Davis-Warner House
Encyclopedia
Davis-Warner House is a historic home located at 8114 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park
, Montgomery County, Maryland
. It is a large, three story frame Stick Style residence constructed about 1875. It is one of the oldest residences in Takoma Park, and one of the only surviving Eastlake Stick Style examples left in the Washington D.C., area. It was built by John B. and Vorlinda Davis, who also operated a small store on nearby University Boulevard (then called "Old Bladensburg Road." In the early 20th century it was used as a gambling hall and speakeasy, then from 1940 until 1987, it housed the private "Cynthia Warner School," serving the educational needs of thousands of children of Takoma Park families from elementary through the high school level. In 1987 the property was purchased by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church began demolition of the building, but in 1991, Mark and Kira Davis purchased a half-acre section of the plot from the Church, and moved the house 150 meters to a new foundation, out of the way of the Church's construction plans, to preserve it from demolition.
The Davis family restored the building as a residence. Kira Davis operated her business "PaperFaces" from the location (an art studio and customized paper doll business), and Mark Davis operated an international trade law firm Davis & Leiman PC from the premises as well. In 1997 the Davises sold the property to Douglas A. Harbit and Robert F. Patenaude, who operated a bed and breakfast called The Davis-Warner Inn. They also qualified the property for registry with the National Register of Historic Places, and ceded development rights to the property in perpetuity to Historic Takoma, a local historic preservation society. Harbit and Patenaude coined the name "Davis-Warner House" to honor the Davis family that originally built the house, the Davis family that moved and restored the house, and Cynthia Warner, who operated the private school for much of the 20th century.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2001.
The Davis-Warner Inn closed in 2006, and in 2010 the building was purchased out of foreclosure by the Catholic Missionaries of Charity, who repainted it Marian blue and operate it as a convent.
Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
, Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. It is a large, three story frame Stick Style residence constructed about 1875. It is one of the oldest residences in Takoma Park, and one of the only surviving Eastlake Stick Style examples left in the Washington D.C., area. It was built by John B. and Vorlinda Davis, who also operated a small store on nearby University Boulevard (then called "Old Bladensburg Road." In the early 20th century it was used as a gambling hall and speakeasy, then from 1940 until 1987, it housed the private "Cynthia Warner School," serving the educational needs of thousands of children of Takoma Park families from elementary through the high school level. In 1987 the property was purchased by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church began demolition of the building, but in 1991, Mark and Kira Davis purchased a half-acre section of the plot from the Church, and moved the house 150 meters to a new foundation, out of the way of the Church's construction plans, to preserve it from demolition.
The Davis family restored the building as a residence. Kira Davis operated her business "PaperFaces" from the location (an art studio and customized paper doll business), and Mark Davis operated an international trade law firm Davis & Leiman PC from the premises as well. In 1997 the Davises sold the property to Douglas A. Harbit and Robert F. Patenaude, who operated a bed and breakfast called The Davis-Warner Inn. They also qualified the property for registry with the National Register of Historic Places, and ceded development rights to the property in perpetuity to Historic Takoma, a local historic preservation society. Harbit and Patenaude coined the name "Davis-Warner House" to honor the Davis family that originally built the house, the Davis family that moved and restored the house, and Cynthia Warner, who operated the private school for much of the 20th century.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2001.
The Davis-Warner Inn closed in 2006, and in 2010 the building was purchased out of foreclosure by the Catholic Missionaries of Charity, who repainted it Marian blue and operate it as a convent.
External links
- Davis-Warner House, Montgomery County, Inventory No.: M: 37-18, including photo in 1999, at Maryland Historical Trust website