May's Home of the Month winner is....

The Marietta Board of REALTORS would like to congratulate

Martha Hunter of Marietta

on being selected as the May Home of the Month winner!

This month’s Home of the Month is the beautifully preserved and lovingly restored residence at 205 Washington Street, owned by Martha Hunter. Martha became steward of this historic gem following the loss of her previous home on Front Street due to a fire—an unfortunate event that led her to this charming corner of downtown Marietta. She says one of her favorite parts of living here is the location: a short walk to all that Marietta has to offer.

Originally built in the early 1900s, the home carries a rich legacy. It was first owned by Charles W. Otto, co-founder of the Otto Brothers Department Store, which once stood as a local landmark. A fascinating detail from the time: the store was constructed with wide aisles and stairwells roomy enough to float a rowboat through—a foresight that proved useful during the Great Flood of 1913. Charles’s daughter, Margaret O. Siegler, later became the home’s second owner. A Marietta College graduate and devoted church organist for over 50 years, Margaret left her own mark on its legacy.

The home’s third owner, Barbra Beittel, brought a remarkable story of perseverance and talent. A piano prodigy who joined the Philadelphia Philharmonic at just 16, Barbra overcame cancer and the partial loss of use in her arm as a child—only to go on to earn a master’s degree in music history and piano performance. She and her husband Dale, an exchange minister in England and Ireland, moved into the house in 1972.

Today, Martha has carried on that tradition of care and passion. She's made numerous upgrades while preserving the home’s elegant character—from a new wheelchair-accessible bathroom for her daughter to a full exterior repaint. She's updated electric and plumbing systems (with work done by her nephew Josh Farmer of Style Creation Construction), added a new stamped sidewalk courtesy of Ray Curry at RBD Concrete, and installed a composite front porch and new windows (by Jeff Farrell). The basement has been sealed with Drylok and fitted with new gutters and downspouts to maintain its integrity.

Inside, the home is spacious and welcoming—perfect for her large family, who often gathers here for holidays. When asked how she keeps such a grand home looking so clean, Martha joked that her rule is “two windows a day.” It’s that kind of simple dedication, paired with deep appreciation for the home’s history, that makes 205 Washington Street such a special place.

For those interested in exploring more of the home’s remarkable past, including original historical documents, you can find them here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XyMuufUJY1ea05lmXdtX_byVAJ-pkPbX/view?usp=sharing.