284 WASHINGTON STREET, WARREN, OHIO
(FORMERLY 22 WASHINGTON AVENUE.)
written by Harlan and Joan Lewis in 2001, edited by Rebekah Mancino in 2018
Description of the property at 284 Washington is noted in 1853 Vol.72 pgs 1,2,3,4 as the Perkins Addition No. 1, lot 28-27.
The property was sold in 1856 by Joseph Perkins to John M. Stull for $158.67, who was probably the builder of the original house circa 1858. In 1863, the property was sold to Jacob Baldwin for $1900.00.
The house was a single family dwelling with two rooms on the main floor and second floor, and a basement which might have been used as the kitchen. Prior to the tum of the century, and possibly during the ownership of Thomas M. Abell, the house was more than doubled in size.
The new foundation was built around the original basement which is still intact with its stone walls. Mr. Abell and his family owned a Planing Mill on Mahoning Avenue, which likely accounts for the ornate oak woodwork in the foyer and extensive use of oak throughout. The woodwork has an acorn and oak leaf pattern in several areas including the border around the window in the front
door which is flanked by leaded glass windows. The house had gas lights and fireplaces. Pipes for the gas lights are still present in two of the rooms.
Hot water heat was installed using oil which was converted to gas. The carriage house remains on the property. There is evidence of another foundation north and west of the carriage house, possibly a barn prior to the carriage house.
The house has served as a single family dwelling, a home shared by two families, a boarding house and then was duplexed in the late 1960s. In 1991 the home was purchased by Bernie Pavlock who restored it to a single family dwelling.
During the ownership of Thomas Abell from 1875-1897, several families shared the home with the Abells. From 1889-1897, William McNaughton who was a Veterinarian and his wife Millie, also resided in the house. In 1893-1894 Walter Earley and Joseph Hydinger who were barbers, were also listed as living in the house. The house was sold to Elizabeth Bradley in 1897 but the
Thomas Abells were listed as living in the house as well as George and Mary Hahn until 1900. Mr. Hahn was a clerk at the City Meat Market.
Elizabeth Bradley sold the house in 1904 to Rosamond A. Freer. During the time of the Freer ownership the house was occupied by two families. From 1906 until 1910, Kate E. Clark occupied the house along with E. G. Twitchell and his wife Maude (1906-1908) and Ben & Millie Phillips (1908). In 1908 the home was sold to Walter and Margaret Holcomb. Mr. Holcomb along with his brother were butchers and operated ‘Holcomb Brothers’.
The Holcomb family were the longest occupants of the home and probably the most notorious.
The family owned the house from 1908 until Margaret Holcomb sold the house in 1940.
In 1927, Walter Holcomb was shot and killed in the lobby of the Post Office located on the corner of Market and Pine St, by a man who though he was having an affair with his wife. The killer, Ernest Frederick, was tried in the Federal Court in Cleveland and sentenced to life in prison. Margaret Holcomb and her son Herbert continued to live in the house even after Herbert married circa 1936.
From 1940 until 1957, the house had several owner the last being Fred Fensie. By all records found, the house served as a boarding house during these years. The rooms were numbers and several doors in the house still have the imprint of the numbers.
In 1957 the home was purchased by E. W. Limber and his wife Frances. Mr. Limber’s grandson visited the house several years ago and told us many funny stories about visiting his Grandparents in the home. He said his Father would go to St. Mary’s on Sunday and then walk to the house to visit his parents. He states that the bathroom off the kitchen which was originally a pantry was installed by his Grandfather when his Grandmother was no longer able to climb the stairs. The Limbers remained in the house until 1965. The house was then occupied by L.A. and Jean Rice. Mr. Rice was Director of the City Urban Renewal.
ln 1967, Russell and Eileen Canfield purchased the house and remained in it until 1980. According to one of the prior residents on Prospect Street who had lived in his home for over sixty years, many of the trees and plants on the property were planted by the Canfields. The yard was full of flowers and they could always smell the fragrance in the wind. It was Mr. Canfield who duplexed the house and placed a door on the west side, providing a private entrance into the back staircase for the second floor apartment.
In 1980, Century 21 Delaquila Realty offices occupied both The Thomas M. Abell House and next door’s Harrington House.
In 1982, psychologist Dr. Donita Brown purchased the house which then served as her office and home. After Dr. Brown left the area, the duplexed house continued to be rented.
In 1991, Bernie and Karen Pavlock purchased the house. During the two years of their residence, Mr. Pavlock, restored the house to a single family dwelling. He replastered the walls in all the rooms except two and remodeled the kitchen and small bathroom.
In 1993, the house was purchased by Harlan and Joan Lewis who continued in the tradition of loving care by renovating the front porch, repainting the siding regularly, replacing both the original hot water boiler and slate roof, and getting the basement waterproofed.
In 2018, the owner-occupants next door at Harrington House purchased the property with the hope of restoring it to period characteristic, while not sacrificing any of the modern conveniences, and offering it as a whole-house Bed and Breakfast.