From a 1948 Sales Ad: “Large 2 story home. 10 rooms with living room, dining room, 6 bedrooms, 3 baths. Large kitchen. 3 large porches, garage, located on double corner lot 120×110 with numerous shade and fruit trees.”
This home was built in 1913 by Alvah and Lulu Wright as announced in an issue of the 1913 St. Pete Times.
Alvah Curtis Wright was born to Jacob and Nancy Wright on January 10, 1845, in Edgefield, South Carolina. Alvah was the ninth of thirteen children (9 boys and 4 girls), all of whom worked on their father’s farm. On April 12, 1861, 16 year old Alvah was working on the family farm with his father and eight brothers. Before the end of the day, word had arrived that Ft. Sumter in Charleston Harbor (150 miles southeast) had been fired upon, and that the south was now at war. The brothers, ranging in ages from 14 – 29, likely headed to town to get the latest news. Alvah and his younger brother Robert were the only two not “of age” for battle, the others were in their 20’s and ready to enlist.
The Wright boys immediately enlisted, including 16 year old Alvah (serving in Company A, 22nd South Carolina Infantry). However, Robert, the youngest at 14, was to stay home at the demand of his mother. He did however enlist two years later when he turned 16.
Of the nine brothers who served, three died in battle, three were wounded but kept fighting and three (including the youngest, Robert) survived without injury.
On June 17, 1864, Alvah, age 19, was wounded in the right leg while defending the line at Petersburg. He was in the camp hospital for 6 months while the town remained under siege. Alvah returned to duty in January 1865 and was a part of the retreat of Lee’s Army to Appomattox. His regiment was in the rear and assigned to protect the retreat of the remaining troops. The 22nd Infantry regiment became separated from the main body of Lee’s army and had to disband or be captured. Alvah was not captured, he was able to make his way back toward Appomattox, where he later joined in signing surrender papers.
Alvah returned home with his five surviving brothers only to find his father extremely sick in bed. He likely had literally worked himself to death trying to maintain the farm without the help of his sons. He died on June 15th, two months after the war ended.
Alvah met Catherine E. “Kate” Richards (originally from St. Mary’s Georgia), who was two years his junior. They were soon married and blessed with four daughters, Catherine Adele (1865), Mary (1872), Ada (1874) and Mattie (1879). In 1870, Alvah and Kate moved to Madison, Florida, where he bought a small farm. This venture however didn’t work out, and in 1874 they moved to St. Mary’s Georgia, where Kate had grown up. St. Mary’s is two miles north of the Florida line and five miles from the Atlantic. Alvah opened a general store and began making a home for his family.
Tragedy struck the Wright household on March 20, 1882, when Kate died, she was 34. Alvah was left to raise his four daughters, ages 17, 10, 8 and 3. St. Mary’s was a small town and as the owner of the general store, Alvah knew everyone. Just over a year later, on April 18, 1883, Alvah married one of the young ladies who frequented his shop, twenty-two year old Louisa Margaret “Lulu” Proctor.
Alvah and Lulu had four children, daughter Ruby (1885), daughter Willie (1888), son Alvah (1890) and son Edmond (1891).
By 1890, Alvah had sold the general store and returned to farming in Parrott Georgia, about 20 miles northwest of Albany. In 1901, Alvah was again considering making a move and made a trip to St. Petersburg to investigate the possibility of opening a boarding house. The visit was pleasant, but did not end with a plan to settle in St. Pete, at least, not yet.
In 1907, at age 60, Alvah made the decision to retire and move the family to St. Pete and make this their new home. Upon arrival he secured a residence at 143 1st Ave No. and even had a small plot of land nearby where he started growing vegetables.
In 1910, Alvah, along with many other Confederate Veterans began Camp Zollicoffer No. 1651 United Confederate Veterans here in St. Pete. Alvah would serve as Adjutant from 1913 – 1923. They mainly met to share their war stories and reminisce, but they also took part in local parades and in united programs with the GAR organizations in town. The group ultimately disbanded in 1932 due to attrition.
In 1913, the St. Pete Times reported that Alvah Wright was building a new house on the corner of 17th Avenue and Locust St. NE. He would remain in this house until his passing in 1923. The house was originally numbered 356 17th Ave. NE, which remained until changed in 1956 to 1630 Locust Ave. NE.
Alvah Curtis Wright died on January 31, 1923, after a short illness, three weeks after his 78th birthday. He is buried in Royal Palm South Cemetery in St. Pete.
Lulu stayed in the house with her daughter Willie and son Ed. She passed away on August 18, 1932, at age 71. She is buried next to Alvah at Royal Palm.
Willie and Ed Wright lived in the house while the estate was in probate. Finally in 1940, the house was put up for sale to settle the estate. It was sold in 1941 to Robert B Shockley.
Did you like this article? Please use the convenient links below to share on your favorite social channels! It helps us grow and keep writing.