173 Woodland Avenue
Hanna House

Lot 1 and 1/2 Lot 2 Watson and Ryan's Subdivision

The Hannas bought this property from David Watson and Daniel Ryan on November 4, 1904 for $4,860, plus unpaid assessments (and interest) for the improvement of Woodland Avenue in the amount of $572.06.

This house was probably completed in 1907.

Walter Scott Hanna was born in September 12, 1857 in Appleton, Wisconsin, son of Thomas and Mary J. Dixon Hanna. He married Jane Wood in Cuyahoga County on May 18, 1887. Jane was born June 1, 1867, daughter of Stephen Wood. They had four children: Stephen (June 1888), Geraldine Mary (October 9, 1891), Adelaide Margaret (January 1896 - 1968) and Walter Scott, Jr. (September 20, 1898 -  December 5, 1974).

The Hanna brothers, James and Walter made Columbus a renowned paint center in their heyday. In 1880 Walter and James lived with their parents in Cleveland. James B. Hanna was President of the Hanna Paint Manufacturing Company founded in Columbus in 1888 as Hanna and Abbott (Orr, Hanna and Abbot). In 1894 Walter Hanna was Secretary and Treasurer of The Columbus Varnish Company. In 1900 they lived at 40 North Monroe Avenue. In 1905 Walter was then President and Treasurer of Columbus Varnish.

The Columbus Varnish Company manufactured a complete line of automobile paints, Peerless Color Finishes, as well as specialty paint products for upholstery, tops, body refinishing and preservation.

Adelaide was married at the house. The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 4, 1920 reported that, "Monday, April 19 is the date announced for the marriage of Miss Margaret Adelaide Hanna to Mr. Kenneth Downs Gilfillan, 1170 Bryden road. The ceremony will be performed In the evening at the home of the bride-elect's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter S. Hanna, 173 Woodland avenue."

Walter died November 3, 1928. Jane died October 18, 1939. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

Jane sold the house on May 8, 1929 to the Harrises.

Fred J. Harris was born on November 14, 1872 in Ohio, son of William H. and Frances Johnson Harris. He married Edith Chrisman on March 14, 1895 in Knox County, Ohio. Edith was born June 7, 1876 in Centerburg, Ohio, daughter of Harvey and Sarah Jeager Harris. They had a daughter, Pearl Elizabeth (November 12, 1896).

In 1910 the Harrises lived in Wayne Township, Knox County and Fred was proprietor of a hardware store. In 1916, Fred purchased a half interest in the Vine Theater in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. In 1920 they lived in Mt. Vernon and Fred was an automobile salesman. In 1922 he owned the Ford garage in Mt. Vernon. The family moved to Columbus in 1929 when they purchased this house.

Pearl was in real estate in 1940 and lived at the house alone with one live-in maid. On October 10, 1945, Pearl married her neighbor, the widowed Paul Luther Weaver who lived at 214 Woodland Avenue. Paul was born May 17, 1891 in Jersey, Licking County, the son of George C. and Alice Swingle Weaver. He was President of The States Coal Company. He died December 10, 1974.

Edith died April 18, 1934. Fred died August 16, 1936. They are are interred in a mausoleum at Mound View Cemetery in Knox County. Pearl died in Mt. Vernon on January 31, 1981.

Pearl sold the house on September 3, 1948 to Margaret M. McKenzie. She and Paul moved to Upper Arlington.

Margaret M. Treiber was born August 5, 1886 in Cumberland, Maryland, daughter of Charles Edward and Mary E. Treiber. She married Sanford Ervin McKenzie. Sanford was born October 28, 1891 in Cumberland, son of Samuel Grant and Caroline Jenkins McKenzie.

In 1910 Margaret was living with her parents in Cumberland, Maryland at 323 Maryland Avenue. In 1930 the McKenzies lived at the same house. Sanford was a conductor on the Baltmore & Ohio railroad. In 1948 the McKenzies were separated, perhaps divorced. Sanford lived at 606 Maryland Avenue in Cumberland and Margaret was living Ohio. Sanford died July 11, 1948 at Allegany Hospital of cirrhosis of the liver. He is buried at Greenmount Cemetery in Cumberland.

Margaret was living in Columbus as early as 1940. She rented a house at 369 Wilson Avenue, worked as a seamstress and had two lodgers. In September 1945 she purchased 57 Winner Avenue, a home she sold on December 6, 1949.

In 1948, Margaret bought 173 Woodland Avenue and established the Mollie Treiber Rest Home, also called the Mollie Treiber Home for the Aged. Apparently named for Margaret's great aunt, Mary "Mollie" Treiber (born about 1858 - at least 1941, daughter of Michael and Emily Louisa Reith Treiber) of Cumberland Maryland.

On June 14, 1949 Margaret bought 163 Woodland Avenue. She sold that house on May 27, 1955. In 1955 she lived at 1640 Bryden Rd.

On May 13, 1952 she bought 34 Woodland Avenue. She sold it less than a year later on March 27, 1953. 

She married the (widowed?) Dana Clifton Thompson between 1955 and 1958. Dana Clifton Thompson was born April 5, 1890 in New Dover, Ohio. Dana was a janitor at Battelle Memorial Institute. (1940 census married, but living alone at 683 whittier st., 1942 lived 993 Bryden Rd.) In 1949 Dana lived at 173 Woodland Avenue.

Margaret sold 173 Woodland Avenue on March 25, 1958 to Delores Stone.

In 1970, Margaret and Dana lived at 1346 Bryden Road, a house they purchased March 28, 1961.

Margaret died December 13, 1970. Dana died March 1, 1973.

THOMAS BENTON REED, 16, 173 WOODLAND AVE, IS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING FIVE FOURFOOT HOLIDAY DISPLAY CANDLES AND ABOUT 10 STRANDS OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 
Publication: Columbus Dispatch     Date: Monday, December 20, 1965    Page: 28 B 


CHARGES OF DELINQUENCY FOR VANDALISM AND THEFT ARE FILED AGAINST THOMAS BENTON REED, 16, 173 WOODLAND AVE, IN JUVENILE COURT 
Publication: Columbus Dispatch     Date: Tuesday, December 21, 1965    Page: 8 A 

The home continued to be a nursing home under different names including Tiffany's Residential Care and
Juanita's 1 LLC.

173 Woodland Avenue, March 2010

Columbus Varnish Company Peerless Tire Paint

1916 Columbus Varnish Company ad

The Columbus Varnish Company, 1894 - 1929, 257 Cozzens Avenue, circa 1919.