They always looked new to me; I'm glad to see them disappear.

Apparently a major overhaul of the property is taking place. This stone marker, which had been perpendicular to the street near the sidewalk, has been moved nearer the entrance and facing out, and it appears the front portion of the lawn seems to have been excavated and "sunken." I don't know the history of this marker, but I doubt that it goes back that many years, since the inscription looks cleanly cut and not weathered at all, although I could be wrong. Looks good repositioned like this though.

 

These folks have left no detail incomplete. When its all said and done the Steele Mansion will be as important a landmark in Painesville as it was when built. Perhaps even more so than originally because at the time it was built there were far more impressive homes of this kind in the neighborhood but now its one of a couple of rare survivors. They deserve all the praise the community can muster because I can count on one hand the number of successful restorations on this scale and scope. (anywhere in the U.S.)  While I doubt others will try to repeat this near miraculous transformation, perhaps it will at least make others pause and see their own faded homes in a different light. Demolition has always been the default solution for old faded mansions in most cases.  BTW, we will be in Ohio next week but Galion-Mansfield is the farthest north in our travels. A more ambitious trip to Warren and Youngstown was scaled back and will have to wait for another time.  Maybe Painesville will be included then. Thanks for the photo.

The work continues on the Steele Mansion and seems close to completion. The article states that it will be reinstated on the National Register, which kind of surprised me, since I had never seen it listed before. I guess when a property is abandoned and so decrepit (surely the case of the Steele Mansion) it can be removed. I guess this is a rare instance where a reversal was in order--

 

First gathering booked for Steele Mansion sees work still in progress

By Janet Podolak, The News-Herald

Posted: 10/19/14, 5:23 PM EDT

 

http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20141019/first-gathering-booked-for-steele-mansion-sees-work-still-in-progress

Nice article by Plain Dealer travel writer Susan Glaser--

 

Painesville's historic Steele Mansion, damaged by fire and nearly demolished by the city, prepares to reopen as an inn (photo gallery)

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/11/painesvilles_historic_steele_m.html

 

 

Painesville, Ohio – In December 2010, Art Shamakian was on his way to the grocery store when he noticed an auction sign in front of a severely damaged house on Mentor Avenue.

 

Four days later, he and his wife bought the property.

 

And four years later? Well, take a look at the Steele Mansion now.

 

The walnut staircase has been restored to its 19th-century grandeur; seven marble fireplaces have been pieced together and rebuilt; a three-story addition has been added to the rear; and 16 overnight guest rooms are in their final stages of preparation.

 

This grand dame of historic Painesville is about to make her second public debut –nearly a century and a half after she first opened her doors in 1867.

It's always wonderful news to read something like this. I hope the Shamakian's success is beyond their wildest dreams and may convince others to take another look at endangered historic homes. I heard the Sorg Mansion in Middletown, OH is undergoing restoration-some had written that off as being beyond saving as well. Small flickers of light in the darkness...

A recently posted pic of one of the meeting rooms at the Steele Mansion. I nominate this space for the urbanohio Christmas party! Oh, wait, you mean there isn't one; or just that I wasn't invited :| This appears to be in the rebuilt back wing that had collapsed (originally servants' quarters). Looking forward to seeing some of the main rooms soon...

To summarize my sentiments in one word: Wow!

That's  really  amazing!  I'm  impressed!

That's  really  amazing!  I'm  impressed!

To summarize my sentiments in one word: Wow!

agreed! I'm wondering if the floors aren't just a wee bit too shiny here. But who am I to judge? I can't even get it together to paint my (very small) bathroom. I was also wondering if any attempt was going to be made to recreate any of the crown moulding, which obviously was not salvageable. I don't know how difficult or costly that would be in this day and age. Maybe it will appear in some of the other rooms. Doesn't Home Depot sell stick on's--lol. Otherwise I believe that's all the original woodwork--(edit: oops, I guess that is crown moulding where the ceiling & wall meet, right? I was thinking more about the more ornate stuff on the ceiling. I think there was some of that there originally)

I like the floors. Is that Hickory?

I like the floors. Is that Hickory?

yes, as I read before they are indeed hickory. You really know your floors! I don't know what the original flooring would have been. I don't think they were able to save any of it.

