The Home of Ernest A. Wright, Jr.
- Yen Ho
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
A small colonial home that stood in the upper part of Whitpain Township was not much recognized compared to the homes that stood on Skippack Pike. But the person who occupied this home caught my attention into writing about this. Who was the lucky person who lived in this humble home?
The E.A. Wright Bank Note Company
In 1931, Ernest A. Wright, Jr. (1879-1965) purchased a property in Whitpain where he made improvements to the old property. He was the son of Ernest A. Wright, Sr. (1851-1912), an engraver from Philadelphia.
Originally from England, Ernest, Sr. left his family for New York City at the age of 15 where he was apprenticed in the engraving trade. After his apprenticeship, he went to Philadelphia where he began his engraving business at 919 Chestnut Street in 1872. At first his business was slow, but it wasn't until a famous Philadelphia artist and engraver John Sartain discovered his work, and purchased the rights to use his engraving for his own personal cards. Little did Ernest know that John Sartain was the general manager of the art department of the Centennial Exposition. Ernest was awarded a gold medal for his engraving at the Centennial Exposition.
After the exposition, Ernest's business grew exponentially. This lead to him moving to a bigger building and hiring more than 300 employees. In 1906, his company was charted as the "E.A. Wright Bank Note Company."
After his death, his sons Ernest, Jr. and Joseph took over their father's company, with Joseph as vice-president, and Ernest, Jr. as secretary and treasurer. Before his father's death, Ernest, Jr. was the "active directing head" of the company.
The company continued to expand itself, and in 1913, they began a project to locate on North Broad Street.
"The E.A. Wright Bank Note Company at 2527–37 North Broad Street in North Philadelphia is a significant historic resource that exemplifies the cultural, economic, social, and historical heritage of the printing and engraving industry in Philadelphia. In 1913, the company commissioned a local firm, William Steele & Sons Company, to design and construct their six story, reinforced-concrete plant during a period of great success for the firm. 2527–37 North Broad Street was constructed during the formative period of reinforced-concrete construction that would in time dominate American industrial landscapes in the twentieth century."
- Philadelphia Register of Historic Places
Architecture
According to the PA Historical Resource Survey Form, the home, the barn, and the springhouse on the property were built around the 1710s and 20s. The property was originally owned by Owen and Evan Thomas, and their names were found on the date stone on the barn.
Before the home was covered in stucco, the home was built of stone with 9 x 9 sash windows on the ground floor and 6 x 6 sash windows on the second floor. Like any colonial home, two chimneys are located on both ends of the homes.
The porch at the front of the home wasn't placed until some time during the 19th century when porches became popular.
Bibliography
Beisert, Oscar. "Nomination to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places The E.A. Wright Bank Note Company, 2527–37 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. January 26, 2019. https://www.phila.gov/media/20191120101005/2527-37-N-Broad-St-nomination.pdf.
Franklin Survey Company. Atlas: Montgomery County 1935 Vol B, Plate 8, 1935.
Mueller, A. H. Atlas of the North Penn Section of Montgomery County, Pa., Plate 29, 1916.
Scott, J. D. Montgomery County 1877, Whitpain, Rahn Sta., Grater's Ford, 1877.
"Whitpain... Crossroads in Time." Wissahickon Valley Historical Society. Accessed April 13, 2025. https://www.wvalleyhs.org/whitpain-crossroads-in-time/.
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