The News You’ve Been Waiting For
Each week, we get dozens of emails from readers wondering what ever happened
to the houses featured in our popular back page column, Save This Old House.
We know you’re dying to find out if that bombed-out Richardsonian Romanesque
in Kentucky ever found a new owner, or whether or not that endangered Creole
cottage succumbed to the wrecking ball, or was swept up at the last minute
by a preservation-minded buyer.
Ready to learn the fates of some of your favorite endangered houses? Here are 14 from 2007 and 2008…
Oh, and take note, bargain hunters: As a Proud Preservation Partner of Save This Old House, Behr will help ease the way of fixing up an endangered house by providing up to 20 gallons of interior and/or exterior paint to the buyer of a house featured in 2010 in the magazine column—at no charge. For more details, write to toh_marketing@timeinc.com.
May 2008 Gothic Revival
Location: Union Springs, AL
Status: Saved!
Price: $56,000
Though it was constructed after the Civil War, this circa-1869 house’s paired front gables are typical of the Gothic Revival style made popular in these parts during the antebellum period. With its 14-foot ceilings, a wraparound porch, and original hand-painted faux-walnut doors, it was a wonder the home stayed on the market so long.
April 2008 Second Empire
Location: Monterey, Indiana
Status: Demolished
Price: $35,000
After our article ran, this quirky 1867 Second Empire–meets–Stick Style cottage attracted initial interest for its original hand-carved brackets, squat mansard roof, and elaborate spindle work on the front porch. Unfortunately, an offer did not materialize in time, and the 2,400-square-foot home was ultimately demolished.
March 2008 Gothic Revival
Location: Weare, New Hampshire
Status: Still available
Price: Free (Must be moved)
This white clapboard Gothic Revival was once home to Arthur and Hazel Eastman, proprietors of an adjacent general store known as the Wal-Mart of its day here in Weare, New Hampshire. The house’s rear ell was built way back in 1766. About 100 years later, the front addition was constructed, giving the house its distinctive character. Now the owner of a nearby lumber yard is looking for someone to move the house so he can expand his business. Anyone interested in taking it off his hands can call Jerry Shinn at 603-529-7539.
January/February 2008 Gothic Revival
Location: Clarkesville, Georgia
Status: Saved
When we featured this circa-1870 Gothic Revival back in January, it was in danger of being demolished by a local church looking to expand its parking lot. The church was hoping someone would offer to help it avoid such a cruel fate, and offered the house free to anyone willing to move it. But after some careful consideration, the church has changed its mind, and decided to keep the house right where it is. This year it will restore it for use as new offices.
December 2007 Victorian
Location: Goldsboro, NC
Status: Saved!
Price: $19,000
Though it was constructed after the Civil War, this circa-1869 house’s paired front gables are typical of the Gothic Revival style made popular in these parts during the antebellum period. With its 14-foot ceilings, a wraparound porch, and original hand-painted faux-walnut doors, it was a wonder the home stayed on the market so long. We’re happy to report that this Southern belle has been saved and renovations are underway.
November 2007 Richardsonian Romanesque
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Status: Still available
Price: Free
One of the most architecturally stunning houses ever featured in the Save TOH column, this circa-1860 Richardsonian Romanesque has two, count ’em, two towers, not to mention its beautiful stonework façade, hand carved trim from old-growth woods, and an arched porte cochere. The house is still available free to anyone willing to restore it to its former glory. Call the City of Louisville, 502-514-2321.
October 2007 Virginia Tavern
Location: Halifax County, Virginia
Status: Saved
Price: $29,000
Cries of “Last call” were finally bellowed on this legendary 18th century Virginia tavern last year, when a couple from Connecticut snatched it up for a proper restoration. Though they haven’t started work yet, they plan on using the tavern—once a popular stagecoach stop for weary travelers—as a vacation home.
September 2007 Farmhouse
Location: Porter, Indiana
Status: Still Available
Price: Free
This deceptively large 5-bedroom farmhouse, built 130 years ago by Swedish immigrants, is still absolutely free. That is if you promise to restore it, and its four outbuildings, back to their original state. The entire farmstead is located in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a state park. But the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana is offering a 30-year lease to anyone with a viable restoration plan, and a means to finance it. Call 574-232-4534.