Hickory? Interesting.  Back when this house was new Chestnut was a preferred wood for flooring and millwork but after disease killed off the supply, Oak and (Southern) Yellow Pine became the common woods for flooring. I'm not surprised that the original flooring had to be replaced as years of water/ice/snow saturation under plaster and debris surely ruined (rotted) any of the original flooring. I recall the "before" photos looking from upstairs down to the ground floor with even the second floor joists being gone. I don't think it would be much of an exaggeration to say only about 1% or less of historic homes in this condition ever get restored. It's not that they don't deserve restoration, it's that the dollar figures involved are steep and very few individuals are willing to make that kind of investment. The Shamakians are themselves very rare individuals but more folks with their vision are badly needed; I've seen houses in far better shape than the Steele Mansion get razed because it was claimed they were "too far gone to save". In the end, the remarkable restoration of this house shows that where there is the will there is a way. Best Holiday wishes and a Happy New Year to all of my Urban Ohio friends and acquaintances and a special "Thank you" is sent to the Shamakians for saving this Painesville landmark.

Hickory? Interesting.  Back when this house was new Chestnut was a preferred wood for flooring and millwork but after disease killed off the supply, Oak and (Southern) Yellow Pine became the common woods for flooring. I'm not surprised that the original flooring had to be replaced as years of water/ice/snow saturation under plaster and debris surely ruined (rotted) any of the original flooring. I recall the "before" photos looking from upstairs down to the ground floor with even the second floor joists being gone. I don't think it would be much of an exaggeration to say only about 1% or less of historic homes in this condition ever get restored. It's not that they don't deserve restoration, it's that the dollar figures involved are steep and very few individuals are willing to make that kind of investment. The Shamakians are themselves very rare individuals but more folks with their vision are badly needed; I've seen houses in far better shape than the Steele Mansion get razed because it was claimed they were "too far gone to save". In the end, the remarkable restoration of this house shows that where there is the will there is a way. Best Holiday wishes and a Happy New Year to all of my Urban Ohio friends and acquaintances and a special "Thank you" is sent to the Shamakians for saving this Painesville landmark.

Likewise to the Shamakians! I don't know what the reason for picking hickory was (I figure if anyone would know, you would :wink:), except that it's possibly more durable than other woods (?). Interesting about chestnut though. I assume it's not even available to this day. The doors, trim, etc. is black walnut. I guess that can't be used for flooring (?) or that it's just too costly.

 

Did they really need new floors? Maybe they could have created an atrium--lol

 

 

before^ and after! :clap: (photos by Johnny Joo )

 

Wonderful progress being made. This appears to be the view out to one of the front rooms, as one of the porch (or in this case "portico" :-)) columns is seen through the window. What strikes me is the use of color. In New York whenever an historic townhouse from this era is restored it seems a monochromatic color scheme--or usually stark white--is the default; which is typical for the vast majority of small apartments (like mine), but seems a little boring for much larger spaces. My guess is that all white was probably not used in the 19th century, if at all. (This image is from the Steele Mansion website)

 

White painted woodwork bracketed the beginning and end of the 19th century.  The late Federal into the Greek Revival styles before 1850 usually had painted woodwork but it was often faux grained to look like more expensive woods with burl and other fancy grain patterns rare or unknown in nature. By the mid-19th century, clear finished woods like Rosewood and Walnut became popular. By the mid-1880's the supply of American Black walnut was dwindling, so the less desirably but plentiful Oak and Ash were employed to furnish millwork in American households. The so-called Age of "Golden Oak" arrived in the late 1880's which was Oak, often quarter-sawn (with its distinctive "Tiger" stripes in the grain) and finished with orange shellac to give the Oak a golden wood tone. The art of faux finishing cheaper woods to resemble more expensive woods never died out; Pine, which in the trade was called "Deal" in the Victorian era, as well as Poplar were extensively used throughout the Victorian era and often faux finished to look like more expensive quarter-sawn Oak.  Towards the end of the era as Oak and other hardwoods became more expensive, Southern Yellow pine in the Midwest and South (Cypress in some deep South locations) and Douglas Fir in the Northwest were extensively used both for framing and as millwork woods. By the late 1890's stylistic tastes turned again towards to the Classicism of the early 19th century so white painted woodwork began appearing again in residences. This trend continued into the early 20th century with white becoming so popular that even fine woods in older staircases, window and door trim, as well as mantel-pieces had coats of white paint slapped over them. (as modern day old house restorers often discover to their surprise and dismay when quality hardwoods are discovered under coats of paint) Anyone who's had to pick with dental tools white paint out of the open pores of old Oak can relate to the dismay part. I'm glad the Steele mansion retained its clear finished woods although it would not surprise me if the minor woodwork/millwork in some rooms were originally faux grained. Given the age of the home's wood, finishing in the clear seems acceptable as modern tastes have a different esthetic than in the 19th century. The popular fad of scraping away plaster and paint to reveal bare brickwork inside would have horrified Victorian era homeowners who wanted everything to have a formal finished look. So too exposed old wood beams in ceilings and such...I've seen rare early log cabins sheathed with milled clapboards for the same esthetic reasons.

