Wilson Hotel West 14th and State 1910 Erie, PA

Wilson House on West 14th and State St. from 1913 Official Perry Centennial Souvenir Book of Erie.

The Wilson House opened in 1888 and was located on the triangle bordered by State Street (on the left in this photo), Turnpike Street (on the right in this photo) and West 14th Street. This unique building was torn down many years ago. The section of Turnpike between State Street and West 14th St. no longer exists, nor do any of the businesses on the right side of this photo. (A small portion of Turnpike St. still exists beginning at West 14th St. It is the only true north-south street in Erie, PA.)

The Wilson House was owned by John Stinson in 1904. Florence Stinson and Oscar K. Stinson boarded at the Wilson House in 1904.

The Wilson House had a name change at some point, and by 1914 it was known as the New Wilson Hotel. Frank G. Young was the proprietor of the New Wilson Hotel in 1914, and Robert B. Porter was its manager.

Reliable Home Furnishing Company is visible in the photo above, having signage on State Street and on Turnpike. Here is a link to a 1909 grand opening ad for Reliable Furnishing: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/08/jrs-last-laugh-building-1909-reliable.html

The trolley tracks ran down the middle of State Street and are visible on the left side of the picture.

Here's a map of Turnpike Street from 1950: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/08/turnpike-street-14th-and-state-map-1950.html

Jr's Last Laugh Building 1909 Reliable Furnishing

-ad in Erie Dispatch, June 23, 1909.

Ever drive past or go to a show at Jr's Last Laugh and wonder what used to be in that giant building on the corner of 14th and State St.? Reliable Home Furnishing Company had the grand opening for this store in Erie, PA on June 23, 1909.  The building has an unusual shape because its western border follows Turnpike Street.

You could buy a variety of items at Reliable, including carpets, stoves, rugs and draperies. The store advertised one price, cash or credit. Demuling's Orchestra played at the grand opening, and the store passed out free souvenirs all day long.

Abe Daneman was treasurer of Reliable Home Furnishing in 1922; Louis Grad was the manager.

Reliable was still in business in 1967, but by this time had moved to 1213-1219 State St. (the old building at 1402 State now housed Masiroff & Company, owned by Sol Masiroff.)

Furnitureland, owned by Greg Gardner, occupied the building after Masiroff's.

Steve McGarvey renovated the building that now houses Junior's Last Laugh. This is right across the street from the old Mercantile Building at 1401 State St., a property that was under development by McGarvey at the time of his death in 2005.

Here's a map of 14th and State from 1950: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/08/turnpike-street-14th-and-state-map-1950.html

And a picture of the Wilson House on the Turnpike Street triangle: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/08/wilson-hotel-west-14th-and-state-1910.html