Westerville in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
"Greendale"
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 25, 2024
1. Greendale Marker
This Craftsman-style house was built in 1910 by the Reverend Purley Baker and his wife Lillie. They named it Greendale. The property included a greenhouse (pictured) from which to sell vegetable plants, a milk house from which to run a dairy service, and a cobblestone garage. Baker was General Superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League (ASL).
In 1924, the Bakers donated the house to the ASL for use as editorial offices. Westerville had no library, and in 1930, the ASL lent the lower floor for such use. Cora Jenkins Bailey was named librarian. Under her robust leadership, the space was outgrown in just three years and the library moved Uptown.
Otterbein purchased the property in 1947 for use as the president's home and renamed it. Eventually the house was converted to office space. Pictured here are Purley, Cora, and the President J. Gordon Howard family.
Erected by Uptown Westerville Inc.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 40° 7.439′ N, 82° 56.14′ W. Marker is in Westerville, Ohio, in Franklin County
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Temperance Row Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War (about 500 feet away); Reverend Bishop William Hanby / Benjamin Hanby, Class of 1858 (about 500 feet away); Towers Hall (about 500 feet away); United Brethren Church (about 800 feet away); Otterbein College (about 800 feet away); The Home of Benjamin R. Hanby (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Westerville Society (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westerville.
Another marker is no longer nearby. In Memory of Benjamin R. Hanby (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Temperance Row Historic District (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the district, which includes Greendale and was listed in 2008. (Prepared by William V. Merriman, Judith B. Williams and Beth A. Weinhardt, Westerville Public Library; via National Archives) (Submitted on June 2, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Craig Doda, April 3, 2026
2. Greendale Marker
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 25, 2024
3. Greendale Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 2, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on April 4, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on June 2, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