^Thanks for the (always) insightful historical background. Again I've proven myself a fount (or is it "font?" I never could figure that out) of misinformation idle speculation. "Bare brickwork?" You mean like my authentic late 1970's walls? At least I don't have hanging planters made of macrame (although they might help to add more definition to the space :-()

No criticism was intended regarding having exposed brick in an old house. Even the Rehab Addict on TV likes to show off exposed brickwork inside whenever possible.  In our era, the esthetics of the 19th century are sometimes difficult to understand. The Victorians were simply more formal in their interiors. They probably had trouble relating to "rustic" things, although rough faced limestone blocks did seem to appeal to homeowners of that era. I'd never urge someone with exposed brick interior walls in their old house to go slather plaster over them again-that would change the entire atmosphere and would diminish the effect in a modern interior.

No criticism was intended regarding having exposed brick in an old house. Even the Rehab Addict on TV likes to show off exposed brickwork inside whenever possible.  In our era, the esthetics of the 19th century are sometimes difficult to understand. The Victorians were simply more formal in their interiors. They probably had trouble relating to "rustic" things, although rough faced limestone blocks did seem to appeal to homeowners of that era. I'd never urge someone with exposed brick interior walls in their old house to go slather plaster over them again-that would change the entire atmosphere and would diminish the effect in a modern interior.

I was just being facetious. I'm just trying to figure out how to clean it since it's become so soot-stained over the years (go figure, New York). I certainly didn't expect the Steele Mansion, or any restoration of a 19th century home, to be a faithful carbon copy of the original. Based on photos of the Steele Mans. from the late 1800's, recreating those rooms would look oppressive and more than a little ridiculous. I don't think anyone wants it to go back so far in time and look like this :|--

Nice photo find. It illustrates as well the esthetic sensibilities of the period. But today an interior like that would be appropriate for a museum house or for someone who is absolutely gob-smacked with Victoriana. Industrial strength Victoriana is an acquired taste but there are companies making period reproduction wall papers and accessories for an authentic period look. No matter how faithful to the period an interior might appear, you are still living in 2015 so the culture, technology, and economic realities remain of our period not those from over a century ago.

Most owners of old houses prefer a blend of modern (especially kitchens and bathrooms) with whatever appealing period details make their home distinctive.  I disagree with those who buy a well preserved and intact historic home yet aim to gut the interior and install a thoroughly modern house inside the old walls. (as a certain PBS show favors sometimes) If you love and want modern, buy a modern house, don't take a well preserved relic from the past and erase the character and history embodied in the house to make it look like it was built this week. From reading the previous statements, a compromise between the past and our modern age seems like the balance to seek.

Nice photo find. It illustrates as well the esthetic sensibilities of the period. But today an interior like that would be appropriate for a museum house or for someone who is absolutely gob-smacked with Victoriana. Industrial strength Victoriana is an acquired taste but there are companies making period reproduction wall papers and accessories for an authentic period look. No matter how faithful to the period an interior might appear, you are still living in 2015 so the culture, technology, and economic realities remain of our period not those from over a century ago.

Most owners of old houses prefer a blend of modern (especially kitchens and bathrooms) with whatever appealing period details make their home distinctive.  I disagree with those who buy a well preserved and intact historic home yet aim to gut the interior and install a thoroughly modern house inside the old walls. (as a certain PBS show favors sometimes) If you love and want modern, buy a modern house, don't take a well preserved relic from the past and erase the character and history embodied in the house to make it look like it was built this week. From reading the previous statements, a compromise between the past and our modern age seems like the balance to seek.