July/August 2007 Creole Cottage
Location: Lake Providence, Louisiana
Status: Still available
Price: $89,500 (negotiable)
Realtor Tanya Stutz is holding out hope that someone will come along soon and save this 1870s Creole cottage—one of the oldest, sturdiest, and architecturally notable houses in the small town of Lake Providence. The three-bedroom lakeside house has thick-as-brick walls, broad eaves, front and back porches, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a center hall that cools things off by channeling lake breezes through the entire structure. Call Tanya Stutz at 318-330-9355.
June 2007 Beekman House
Location: Dundee, New York
Status: Saved
This former home of Benjamin Beekman, a pillar of Dundee, New York society, was taken off the market by the sellers, who have decided to hold on to the house and restore it themselves.
May 2007 Second Empire
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Status: Still Available
Price: $74,900
While Second Empire was a dominant style of American houses from 1860 to 1880, this is the only brick version left in Port Huron, Michigan, a historic city just across the St. Clair River from Sarnia, Ontario. While the exterior looks much as it did back in 1870, when it was built, the interior has been gutted down to the studs, though details such as an original staircase, and a massive brick fireplace with decorative tiles are still intact. Those interested in saving this ornate little treasure should call Jeff Wine at 810-985-5080.
April 2007 Farmhouse
Location: Spragueville, Maine
Status: Still Available
Price: $49,000
This stolid 1870s Maine farmhouse is still on the market, waiting for a suitor who wouldn’t mind living in a remote small town, bordering Aroostook State Park, a popular spot for skiing, skating and tobogganing. The house, which sits on the banks of tiny Echo Lake, needs a lot of cosmetic work, a new well and septic system, but most of its original details are still in good shape, including the floors, molding, wainscoting, windows, doors, and—best of all—a three-seater outhouse out back.
March 2007 Italianate
Location: New Albany, Indiana
Status: Still available
We’re not sure why this 1875 Italianate is still on the market. The exterior has already been lovingly restored by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. Now it’s just waiting for someone to come along and do the same for the inside. There are plenty of original details, including a walnut staircase, oak mantels and pine hardwood floors. The house is located in a fine historic neighborhood just minutes from downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Call the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana at 812-284-4534.
January/February 2007 Bungalow
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Status: Still Available
Price: $34,900
Once home to members of the corn-flake-centric Kellogg family (yep, the cereal guys), this 1913 Arts & Crafts-style bungalow still stands empty and abandoned, as it has for more than a decade. Aside from some cracks, the brick exterior is still solid. Inside you’ll find plenty of Craftsman-style details, including built-ins, wainscoting, patterned tile floors, and many original doors and windows. Call Monte Herford at 616-780-3096.
July/Aug 2008: Folk Victorian
Location: Salisbury, NC
Status: Saved!
Price: $19,000
The Historic Salisbury Foundation was originally hoping to sell this circa-1900 cottage for $19,000 to anyone who was eager and prepared to restore it. With prospects dim, the foundation itself undertook the project of making the 1,134-square-foot home livable once more. They equipped the squat Folk Victorian with modern amenities, such as a new HVAC system, while maintaining original wood floors, ceilings, and mantels. Spotting the house in a January 2011 tour of homes, Carol Worthy jumped at the chance to own one of Salisbury’s storied historic structures.
December 2008: Gothic Revival
Location: Durham, NC
Status: Saved!
Price: $39,000
Through its 100-year tenure, this unassuming cottage has enjoyed the title of family home, notorious crack den, and now ascends to hopeful underdog. Preservationists Nick and Victoria Broccolo were more intrigued than deterred by the extensive demands of the 1,700-square-foot home, which was built by John Evans in 1910. They began their careful restoration in June 2014 and are soon transitioning from demo to framing installation. “The house’s resuscitation exemplifies the positive changes happening in East Durham, and we’re proud to be part of that change,” says Victoria. The couple is working on a loan from a local preservation organization and hope to complete the restoration soon.