Time had not been kind to the two-family Victorian Revival house built in 1897 by William H.C. Taylor.
As a glass artist at the Smith Brothers Studio, Mr. Taylor paid close attention to detail and outfitted his new home with stained glass windows, intricately detailed brass hardware, finely carved woodwork, and wood paneling throughout. The result was a testament to the Victorian passion for quality materials and refined embellishment.
Over time, remodeling and vandalism took their toll and by 2017, vinyl windows replaced the originals, vinyl cladding lay over wood cladding, stained and leaded glass had been removed, and much of the detailed brass hardware was gone. The failed roof and lack of heat made the building uninhabitable, and it lay vacant.
WHALE was asked to undertake a historic restoration of the property as part of the city’s Abandoned Housing Initiative. Today, after a full historic restoration, this perfect example of Victorian architecture is structurally sound and looks much like the beautiful house William H.C. Taylor created.
A grant from the city’s Community Preservation Act program helped to fund restoration work while keeping the property affordable for New Bedford’s working families. In 2022, WHALE put the house on the market and received numerous offers to purchase, many over the asking price, but WHALE’s Board of Directors had other priorities and accepted an offer submitted at the ask.
“WHALE has a deep commitment to the community and our restored residential properties are earmarked for New Bedford’s first-time homebuyers, who probably wouldn’t be able to buy a home otherwise,”
Diana Henry, WHALE, President, Board of Directors
