307 Parkwood Avenue
Hewitt House

Lots 62 and Part 61 Smith's Woodland Park Addition.

Adam H. and Catherine B. McAlpin(e) bought lot 62 and half of lot 61 from the Smiths on September 14, 1904 for $1,500.They sold the property to Nicholas A. and Mary J. Court on May 11, 1907 for $1,900.

The Hewitts purchased the lot on February 10, 1920 from the Courts. They built two homes in 1920 and sold the house at 311 Parkwood Avenue to the Querinjeans on May 26, 1921. The garage was completed in 1922. 

Charles Roy Hewitt was born December 30, 1879 in Sublette, Illinois, son of George Franklin and Martha Ernestine Thompson Hewitt. He married Grace Hattersley in Chicago on April 20, 1904. Grace was born January 9, 1881 in St. Joseph, Michigan, daughter of Martin and Oneita West Hattersley. They had a daughter, Margaret Oneita (April 4, 1908 - August 1986).

In 1916 the Hewitts lived at 1500 Menlo Place. Charles was a district manager and traveling salesman for A.C. McClurg & Co. with an office on Long Street. A.C. McClurg was a Chicago based publisher made famous by their original publishing of the Tarzan of the Apes novels and other stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

An item in the American Stationer and Office Manager from December 30, 1922 says, "Mr. C.R. Hewitt, who for the past fifteen years has represented A.C. McClurg & Co., of Chicago in Ohio and West Virginia, and managed their permanent salesroom at Columbus, O., has resigned to accept a position with the Reynolds & Reynolds Co. of Dayton, O. Mr. Hewitt will cover the states of Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky with the well-known products of Reynolds & Reynolds Co. His headquarters will remain in Columbus." Reynolds & Reynolds was a producer of business forms.

Oneita attended the Columbus School for Girls.

​In 1930 the Hewitts lived at 1631 Clifton Avenue. Charles was the general manager of the Columbus School Supply Company.

By 1935 the Hewitts were living at 1146 Northwest Boulevard in Grandview Heights.

Obituary from the (Prescott, Arizona) Courier, April 13, 1970, "Mr. Charles Roy Hewitt born December 30, 1879 in Sublette, Ill., passed away April 9 in a local nursing home. 
A retired salesman by occupation, he came to Prescott in December 1969 from Saugatuck, Mich. Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Walter Hall of Prescott and a sister out of state..."

Grace Hewitt died March 20, 1935. Roy died April 9, 1970. They are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Saugatuck, Michigan.

The Hewitts sold the house to the Clarks on September 27, 1927.   

Dr. Charles Franklin Clark was born August 26, 1855 in Zanesville, Ohio, son of Samuel Clark. His second marriage was to Mary Anderson Olds on May 18, 1927 in Covington, Kentucky. Mary was born July 6, 1869 in Circleville, Ohio, daughter of Joseph H. and Mary "Minnie" Anderson Olds. Charles had a daughter from his first marriage (1887) to Phebe Lord Rodgers, Margaret Andrews (March 10, 1899).

Charles was an ophthalmologist. For many years he lived at 520 East Town Street. 

Charles died April 22, 1931. He is buried in Zanesville, Ohio. Mary died December 23, 1948.

In 1938 and 1939, Mary's nephew, William Marshall A. Olds lived at the house. He was the son of Joseph Olds and born about 1916. 

In 1934, Mary's sister Eleanor, her husband Meldrum Gray and their two sons, Joseph O. and William lived at 236 Parkwood Avenue. In 1940, Mary's younger sister, Effie Olds (1875) lived with them.

As early as 1945, Effie was living with Mary at 307 Parkwood. 

After Charles' death, Mary held a life estate in the house. After her death, the house was transferred to Mary's sister, Eleanor Olds Gray on April 1, 1949. She sold it on April 12, 1949 to William W. Wheaton.

William W. Wheaton

In 1945, Wheaton was special department superintendent of the State Department of Commerce Liquidation Bureau. In 1956, Wheaton was president of the Galbreath Mortgage Company. 

Wheaton sold the house on January 17, 1951 to the Cromwells. 

John Robert Cromwell was born December 15, 1907 in Rendville, Ohio, son of John G. and Maude Moore Cromwell. His second wife was Robbie Bavania Palmer. They married in Franklin County on April 30, 1943. Robbie was born February 25, 1923 in Paducah, Kentucky, daughter of August and Josie Freeman Palmer. They had two children, James Robert (February 15, 1944 - September 26, 1992) and Ann Renée (October 1948).

Robert was an assembler at North American Aviation in the 40s and 50s. Robbie's mother, Josie Palmer lived with them in 1951.

Robert died January 8, 1983. ​Robbie died March 9, 2016. They are buried at Glen Rest Memorial Estate. 

An obituary for Robbie, "Robbie Bavania (Palmer) Cromwell was born on November 5, 1923 to August and Josie (Freeman) Palmer. Her journey came to an end Wednesday morning, March 9, 2016 at Mount Carmel East Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Robbie was a long standing member of Saint Dominic Parish...(she) attended Columbus Schools, The Ohio State University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Ohio University Columbus Branch.

Robbie’s working career started at Palmer’s Fish Market on Mt. Vernon Avenue, North American Rockwell, DCSC and Auditor with the Federal Government where she retired. Throughout Robbie’s life she was active in many civic and social organizations: The Elegants, The National Epicureans, National City of Hope (Lifetime Member), Urban League Guild (pass president) and The Birthday Brunch Club.

Robbie was preceded in death by her parents, August and Josie (Freeman) Palmer, husband John Robert Cromwell, son, James Robert Cromwell, PHD, son-in-law John Wesley Nesbitt. She leaves to cherish her memories daughter, Ann Renée Nesbitt (David Ransom), grandson, Jon W. Nesbitt, great-grandson, Jon W. Nesbitt, Jr., great great-granddaughter, Layla High Nesbitt. Special friends, Karmene Reed, Janie Thompson, Delilah Radford, Cynthia Johnson, Yolona Williams, Delores Williams, Michelle Ransom and special thanks to Tina and Lamont Ransom and The Ransom Family, Lenora Henderson and cousin, Donald Glen; cousins, Perry Freeman and Vernice Freeman of Paris, TN and Sevenia Davis of Chicago, IL; Special Friend, Gordon Wilkes of New York City, NY and Janis Hull".

On June 16, 2016 the house was transferred to the Cromwell's daughter, Ann Renée Nesbitt.

307 Parkwood Avenue, March 2010

Dr. Charles F. Clark, circa 1924

Mary Anderson Olds Clark, circa 1915

Mary Anderson Olds Clark, circa 1921

Robbie Palmer Cromwell