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We have researched the history of the house through the Lynn Historical Society and the Essex County Registry of Deeds. The original house dates back to the 1840's. The early house was probably fairly plain and a lot smaller than it is now. In the mid 1880's, a man by the name of Shirley Ellis purchased the house for $1 from his father and then took out a $2,500 mortgage in order to refurbish the house into a beautiful Queen Anne. On the outside, he added a 13-foot diameter tower with lovely fish scale shingles and added an additional 8 feet to the width of the house; but on the inside, he filled the house with elegant Victorian trappings! He added parquet floors, gas fireplaces, crown moldings, and beautiful transitional (half gas and half electric) chandeliers, period wall sconces, and graced each room with an unusual yet charming shape.
During this time period, Lynn was known as the Shoe Capital of the World. Shirley Ellis was one of the owners of a shoe manufacturing company and his home reflected the grace and style that was appropriate for this affluent citizen. The large ornate brass fireplace in the parlor is an example of Mr. Ellis' extravagances when it came to furnishings. Although it had a practical purpose, as an excellent heat source, its gothic design and beautiful workmanship makes it an extremely rare and valuable antique.
The
Ellis family owned the property until 1924 when they retired to New
Hampshire. The Hanoosh family purchased the house; which they owned
for 50 years until 1974. Although they clearly loved the house and generally
took good care of it, they were less appreciative of its Victorian nature.
In fact, they boxed in the front porch and installed white aluminum
siding on the outside. From 1975-1978 the house had a quick succession
of owners, with little impact other than making the third floor into
a separate apartment.
We
fell in love with the house the first time we saw it and purchased it
in1978! We wanted a beautiful Queen Anne that we could lovingly restore
back to its original Victorian elegance. The first few years we had
to deal with very practical matters like a new roof, blowing in insulation
and storm windows but we knew that our real mission was to rip off the
30 year old aluminum siding and restore the beautiful cedar clapboard
and shingle. Well our perseverance paid off, we were able to get a special
low interest 2nd mortgage from the City to finance the venture and we
found the best restorationist carpenter in the area, Tom Turketta to
do the work. It was truly a labor of love for all of us! Tom and his
crew did an outstanding job and for the first time in decades the house
was as beautiful on the outside as it was on the inside.
Over the years we have continued to restore the house, adding touches that are historically accurate (e.g. a tin ceiling in the kitchen). Every room has been decorated with period wallpaper and filled with antiques. It has become a hobby for us, and a source of pride and conversation for our children. We have thoroughly enjoyed being caretakers of this beautiful house for the past 25 years and now seek someone who will love and care for the house with the same passion and enthusiasm.
