Martha Howe

Island Bay Tramway Terminus 1910

The Island Bay tram line opened in 1905 as part of a rapidly expanding city network. In 1907, Mrs Martha Howe was the successful tenderer for the lease of the Island Bay ‘tramway waiting-shed.’

The waiting room and tearoom provided  an informal community service at the end of the line – lost items could be left with Martha for collection, the Electoral Roll could be consulted and women seeking work as servants and dressmakers placed advertisements to be contacted through her store.

In 1910 a post box was installed out front ‘for the convenience of residents.’ Martha was also a telephonist among her other roles.

Martha Jane Youmans was born in 1855. Her family emigrated from Yorkshire to Wellington in the 1860s. She married Arthur Wellington Howe in 1876 and they had a family of  five children. Arthur died in 1903. By the time she took on the tramway terminus lease, her youngest child was 16.

Martha held the lease at the terminus until about 1914 when she moved to the Hutt. She died in 1926, aged 70, and is buried at Karori Cemetery in a large plot with her husband, brother in law and daughter.

Tramways waiting room. Occupier Mrs Martha Howe. Rental 7/6 weekly.' Two storey wooden building with shop at street level and bench seats outside at Tram stop. There is an advertisement for Cadbury's Chocolate in shop window and children on the bench seating outside. Courtesy of Wellington City Council Archives, 00138-1722

Detail from above image. Wellington City Council Archives, 00138-1722

Howe plot PUBLIC2 Plot number 3 H, Karori Cemetery. Courtesy of FindaGrave