Non-historic additions to 1891 home are scheduled for demolition and will be replaced with walls designed to meet the historic plans of the house.
SILVER SPRING, MD—The 1891 historic Brainard Warner House located in Warner Circle Special Park in Kensington is preparing for a facelift. Two non-historic wings added to the structure in the 1960’s will be demolished this spring as part of a major rehabilitation effort to return the house to its historic beauty. The wings, which were added when the house served as a nursing home, will be replaced with walls whose design was inspired by 1914 alteration plans for the house. The demolition is part of a long-term rehabilitation project which includes architectural and engineering work and will transform the vacant building. County funds and three state bond bills will cover the costs for this phase of work which only includes the exterior of the house. Additional fundraising efforts are in progress to support the rehabilitation of the interior.
Warner Circle Special Park, a 4.5 acre site was the home of Brainard Warner, the founder of Kensington. It was acquired by Montgomery Parks in 2005 to preserve the historic landscape and buildings in the park that serves as the town’s green. The site is listed in the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation, and is also included in the National Register of Historic Places.
The park grounds will remain open to the public during the demolition and while the construction of the new walls is underway. However, an area immediately around the manor house will be fenced and off limits during this time.
The Brainard Warner House is one of 117 historic structures located in Montgomery Parks. For more information about historic structures and sites in Montgomery Parks please visit www.historyintheparks.org.
About Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning – Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 35,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 418 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. The M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. www.montgomeryparks.org