T
he fate of the Monstrosity, a beloved but outdated house on Avalon's Ninth Street and First Avenue, has been sealed. Despite efforts to find a buyer willing to preserve the 1891 home, the family who owns it has accepted an offer from a local developer for $5.2 million. The sale is set to close on December 20.

    The Monstrosity's owners had hoped to sell to someone who would keep its historic charm intact, but instead they'll be watching as it's likely torn down to make way for a new McMansion. Bob Penrose Jr., the president of Avalon's historical society and one of eight siblings who own the property, spent months searching for a sympathetic buyer but ultimately couldn't find anyone willing or able to preserve the home.

    As part of the sale contract, the owners are allowed to remove items they want to save, so Penrose is meticulously salvaging as much as he can from the Monstrosity. He's removing interior doors, attic windows, millwork, and original railings, among other features. Some items, like a coal stove, may be repurposed in his own home or even used to build something new in North Carolina.

    Penrose acknowledges that preserving the Monstrosity was always a long shot, but he's glad for the opportunity to try. He estimates that only about two dozen homes from the same era as the Monstrosity still stand in Avalon, and while he'd prefer to see this one preserved, he understands if the developer decides to tear it down. "That's his job," Penrose said with a mix of resignation and acceptance.