Village Housing: 83 Elmwood Place

Date

1912-present

Location

83 Elmwood Place

Architects/Collaborators

Builder unknown

Style

Bungalow

History

This dormer front bungalow was built in 1912 for Karl Frederick Geiser, after whom the house was named, who taught political science at Oberlin College. He lived here around 1916 with his second wife Florence Mary Chaney. His daughter was born in 1916. Geiser was the College's first professor of political science. He arrived at the College in 1907 and was the only member of his department for the next 17 years. Geiser was involved in the local community and in developing Oberlin's city manager plan around 1915. He became a controversial figure within the College, town and nation due to his outspoken pro-German stance during WWI and in the following years. Geiser moved to another house in Oberlin by 1920. That year Maurice and Juliette Kessler lived here with their child; Maurice was a professor of Music at the Conservatory. Around 1927-33, Hermann Thornton occupied the house; he was a professor of French. From around 1935-42, Luke Steiner lived in the house with his wife, Helen, and two children. Steiner was an Oberlin alumnus and became head of the chemistry department. From 1956-61, Sadie and Bernard Tenney, who was retired, occupied the house. Oberlin College purchased this property to use as a rental; at some point it was added to the Village Housing program for students.

Source

Ohio Historic Inventory by Petersen, T. Reeves, and M. Surovy, Ohio State Historic Preservation Office, August 19, 2003. Accessed from the Oberlin Heritage Center website, June 26, 2015.