T
he once‑cherished heart of the Nahant community, a Queen Anne manor that could be seen from Revere Beach, fell into ruin over 140 years. Neglected, vandalized, and left to decay, it faced demolition until a timely rescue brought it back to life. Now restored, the house sits proudly on a hilltop at 9 Little Nahant Road and is listed for $5.5 million.
Built in 1880 by Boston merchant Thomas Howe, the mansion was designed by the firm Wait & Cutter, reflecting the era’s trend of affluent Bostonians creating seaside retreats. Its arrival marked Nahant’s shift from a windswept outpost to a fashionable New England summer colony, a transformation noted by the Nahant Historical Society.
The Queen Anne style—characterized by asymmetry, towers, turrets, tall chimneys, projecting pavilions, porches, bays, and wrap‑around verandahs—embodies the exuberance we associate with Victorian architecture, though it is distinctly American in domestic form.
By 2023, the Howe Mansion had changed hands many times, ultimately standing empty, gutted by vandals, burdened with back taxes, and seized by local and national authorities. “It was an eyesore,” said Ricky Beliveau, owner of Volnay Capital, who had been prompted by an Instagram follower to intervene. Beliveau, experienced in historic renovations—including his own Winchester home—took on the project.
Beliveau carried out a comprehensive rebuild of the 10,820‑square‑foot structure, installing steel beams, a new roof, flooring, and HVAC. He reconfigured the layout, adding a wine lounge, home theater, and a chef‑ready kitchen with 16‑foot ceilings, skylights, and a combined primary suite featuring a porthole window above the tub. Every room offers ocean views, and one side overlooks the Boston skyline.
For interior design, Beliveau enlisted Shayna Bernshtein and Kelly Penny of Salt and Stone. Their modern, coastal, organic aesthetic honored the surviving historic elements—staircase, molding, paneling—while introducing fresh touches. The two‑story library, with its open ceiling, became a highlight; the walls were painted a Sherwin Williams green, Jasper, to complement natural wood. A saturated red, Behr Rumors, was chosen for the wine cellar, evoking Merlot. The home now boasts eight bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms, and a three‑car garage.
Externally, the mansion retains many original features that once made it a showpiece in 1880. With its restoration complete, the Howe Mansion is ready for the next chapter of its long life.
Karina Mejia of The Legacy Group | EVO Real Estate Group is marketing the property at $5.5 million.
