Madison Ohio Historic House History: The Oberly & Johnston Years

• Coming in mid-story? Go back to the first post… it all starts there.

  
  

This chapter in our Madison, Ohio historic house history follows a brief period of change, as the home passed through a couple of owners before its next well-known chapter began.

In 1966, the property was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis A. Oberly, formerly of Mentor. A newspaper announcement at the time shared not just their purchase of the home, but also the former bank building next door, hinting at a new

direction for the space.

Mrs. Virginia Oberly, a trained interior decorator, planned to open an antique and gift shop in the bank building, continuing a business she had previously operated in Mentor. The shop, called the Bristol Blue Bazaar, focused on pieces chosen for their beauty, color, and uniqueness.

For those following our Madison, Ohio Historic house history series , the Oberly years offer an interesting glimpse into how quickly the property evolved during this period.

Interestingly, that bank building - and its role during this time - connects directly to the next two owners of the house. We’ll come back to that in the next chapters.

Meanwhile, the house itself remained a residence. The article notes it had been renovated to keep its original charm while adding modern conveniences, something that seems to have carried through the home over time.

Despite these plans, the Oberlys’ time here appears to have been relatively short. By 1972, the property changed hands again, this time to Clyde and Rose Johnston.

Very little has surfaced about the Johnstons, and records suggest their stay was brief, lasting about a year before the home was sold once more.

While neither ownership lasted long, this chapter in our Madison Ohio historic house history marks a subtle shift. The house moved from a long-held family residence into a phase of quicker turnover, with new ideas and possibilities being explored along the way.

Want to follow along as we piece together the story of the house? Each month brings a new chapter - and sometimes, a few surprises.