[MassHistPres] Northbridge - anyone interested in a 18th-century house??

[d-mountain at comcast.net]

This house looks like it could be a really good deal for someone who would like an antique house and who could be hooked up with a seasoned restoration contractor.  Sill repair is a minor deal and yet many houses get torn down because of this ailment.  One of my favorite projects was a small ca. 1826 Federal cape that involved removing significant portions of the sills with a shovel because they had turned into rich, black compost.  The sills were replaced a section at a time without any special equipment and the home has  been occupied by a family for many years with no further problems with the structure.
I think there is a real need to educate real estate agents on how to market antique homes.  The only interior photos of this house on the realtor's website are of an unimpressive kitchen and a toilet in the bathroom.  I can't believe that there are not other rooms of interest or at least some remaining antique detail.  The original chimney appears to be present so it seems likely that there are fireplaces as well. Also, as we all know, there may be very interesting antique details hiding behind more modern finish work.


Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:43:09 -0400
From: "Michele P. Barker" 
Subject: [MassHistPres] Northbridge - anyone interested in a
    18th-century    house??
To: 
Message-ID: <006701cae7d4$35198b70$9f4ca250$@org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hello, all,

 

I'd like to alert you to a potential teardown of an 18th-century house in
Northbridge. It's currently advertised for sale, with photos here: 

http://www.massrealty.com/worcester/northbridge/home/1700-Hill-Street,-North
bridge,-MA-01534/71070316  The realtor is advertising it as a teardown, and
a woman whose family owned the house until around 2003 informed me that
there is some major structural work needed - new sills, for a start. She
says that it was owned by relatives of John Adams until the early 20th
century, when her family purchased it. There are no local bylaws protecting
the building-it isn't even on the inventory yet. 

 

So far it sounds as though the only bidders want the land (about an acre)
but not the house. I have not seen this house in person-only the realtor's
photos, so I don't have any info about the interior or other details about
the condition. The realtor's ad says it's not finance-able, so it's probably
in rough shape.

 

I'm hoping there's someone out there who might be interested in saving this
house from the dumpster-preferably on site, but relocation is always an
option. So please pass the word along to anyone who might be interested in
an antique house that needs lots of TLC. 

 

Thanks!!

 

Michele

 

Michele P. Barker

 

Circuit Rider

617-999-3256

mpbarker at preservationmass.org

Preservation Massachusetts

www.preservationmass.org

The Massachusetts Circuit Rider Program is a partnership of Preservation
Massachusetts and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Northeast
Office.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.preservationnation.org

 


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