1640 East Broad Street

1640 East Broad Street
Werner House

Note: Some of the information about the Werner house included here was initially sourced from the Facebook page, "The Woodland Manor," which included a history and photos of the home. This history seems to have been removed from the Facebook page, but has since been discovered as part of an ebook, Isaiah Vorys (1750-1834) of the Van Voorhees Family, by Dr. Frank Davis, 2013.

Lots 1 and 2 of John Stone's Broad Street and Woodland Avenue Subdivision

Henry Conrad Werner was born in Zanesville on March 30, 1854, son of Hartman and Ann Marie Jockers Werner.He married Ottilie Gaenselen in Cuyahoga County on March 16, 1886. Ottilie was born November 7, 1864 in Cleveland, daughter of Philip and Agnes Seidel Gaenselen. They had three daughters: Helen Ottilie (February 1887), Louise Margarite (July 25, 1891) and Adaline Agnes (December 13, 1893 - May 18, 1952).

Henry's father was a boot and shoe dealer and wholesaler in Zanesville. Henry moved to Columbus in 1895. The Boot and Shoe Recorder, a trade journal, of September 22, 1897 says, "Wm. Werner, of Zanesville, Ohio, is in town. Mr. Werner is doing a fine business at his retail store, and at his jobbing establishment also. He is one of a family of four brothers, all in the shoe trade. Henry C. Werner, formerly connected with him in Zanesville, being now in the jobbing business at Columbus, Ohio; Fred Werner, who traveled South for many years, is now in Europe making arrangements for exporting American shoes, and the younger brother, whose name I have forgotten, was formerly in the retail business in Canton, Ohio..."

In 1898 and until this home was completed in about 1914, the Werners lived at the Great Southern Hotel. Henry was President of The Henry C. Werner Company (wholesale shoes) and Vice President of the First National Bank.

Werner hired architects Howard, Inscho and Merriman to design the house and construction began in 1908. The style has been referred to as Chataquaesque or French Opera. The house took seven years to complete. The same architects also designed a home for Joseph Ralston of the Ralston Steel Car Company.

"The projecting center entrance features an elaborate metal and glass awning. Stylistic features also include decorative brick segmental arches around the windows and flat arches with keystones, tile bell cast hip roof with projecting eaves and dormers."

"Inside there is a center hall with winding staircase, a third floor ballroom and stained glass windows. There is a carriage house in the back built in the same style."

"The house was pictured in the Columbus Dispatch in 1908, as “another handsome home for Broad Street”, and part of the book “Columbus as a Convention City” published in 1915."

Adeline married Webb Isaiah Vorys on April 27, 1918 at the house. "The front vestibule was tuned into an altar, and the bridal party descended the staircase as part of the ceremony. The groom and his brothers were in uniform as one hundred fifty guests attended." Adeline and Webb lived at 63 Parkwood Avenue.

Henry died in Dresden, Germany on November 14, 1926, his funeral was held in the grand center hall of the house. Ottilie died January 25, 1934. They are buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland.

In 1941 Margarite sold the house to Frank Barrow and she moved to Sessions Village.

Dr. Davis wrote that after the Barrows purchased the house, they subdivided it, turning it into a rooming house, remodeling and adding rooms, renovating the kitchen and removing the original servants' staircase.

Francis "Frank" Barrow was born September 16, 1884, son of Alphonso and Strauzil Marion Barrow. He married Norma Bellis in Franklin County on December 5, 1907. Norma was born February 15, 1888 in Columbus, daughter of Thomas D. and Zerinah Herrick Bellis. They had two children: Charles Francis (April 16, 1909 - April 10, 1946) and Ruth Jane (1915).

Frank was a candy distributor and wholesaler, the owner of the Frank Barrow Candy Company. In 1908 he lived at 262 Engler Street and his occupation was candy maker. In 1918 he was a cook at the Deshler Hotel, and the Barrows lived at 47 North Warren Avenue. By 1922, Frank was in business for himself at 458 South Fifth Street. The business had moved to 147 East Mound Street by 1926, and in 1929 the Barrows lived at 521 Eastmoor Boulevard, their last home before moving to 1640 East Broad Street.

Their son Charles committed suicide in 1946, at his home at 605 Maplewood Drive, with an overdose of nembutal (phenobarbital poisoning). Charles had worked in his father's business and married Dorothy Rose in Franklin County on March 7, 1934. He is buried at Union Cemetery.
Barrow also had a branch of his wholesale business in Dayton, which he closed in 1952. When asked by a reported why he was closing the business in Dayton, he replied, "You'd better write and ask Mr. Truman that." and added, "you can't operate without a profit."

Frank died in Columbus on July 21, 1967. Norma died March 23, 1982 in Scottsdale, Arizona. They are buried at Union Cemetery.

William and Mary Brooks purchased the house from Norma Barrow on June 22, 1973.

William H. Brooks was born January 12, 1912 in Ohio, son of Oberlin Gates and Helen S. Reid Brooks. He married Mary A. Adams about July 1958 in Washington, D.C. Mary was born August 2, 1928 in Harlan, Kentucky, daughter of Eugene and Agnes Merrian Adams. They had two sons, William H., Jr. "Bill-Bill" (1959 -1978), and Brian A.

Brooks was the first African American on the municipal court. He also served as Deputy Franklin County Auditor, Assistant Attorney General, Chairman of the Columbus Civil Service Commission, and Director of Public Utilities for the City of Columbus. Brooks was also President of the Ohio Conference and Columbus Branch of the NAACP.

Mary was a police officer in the Juvenile Bureau of the Columbus Police Department for 28 years, her passion was mentoring children and counseling troubled teenagers.
She also served as the president of the Rinkydinks Social Club and was an appointed member of the Columbus Fashion Advisory Board. Renowned for her fashion sense and flair for style, Mary regarded the world as her runway. She was recognized by Ebony Magazine in 1964 as one of the Best Dressed Women in the United States.

Brooks died December 16, 1990 in Columbus. Mary died December 23, 2014 at Kobacker House in Columbus. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.