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It is wonderful news that Joe and Linda Chlapaty are making a $55 million gift donation to Marietta College. Their generosity is really quite astonishing and the city of Marietta will be better for this gift as well, in so many ways. Thank you to both of you.
I am wondering if there is a way to do the construction without tearing down one of the oldest buildings on campus with deep historical significance? Here is the history. In 1929, John and William Webster Mills donated the historic Butler Street mansion which had served as the residence of Civil War General A.J. Warner. They gifted the property in honor of their mother Dorothy Webster Mills. It holds a major place in campus history as it is Marietta College's first residence hall for women. As well, Civil War General Warner holds interest too. He rose through the ranks of colonel and later received a brevet promotion to brigadier general. He saw heavy action, including the Battle of Antietam in 1862, where he had two horses struck, his sword hit, a ball grazed his side and then was seriously wounded by a musket ball. Following the Civil War, Adoniram J. Warner built a prominent post-war legacy centered around Marietta Ohio, as a successful industrialist and a three-term congressman. As for William Webster Mills, he was the beloved husband of our own Betsey Mills. Both Betsey and William were staunch stewards of Marietta College, even loaning the institution money to stay solvent during hard financial times. So if Dorothy Webster Hall could be restored, students, city residents and tourists would be able to learn more about the history of the house through these incredible people from the past- what a positive for everyone. Marietta is steeped in historical significance with it being the first settlement of the Northwest Territory.
George Washington surveyed it, Lafayette walked it and David McCullough wrote about it in his book appropriately called The Pioneers. It is a sacred place and we need to protect historic buildings as it keeps our history alive. Historic structures make each city unique. It protects cultural identity, drives local economies, conserves environmental resources, and provides tangible educational value. Preserving historical buildings add depth and context in so many ways to the city and the college. We all would benefit immeasurably by keeping our rich history intact.
Dee Wells Arnold is a resident of Marietta Ohio and one who has lived in four historic houses, all at least 100 years old and each house has told fascinating stories about its residents and Marietta's history.