The town of Westford, Massachusetts, is proud of its history, having played a role in the Revolutionary War and possessing bragging rights that Paul Revere sent his children to school at the town’s academy. When a historic, architecturally significant late 19th century house on the town’s main street had a fire in 2016, the entire town wanted to save it. Flash forward to today: The 1893 two-and-a-half story, 10-room Colonial Revival house will be gut-renovated and updated by Silva Brothers Construction to restore it to its former glory. This Old House TV will document the progress for its 46th season.
The 2016 fire destroyed the grand house’s attic and roof. Now, new owners Charles and Dianne Grondine plan to turn the property into a multigenerational home for themselves and their daughter, Emily, utilizing both the main house and the existing carriage house. The entire family has lived nearby for years and driven by the house countless times; Emily even saw the smoke from the house during the 2016 fire. All are thrilled to be able to now save the house. Their goals: Preserve its historic details and make the structure energy efficient.
The project aims to restore unique features, including the porte-cochere in the circular front driveway, the central carved wooden staircase, the ornate trim and casing details, and the stained-glass windows. The team will rebuild the interior, while keeping much of the old floorplan, featuring two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a kitchen open to the dining room. The exterior will also be updated with long-lasting, low-maintenance materials, including metal roof shingles and advanced composite siding.
Homeowner Charles Grondine has a strong interest in energy efficiency and is leading the initiative to add solar power, with plans to place the panels on the 2-acre lot rather than on the roof. A carriage house/barn on the property will one day become the in-law house for Charles and Dianne, while the main house will become Emily’s domain with her partner, Ethan. One overall sentiment pervades the project: “We all wanted something with history,” says Dianne.
