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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