The house is a gable and side-wing farmhouse, typical of that period but with an added flair – wonderful gingerbread moldings. Tidy, and welcoming with its soft creamy yellow color, it has been in the Marchner family for almost nine decades.

The late Reuben and Cora Marchner moved there practically as newlyweds in 1920 after trying out life in the south and working in the dried apple business.  Their two daughters, Evelyn and Alice were born and raised in the two-story home that is being honored this month as the site of the month by the Webster Village Historic Preservation Commission.

They weren’t the first owners of the home. Records show a man purchased the property by the name of Donovan, probably for whom Donovan Street was later named. Donovan Street was merely a path back when the Marchner girls were young and North Avenue was macadam (a road pavement of layers of compacted broken stone).

Joan Sassone of the Webster Village Historical Preservation Commission figures that the home was built somewhere between 1890 and 1902.

We do know the home was built before Webster Village was incorporated. The home was within walking distance of the Webster train station, and it was the era of the railroad.

A few amazing changes have occurred since that time. When the North Avenue home was built, the Western Frontier had ended and thanks to Susan B. Anthony, women were finally taking their rightful place in the world…a little. Families were sitting in their parlors listening to the phonograph, life expectancy was 47 years; six percent of people graduated from high school and the average working wage was 22 cents an hour.  

So much happens in a hundred years, it is staggering.

Now covered with vinyl siding, “the home remains notable because of its distinctive decorative front porch with unusual cut out railing design,” Joan said.  However, as lovely as the home is, the story that can be told about the people who lived and loved within the home, in my estimation, is the real treasure