Davis-Warner House

Davis-Warner House is a historic home located at 8114 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, Montgomery County, Maryland. It is a large, three story frame Queen Anne 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."[2]

Davis-Warner House
Location8114 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, Maryland
Coordinates38°59′26″N 76°59′38″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1875 (1875)
Architectural styleStick/eastlake
NRHP reference No.01001335[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 7, 2001

Background

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.[2]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.[1]

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 operated it as a convent.

In 2015, the Davis-Warner Inn was purchased by local architect, Eric Saul, and his wife, Diana Simpson, for use as their primary residence.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Paul K. Williams (September 2000). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Davis-Warner House" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
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