A crumbling mansion dating back to the Gilded Age has undergone a huge transformation after being saved from demolition.
The Thomas Howe Mansion in Nahan, near Boston, Massachusetts, was once a glamorous four-story estate.
Built in 1880, the home named for a wealthy merchant stood for centuries as a cherished cornerstone of the community.
However, it was left to deteriorate for years, and in 2022 it was placed under the control of the Department of Housing and Urban Development – leaving it facing an uncertain future.
Realtor Ricky Beliveau swooped in and bought the once-ritzy estate for $1.1million. He then set about renovating the property.
The 10,820-square-foot, eight-bedroom mansion was revitalized and is now valued at $5.5 million.
Beliveau learned about the property after being notified by some of his social media followers who told him: ‘Hey, Ricky, you should check this out.’
‘It needs you.’
The Thomas Howe Mansion in Massachusetts, it was saved and renovated into a beautiful estate
The stunning living room filled with cream and brown colored couches, and accented with white potted plants
The home was left in a state of disrepair before the renovations (pictured) and it faced being left to rot before it was given a facelift
Beliveau told the Daily Mail he initially had no interest in the project, but photos of the estate ignited a realization that the home was something special.
He was able to tour and found the bones of the home were still there.
‘I mean, when you walk up to the property, it’s just it’s a jaw-dropping experience, this 11,000 square foot mansion sitting up on top of this hill overlooking the ocean from every angle, it’s just something that would never be built today,’ he said.
He added that the estate still had some of the moldings, the mantles, but a lot of it had been rotten away or had fallen into disrepair.
However, it gave him and his team enough to understand its potential. He purchased it directly from the government before it even went to auction.
‘We wanted to do a true historical renovation using the original moldings and crown work and recreating all of those historic details by having them milled and rebuilt.’
The mansion dated back to 1880, and is pictured before it received its much-needed repairs
Before the home was renovated, it was filled with ugly decor and rotting fixtures
The inside of the home seen after the renovations, showing a bathroom with white marble floors, an above ground tub, glass shower, and a beautiful circular window with a view
Home theater in the iconic estate, painted a dark gray, almost black color, with gray movie theater style chairs
A children’s playroom with a gorgeous view of the water, with perfect additions like comfy chairs and a stuffed animal giraffe
The master bedroom with a king-sized tan bed, a neutral painting hanging above, accented with dark chairs and a bedside table
The grand kitchen following the themes of neutrals and brown, with potted plants adding a spot of color
Gorgeous grandiose bathroom, with marble floors an walls, and a spa- like seat with towels set on it
‘But at the same time, we wanted to bring the house up to today’s living standards and give it a nautical, modern feel for the kind of buyer we expect now. I got a sense pretty early on of what we would be able to do with it.’
Beliveau faced numerous renovation challenges, specifically restoring the intricate staircase that starts on the first floor and leads all the way to the fourth.
The original stairs had complicated woodwork and detailing but had been damaged, broken, or cut out over the years.
Beliveau decided the steps were something he had to keep: ‘We had to remove some pieces that were still in good shape and then ship those out to be made so that we could refabricate the the staircase.’
Another irreplaceable feature was the double height library in the tower of the mansion. Despite its retched state, his team revived it.
Not only were the stairs and reading room one of a kind, but the estate itself was as well, given its long history and lasting impact on the community.
Outside aerial view of the Gilded Age mansion in Massachussets, right on the crisp blue water
Another relaxing beautiful living space adjacent to the kids playroom, with three wide windows that look out to the water
A wooden dark colored office, with a desk and accents of tan chairs and white potted plants
This mansion has been revitalized, with unique designs and color choices like the green walls with shelves
Entrance to the eight bedroom, six and half bathroom home that is worth $5.5 million, with dark brown wooden doors and a classy chandelier
‘More than 450 letters were sent to the town of Nahant from residents who wanted the home saved and preserved. So when we bought it, I think the first fear people had, based on what our core business usually does, was wondering if this would become a large scale multifamily project.’
‘Once we got to know everyone, my immediate position was no, this is going to stay a single family home for the future and for the next generation. From that point on, it could not have been a better relationship with everyone in town.’
Beliveau added that when he saw the property, the idea of tearing it down never crossed his mind.
