254 Woodland Avenue
Dean House

Part of lot 5 of Nelson's Heirs
​
Frank Dean purchased this land from Hannah M. Taylor in March 1909 and had a new home built by 1910. Prior to living here, the Deans lived at 698 Neil Avenue. 

Frank L. Dean was born December 19, 1865 in New York, son of Harrison S. and Nancy M. Dean. He married Eva L. Hadcock in about 1892. Eva was born February 7, 1871 in Watertown, New York, daughter of Joseph and Eliza Jane Brainard Hadcock.

As early as 1892, Dean was manager of the F.M. Kirby Company in Columbus, which after a 1912 merger was part of the F.W. Woolworth five-and-dime chain. His hometown of Watertown, New York was the birthplace of both Kirby's and Woolworth's five-and-dime stores.

Dean's business must have been very profitable, as he owned two automobiles in 1912. In 1920, the Deans employed three live-in servants, Mrs. Bella Venaman, Elisha and Florence Sanders.

The Deans sold the house on October 18, 1921 to Warren B. Ferris. They then moved to the Seneca Hotel and later an apartment at 926 East Broad Street. 

Frank died February 3, 1937 when as a pedestrian, he was struck by an automobile at East Broad Street and 18th, suffering a skull fracture. Eva died on July 28, 1941. The Deans are buried at Brookside Cemetery in Watertown, New York.

​Warren Bigelow Ferris was born June 23, 1879 in Marysville, Ohio, son of Frank Charles and Emma Beach Bigelow Ferris. He married Edna H. Walton in Franklin county on June 14, 1899. Edna was born September 22, 1881 in Columbus, daughter of Lucius and Adelaide Keefer Walton.​They had a two children, Zelman F. (1903-1974) and Warrenette Edna (1915-1971).

In 1917, Ferris was President of The Warren B. Ferris Brick Company. The family lived at 1216 Fair Avenue. Ferris was also founder of the Continental Clay Company. In 1930, Ferris was a broker in stocks and investments and the family lived at 131 Franklin Park West. Ferris had a number of patents to his name including one for a rocket!

Warren died February 15, 1951. Edna died January 10, 1956. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. 

Dr. Edward C. and Harriet O. Buck purchased the house on May 4, 1925 and sold the house to the Beattys on September 26, 1925. 

James Means Beatty was born November 2, 1876 in Steubenville, Ohio, son of Robert J. and Sarah (Sallie) Means Beatty. He married Florence M. Chandler in Steubenville on November 19, 1902. Florence was born August 7, 1879 in Steubenville, daughter of Encebins C. and Rose Porter Chandler. They had a son Robert James (January 2, 1904 - April 28, 1951).

Prior to moving here, the Beattys lived at 36 North Monroe Avenue. Beatty was Secretary and later President of the Federal Glass Company. The Beatty family had a history in glassmaking that went back to 1845 in Steubenville, Ohio. In 1900 the Federal Glass Company was incorporated in West Virginia and in June of that year the construction of a new glass plant was started in Columbus. The plant rapidly expanded and the firm was reincorporated in Ohio in 1904. 

James' son, Robert James Beatty, who was also an officer of Federal Glass, lived at 1618 Granville Street and later at 282 Woodland Avenue. 

James died of pneumonia at home on November 23, 1937 and was interred at Greenlawn Cemetery, but removed to Glendale,California on December 6, 1937. Florence died in February 1978. 

On March 24, 1954, Procoop, Inc. (aka Pro-coop,Inc.) purchased the property from Florence Beatty. They would later acquire the adjacent home at 264 Woodland Avenue.

​Pro-Coop (aka Procoop) was a corporation registered in Ohio on November 2, 1953 by three physicians: John D. White, Ernest Manley Newkirk and Watson H. Walker. 

Woodland Medical Pharmacy opened at this address in July 1959, a business owned by Ernest Washington. 

The Columbus Dispatch reported November 28, 1977, that a fire caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to the Woodland Medical Arts Center at 254 Woodland Avenue. 

In 1993 the Columbus Black Pages, a minority business directory listed the office of accountant D.C. Shephard at 254 Woodland Avenue.

Warren B. Ferris

James Means Beatty, circa 1924

Florence Chandler Beatty, circa 1924

The Ohio Sentinel, July 11, 1959

1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map showing 254 and 264 Woodland Avenue.