The Seth P. Warner House, the oldest house in the Austin community, was approved for official landmark status by City Council today.

The house, located at 631 N. Central Ave., was constructed in 1869 as a family home for Seth P. Warner, a blacksmith, abolitionist, and patron of the arts who was one of Chicago's earliest settlers. Although the architect is not known, the house is an excellent example of the "cube and cupola" typology within the Italianate style of architecture.

The Warner House predates the Chicago Fire of 1871, one of only 13 Chicago landmarks that carries that distinction. As a designated landmark, its facades and rooflines are protected from significant alterations and demolition.