Old Warner Homestead Is Sold for $15,000

 Register-Leader, December 14, 1918

J. D. Dinsmoor, Oil Man, Buys Stately Residence Here for His Daughter

A contract for the sale of the old Warner homestead was executed Friday afternoon, whereby J. C. Dinsmoor, wealthy oil producer of Williamstown, purchased the property for his daughter, Mrs. D. B. Berlin, of North Dakota, who before her marriage was Cora Dinsmoor, and who with her family will occupy the residence, which is one of the finest in the city. Mr. and Mrs. Berlin, who have come here from North Dakota to locate, will occupy the property about the first of March, at which time it will be vacated by the Okey family, Mrs. David Okey being one of the Warner heirs from whom the property was purchased. Mr. Dinsmoor paid $15,000 for the property.

The Warner home was built and moved into by General Warner [Adoniram Judson Warner] in 1873. The property has some historical interest from the fact that during his residence there of about fifteen years, Gen. Warner was prominent in politics in the state and country. It was while living in the homestead that he served three terms in Congress and at the same time was engaged in the discussion of political and economic questions.

Many Distinguished Guests

During the occupancy of the property by General and Mrs. Warner a number of prominent men of the state and country made the house their headquarters from time to time on their visits to Marietta, sometimes as long as a week at a time. Among these distinguished guests at the Warner home was Judge Alphonso Taft of Cincinnati, father of the former President, William H. Taft, who visited with General Warner in company with his son, William P. Judge Taft was here campaigning at the time and remained for a week at the Warner home.

Another prominent visitor at the Warner home was Cyrus W. Field of New York, the promoter of the Atlantic cable, who was interested with General Warner in some coal lands and railroad lines. Judge Stanley Matthews of Cincinnati was also a frequent visitor at the Warner home. Senator Allen Thurman of Columbus was another celebrated guest. Several speakers at the Centennial in Marietta made the Warner home their headquarters during the celebration, among these being Randolph Tucker.

Gen. Warner, the original owner of the property was in the Civil War and an officer in the 10th Pennsylvania Reserves. He was severely wounded in the Battle of Antietam, also afterwards was injured in Gettysburg battle by a fall off his horse.

This deal will recall to the minds of many of the older residents the activity of General Warner. He built the Cleveland and Marietta Railroad and was responsible for the line and the success of the enterprise was due largely to his energy and activity.

The Warner homestead is a brick building and is one of the best constructed homes in Marietta. The site on which it is located contains about four acres. It is located in about the center of the population of the city.

Extensive changes were made to the Warner home on Butler StreetM by its new owners, including having the brick walls covered with stucco. When Marietta College acquired it in 1929, renowned architect J. Fredrick Larson redesigned and enlarged the structure to serve as a women's dormitory. It was named for Dorothy Webster Mills (1810-1894), who had come to Marietta from Massachusetts in 1835 as a teacher in the Marietta Female Seminary.