls, it was very good insulation it seems.
Bye for now
Moya
Thank you Moya
Hi Moya . I have been in touch with you a while ago re information regarding my husbands grandparents James Humphrey O’lOughlin and his wife lily. He lived at 143 Piesse Street. He married in Coolgardie in 1906 but am not sure when they bought this house. I have a photo of it from when they lived there. I know their house is still there as it has recently been up for sale and the modern photo is much the same as when they were living there.
I am also interested in the message that Liz Grant sent you with your answer re Jessie Lumsden Docherty. It is her maiden name I am interested in which you say was McNeil. Do you have any other info on her. McNeil was the surname of James Humphrey O,loughlins stepfather he was James Dunn McNeil
Many thanks Janis O’loughlin
Janis do you have a photo of the house at 143 piesse street. I would be very interested in any history you may know about that house.