The Restoration of The Howe Estate
The Nahant Historical Society is excited to announce that the privately funded, multi-million dollar restoration of the Howe Mansion is now complete. Developer Ricky Beliveau graciously agreed to work with us to document the entire restoration.
Beginning in 2023, we followed along to witness the journey as this Little Nahant landmark, that has kept watch over Short Beach for over 140 years, was returned to its once former grandeur by Volnay Capital and Back Bay Design Corp.
The Little Nahant neighborhood is grateful the developer was committed to meticulously preserving this iconic and magnificent 1880 home, while also enhancing the charm of the surrounding neighborhood.
The Thomas Howe Estate is one of Nahant’s finest examples of Queen Anne style design.
In 1880, Boston merchant Thomas Howe asked the esteemed architectural firm Wait and Cutter, along with builder J.T. Wilson, to build him a ‘Gentleman’s Residence’ poised on a hilltop site in Little Nahant. The result was a mansion that possessed integrity of location, design, setting and workmanship. Today, the Howe Estate also possesses historical associations with Nahant’s development as a summer resort.
This drawing is the architect’s concept of the Thomas Howe Estate which was built on the crest of the promontory overlooking Short Beach.
Located at 9 Little Nahant Road, the house features a complex roofline and massing with steeply-pitched gable dormers, chimneys with corbeled caps, and a pyramidal-roofed square tower extending from the top of the mansard roof. A one story porch encircles the house, with a porch-cochere at the north elevation and a fretwork balustrade.
The Howe Estate Through the Years (1800’s/1900’s)
When Mr. Howe had this house constructed in 1880, it was one of only a handful of buildings on Little Nahant. The other two houses (located at 25 Baker Rd and 80 Little Nahant Rd) were owned by George Simmons. Until the turn of the century, Little Nahant was owned by these two men and remained undeveloped until several decades after their deaths.
The Howe Estate, 1930’s
When Thomas Howe died, the house was inherited by 4 of his children: Percival Howe, Louise Howe, Harriet Howe and Kate Howe Chamberlain. The sisters on occasion invited the school children of Nahant to come visit the home and observe the skies from a telescope located in the tower. Through wills and transfers, the Nahant house finally came entirely into Percival Howe’s possession and he resided there for a few summers.
View from Little Nahant Rd, 1952
In 1928, upon the death of Percival, his trustees sold the property to Charles Phillips, Bernard Carahar and Leon Delano (known as the Nahant Associates). The Howe Estate stood practically alone in its extensive grounds, dominating the easterly side of the sparsely populated Little Nahant until the property was subdivided by the Nahant Associates.
In 1931, the mansion was purchased by Pauline Peckham. During the ownership of the Peckham family, Christmas lights (a novelty of the time) outlined the building and brought viewers from miles around to see them.
View from Howe Road, 1952
Purchase history:
1928 Charles Phillips, Bernard Carahar, Leon Delano
1931 Pauline Peckham
1936 John Scanlan
1951 Anthony and Paolina Cola
1963 Constantine and Marianna Pezaris
2023 Ricky Beliveau
Recent History (2000’s)
January 18, 2022 The HUD Public Auction of 9 Little Nahant Rd is announced and filed with the Salem Registry of Deeds. Auction is Scheduled for February 15, 2022
January 25, 2022 Public Auction Notice appears in the Lynn Daily Item.
The Scheduled Auction is Canceled.
February 16, 2022 At the Nahant Board of Selectmen's Meeting, the Nahant Town Administrator says the Town has submitted a $1,100,000* Community Preservation Committee Article (taxpayer funds) to be voted on at the May 21, 2022 Nahant Annual Town Meeting to purchase the condemned property with no planned use for the property.
The Board of Selectmen explain in this meeting that if the condemned house on a less than one acre lot is purchased by the Town, the residents of Nahant will have to decide what to do with it: Either to demolish the 1880 historic home or renovate.
*If purchased by the Town, none of the back taxes would have been collected, nor would any future property taxes be collected. Full Story: Nahant Battles Feds over Historic Home
April 6, 2022 Upon hearing the town’s plans of possibly tearing down the historic home, the executor of the Pezaris estate lists 9 Little Nahant Road for sale. While it is not sold during this period, it is kept on the market past the Annual Town Meeting.
March 12, 2023 HUD once again lists the property for sale/auction.
June 14, 2023 Developer Ricky Beliveau purchases 9 Little Nahant Road for $1,100,000. A large portion of the back taxes owed to the Town of Nahant are paid off.
June 14, 2023 - Ricky Beliveau, with his son Aidan, on closing day purchasing the Howe Estate
““Great news that the handsome and historic mansion is to be restored.””
July 2023 The restoration, which takes a full 2 years, begins.
September 21, 2025 Developer Ricky Beliveau, in partnership with the Nahant Historical Society, gives a presentation at Nahant Town Hall open to all who want to learn about the 2 year long restoration process.
“Having talked to all the neighbors and the Historical Society, it really opened my eyes to how important this property is to the community,” Beliveau said. “There were a lot of concerns that it’d be knocked down… but it was really clear how important this was, and we’ve had great feedback from the community.”
October 1, 2025 Ricky Beliveau invites the Nahant Community to an Open House at 9 Little Nahant Rd for a first peek at the stunning restoration of the 1880 Howe Mansion.
