71 Woodland Avenue
Armstrong House

All of lot 17 and part of 18, Calender and Rockwell's Subdivision

This house was designed by architects Stribling and Lum and built about 1905.

Almer Corey Armstrong was born September 19, 1862 in Indian Hill, Ohio, son of Hamilton and Ipatiah Corey Armstrong. He married Julia P. Cole in Cuyahoga County, Ohio on September 13, 1888. Julia was born about 1870 in Ohio. They had four children: one was born and died on August 10, 1891, Donald Cole (March 16, 1893 - May 16, 1893) and two daughters, Mildred (1890) and Ruth (1896).

The 1900 City Directory lists the Armstrongs living at 809 Franklin Avenue. Almer was Secretary of the James Ohlen and Sons Saw Manufacturing Company and an official court stenographer.

In the 1906 City Directory the Armstrongs are listed at 71 Woodland Avenue. In the 1910 Census, Almer was listed as court stenographer.

Almer died at home on December 12, 1932. His obituary states, "A. C. Armstrong, Aged 70, Succumbs - Official Court Stenographer Dies Following Heart Attack - Almer C. Armstrong, aged 70, member of the firm of Armstrong and Okey, official court stenographer, died unexpectedly at his home, 71 Woodland avenue, Monday morning, following a heart attack. He had complained of illness while at his office, Saturday morning.

"Coming to Columbus from Wilmington when a youth of 19 years, Armstrong was appointed official stenographer of the county common pleas court in 1890. Ten years later he and Hazard Okey formed the partnership of Armstrong and Okey. He had served as secretary-treasurer of the Ohio Finance Co. since its organization.

Surviving him are his wife, Mrs. Julia C. Armstrong; two daughters, Mrs. Mildred Armstrong Raynolds, Akron, and Mrs. Ruth Armstrong Blue, Canton, and a brother who resides in Indiana."

Almer is interred at Greenlawn Abbey.

On August 6, 1934, Frances T. Gwinn took title to the house. Not to be confused with Frances Louise Gwinn, daughter of Othniel Gwinn. The two Frances were sisters-in-law.

Clarence Eugene Gwinn was born April 26, 1897 in West Virginia, son of Othniel and Ella Brown Gwinn. He married the divorced Frances E. Tanian about 1922. Frances was born in September 21, 1897 in Columbus, daughter of Joseph J. and Margaret E. "Maggie" Hogan Tanian.

In 1900 the Tanians lived at 217 East Broad Street, Joseph Tanian was a grocer, his son Edward later succeeded him in the business.Frances had married George B. Schwartz in Franklin County on April 27, 1917.

In 1923, the newlywed Gwinns lived at 1731 East Long Street. Clarence was Secretary-Treasurer of the Gwinn Milling Company.

Clarence died January 6, 1966 and is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

On July 2, 1940 the Gwinns sold the house to the Fishers.

Dr. Herbert Henry Fisher was born March 16, 1878 in Columbus, son of Lawrence W. and Mary E.  Schreiner Fisher. He married Rose Genevieve Merkel in Ross County, Ohio on September 14, 1899. Rose was born February 23, 1879 in Chillicothe, Ohio, daughter of Henry and Georgia Cummings Merkle.

Herbert served as an Army Captain in Word War I. In 1930 the Fishers lived at 135 South Garfield Avenue. Herbert's occupation is listed in the 1930 Census as general practice physician.

Just before purchasing this house, the Fishers lived at 1089 East Broad Street.

Herbert died October 26, 1952 and is buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Rose probably died in Columbus on January 15, 1965.

On May 9, 1952, David D. and Eva D. Thompson bought the house. They were the first African American owners.

David D. Thompson, Sr. was born September 17, 1914 in Tennessee. He married Helen Hill about 1932. Helen was born about 1918 in Ohio. They had a son, David, Jr. (1935).

In 1940 the Thompsons lived at 393 Eldridge Avenue. David was a janitor at an office building.

David died in Columbus on May 28, 2005.

On November 18, 1958, Harold O. and Josephine Root bought the house.

Harold O. Root was born September 4, 1904 in Canal Winchester, Ohio, son of Samuel Albert and Laura Alberta Nicodemus Root. He married Mary Johnson in Franklin County on October 28, 1926.

Mary was born March 4, 1905 in Groveport, Ohio, daughter of Albert and Alice Mourie Johnson. They had four children: David Harold (April 21, 1928-May 19, 1929), Doris J. (1930), Stewart (1933) and Gerald (1939).

In the 1930 Census, Harold is listed as sheet metal worker, in heating & ventilating and the family lived on Meriline Avenue. In the 1940 Census, Harold was a foreman at a heater factory and the family lived at 87 Meriline Avenue, in 1941 they lived at 385 South Glenwood Avenue.

Mary died of cancer on October 11, 1940 at home on Glenwood Avenue.

On April 1, 1944, Harold married Josephine (Mafe) Saikas. Josephine was born May 10, 1906 in Bristol, Tennessee, daughter of James and Martha M. Anderson Mafe. Josephine was divorced from her first husband, John Saikas, who would later own 35 Parkwood Avenue.

In 1949 the Roots lived at 165 East Deshler Avenue. They then leased the former Governor's mansion at 1114 East Broad Street and opened Mrs. Root's Party Home, a catering business which they operated on the first floor, while living on the second floor. 

Harold died in June 1966 and Josephine died on August 4, 1967.

On September 19, 1967, Dorothy L. Patterson bought the house. The house was recorded on April 18, 1968 as Patterson Nursing Homes, Inc. On December 31, 1968 it was recorded in the name of Dorothy B. Patterson. It was later known as the Patterson Assisted Living Center, with a bed capacity of 43.

It was also Juanita's House, Inc. a skilled nursing care facility. In 2007 and 2008 it is found listed as D.I. Tiffany (Ditiffany) Residential Care, Inc., a business owned by Diane Hairston.

In late December 2012, the house, which seems to have been inhabited as a halfway house or group home was abruptly shuttered and padlocked.

The home was purchased in December 2014 by Dee James, owner of the Mansion Day School at 72 Woodland Avenue, dba Excel Preparatory Schools, Inc. 

71 Woodland Avenue, April 2014

71 Woodland Avenue, circa 1913

Stair, hall and parlor, 71 Woodland Avenue, circa 1913

Dining room, 71 Woodland Avenue, circa 1913

Garage, 71 Woodland Avenue, circa 1913

Haz Okey, with pipe, and golf pro Charlie Lorms standing side by side at the Columbus Country Club. Columbus Citizen, July 1940