The land on which this building sits on the northwest corner of Juniata and Erie Streets was originally part of the large Bernard Mitchell (1846-1883) tract or farm that included the land west of Route 40 at Camilla Street. The latter street was named for Bernard Mitchell’s daughter, Camilla Mitchell. She and Mitchell’s other heirs sold this portion of land at Juniata Street to Annie Marshall of Philadelphia after the 1883 death of Bernard Mitchell (his wife, Elizabeth, had died in 1859). Annie Marshall and her husband, James, sold it in 1907 to Lillie Kate Wileman (1864-1941), wife of Joseph H. Wileman (1864-1949). The Wilemans most likely built this house.

As can be seen in one old photo (taken around 1910-1912), the building became a grocery store called “Wileman,” or “Uncle Joe’s,” with living quarters on the second floor. Uncle Joe, who ran the store, was Joseph Wileman who had married Lillie Kate in 1887. Joseph also served the City as Bailiff from 1914 to 1916. He was the son of Thomas William Wileman, Sr. (1820-1870) and Ann Wileman who had immigrated to the U.S. with their whole family, including Joseph. The elder Wilemans both died in Havre de Grace.

Lillie Wileman was the great-aunt of William “River Rat” Schweers of Otsego Street (and now living in Germany). The man holding the large oar in the old photo is the great-great grandfather of William Schweers. He is John Crawford Walker (1829-1915), a Civil War veteran with the 2nd and later the 6th Maryland Volunteer Infantry Division. William proudly has a copy of Walker’s Discharge document from the Civil War dated June 30, 1865. John Walker’s wife was Mary Francis Sutor Walker (1842-1899), daughter of Nicholas Sutor, the Lighthouse Keeper at the U.S. Fish Battery, south of the Susquehanna Flats. Another photo shows Joseph and Lillie Wileman on their 50th wedding anniversary.

This building was bought in 1925 by Francesco (Frank) J. and Ida Cianelli, when they made it the “Villa Roma,” a popular bar and restaurant. The building is still known by the sign “Villa Roma” hanging from the porch outside it. In the early 1900s, a lot of Italians lived in this three- to four-block area, fondly called “Little Italy.” Names such as Leonardi, Tarquini, Gatto, Bernardi, Lanquis, DiMauro, Reginaldi, and Vincenti were common.

The Cianellis ran the Villa Roma for decades prior to retiring to Florida in the 1970s. Although they also lived in the building at first, they later moved to Chesapeake Drive, while continuing to operate the bar and restaurant. When they moved to Florida, they converted the property into four rental apartments. It was sold by Frank’s estate in 1992, Ida having predeceased him in 1987. Frank and Ida Cianelli also owned the small house on the southwest corner of Juniata and Erie Streets—800 Erie Street.

This property was bought by Clement W. Carson in 1992 but he passed away just eight years later. It was then sold to Candice A. and Robert B. Bossoli who now rent out the four units in the Villa Roma while they live in a house that, coincidentally, was also built on land formerly on the Bernard Mitchell farm.

County Records
Built 1911. 2128 sq ft, 2 stories with basement, 4 baths, 8,800 sq ft lot, detached garage