By Rose S. Prinzi
Elizabeth Warner was born in Jamestown in 1866. She was a woman with a dream for the future of Jamestown’s women. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation has been a component in making that dream come true.
Miss Elizabeth Warner was a beautiful young woman who had completed her formal education at Miss Brown’s Finishing School, then located on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Her father, Lucius Bolles Warner, was a successful businessman.
Mr. Robert Marvin was considered Jamestown’s most eligible bachelor. For years, he managed his father’s business affairs and was executor of his father’s extensive estate. On October 9, 1889, at the age of 24, Miss Elizabeth Warner was married to Robert Newland Marvin, then 45. Their wedding was considered the social event of the year and may well have been the social event of the century, with two fine, old families joining together. The Marvin House was originally an eight-room farmhouse owned by Mrs. Richard Lewis located at the corner of Fifth and Main Streets. Even though it was an old house, the location appealed to Mr. Marvin who purchased the building in 1897 with the intent of renovating it.
Upon the completed renovations, the home was regarded as one of the most handsome houses in Western New York. Mrs. Marvin enjoyed entertaining and took great pride in being able to make her home available to friends for private parties and charitable benefits.
However, Mrs. Marvin had a dream. It was her desire that upon her passing her home would be used by local women’s groups “…to provide a meeting place for societies of the moral or mental improvement of women and are engaged in literary, musical, educational, patriotic, scientific or historical work.” as stated in her will dated 1935. In addition, Mrs. Marvin provided a trust fund of $20,000, the interest from which was to be used to help maintain the Marvin House. Eventually, these funds came to be administered by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. It was her plan that the organizations using the house would cooperate to furnish additional funds and to give needed support.
Upon her death in August 1950, steps were taken to address her dream and in the summer of 1951, the Elizabeth Warner Marvin Community House was incorporated.
Today, as a result of one woman’s dream, the women of the Jamestown Area enjoy using this elegant meeting place with a warm, friendly and quiet atmosphere in which to conduct group programs and activities or to personally entertain their families and friends.
As a result of Mrs. Marvin’s vision, in 2009 alone, the Foundation was able to provide over $5,600 to the Marvin House through the Elizabeth Warner Marvin House Fund based on her original trust.
This community project for women was made possible and continues to function successfully, because a gift was made by one woman with a vision and the tireless efforts of other dedicated women who have made it work. This is just one success story that is held in the archives of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation’s vaults. There are many to be told. However, it is only through the generosity and foresight of many individuals that the Foundation is able to continue to support our community and its special needs.