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Local History

Mary E. Wilson Home

“The McLaughlin estate on North Main Street, formerly occupied by the Neale Institute and valued at approximately $25,000, will be the site of the Mary E. Wilson Home for Aged Women.

“Plans to this effect were announced yesterday when it was learned that the residence at 1331 Benton Avenue, originally given by Mrs. Wilson to the board, was not large enough to accommodate the list of applicants already asking admittance.

“The new home, on the east side of Main Street, just south of Nichols Street, contains fifteen rooms and was built several years ago by the father of Hiram McLaughlin [1869-1923]. Hiram’s father was Stephen W. McLaughlin [1830-1907].

“Practically every room in the house has a hardwood floor in it and a massive fireplace also adorns each room.

“The property has a frontage on Main Street of 165 feet and runs east from Main Street 300 feet.

“A board of trustees, to care for the business complications, which may arise also was suggested by Mrs. Wilson in her letter yesterday. The board will consist of Ed V. Williams, W.B. Sanford, J.H. Hedges, H.E. Patton, G.W. Nichols and Judge J.T. Sturgis.

“The letter from Mrs. Wilson to the board members follows…” [The article was a condensed version of the letter.]

Republican, May 3, 1918, p1

The image above was published in the News & Leader, December 30, 1951, and can be found in the library's digital collection, From the Dark Room.

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