 

"I disagree with those who buy a well preserved and intact historic home yet aim to gut the interior and install a thoroughly modern house inside the old walls. (as a certain PBS show favors sometimes) If you love and want modern, buy a modern house, don't take a well preserved relic from the past and erase the character and history embodied in the house to make it look like it was built this week. From reading the previous statements, a compromise between the past and our modern age seems like the balance to seek."

 

I agree with this wholeheartedly. What's the point? Just build a new house! I think this is the fireplace (courtesy of Pres Ohio's post from last year) in the old pic--

 

Nice photo find. It illustrates as well the esthetic sensibilities of the period. But today an interior like that would be appropriate for a museum house or for someone who is absolutely gob-smacked with Victoriana. Industrial strength Victoriana is an acquired taste but there are companies making period reproduction wall papers and accessories for an authentic period look. No matter how faithful to the period an interior might appear, you are still living in 2015 so the culture, technology, and economic realities remain of our period not those from over a century ago.

Most owners of old houses prefer a blend of modern (especially kitchens and bathrooms) with whatever appealing period details make their home distinctive.  I disagree with those who buy a well preserved and intact historic home yet aim to gut the interior and install a thoroughly modern house inside the old walls. (as a certain PBS show favors sometimes) If you love and want modern, buy a modern house, don't take a well preserved relic from the past and erase the character and history embodied in the house to make it look like it was built this week. From reading the previous statements, a compromise between the past and our modern age seems like the balance to seek.

 

"I disagree with those who buy a well preserved and intact historic home yet aim to gut the interior and install a thoroughly modern house inside the old walls. (as a certain PBS show favors sometimes) If you love and want modern, buy a modern house, don't take a well preserved relic from the past and erase the character and history embodied in the house to make it look like it was built this week. From reading the previous statements, a compromise between the past and our modern age seems like the balance to seek."

 

I agree with this wholeheartedly. What's the point? Just build a new house! I think this is the fireplace (courtesy of Pres Ohio's post from last year) in the old pic--

 

 

A recent pic of this fireplace. It looks amazing (although I'm going to miss that office wall clock :laugh:)--

Agreed, that over-mantel mirror is of the same period and very appropriate.  The "after" photos on this house just blow me away. I hope the Shamakians receive not only local recognition but state and even national praise for taking a hopeless case and bringing it all the way back to its period appearance. Even more importantly, I hope it inspires others to tackle difficult projects or at least stabilize endangered structures until someone has the resources to restore them. So long as a structure has a sound roof and is secured from vandals, it will be stable for years. But far too often demolition is the chosen solution. I think the entire community of Painesville is the beneficiary of this remarkable restoration and a 150 year old landmark now has a second chance to represent Painesville's past.  Thanks for the newer photo.

Agreed, that over-mantel mirror is of the same period and very appropriate.  The "after" photos on this house just blow me away. I hope the Shamakians receive not only local recognition but state and even national praise for taking a hopeless case and bringing it all the way back to its period appearance. Even more importantly, I hope it inspires others to tackle difficult projects or at least stabilize endangered structures until someone has the resources to restore them. So long as a structure has a sound roof and is secured from vandals, it will be stable for years. But far too often demolition is the chosen solution. I think the entire community of Painesville is the beneficiary of this remarkable restoration and a 150 year old landmark now has a second chance to represent Painesville's past.  Thanks for the newer photo.

it's interesting how they're approaching this, taking the most prominent architectural elements that were salvageable, restoring them and focusing on them prominently so they stand out, leaving the rest of the space to a kind of "inspired" 19th century look, stripping away the clutter of that era with a clean look that remains true to its historic roots. (do you like that? I just made it up--a little uninformed discourse based only on my skewed observations-- lol) Seriously, understanding that aesthetic standards have changed radically in 150 years, if it's possible that the new Steele Mansion will look better than it did when first built, this is it. Another fireplace--

 

the original doors look fantastic--

 

this is like Victorianism on steroids :-)

Lovely, but I wonder if this hallway is original as it look so narrow?  That large chandelier is almost touching the walls. Perhaps this is part of the addition and the confines of the lot/parking, etc. required a minimal width hallway. Must have been fun maneuvering large pieces of furniture or beds through here.  That said, I love the look.  Thanks for sharing.

Lovely, but I wonder if this hallway is original as it look so narrow?  That large chandelier is almost touching the walls. Perhaps this is part of the addition and the confines of the lot/parking, etc. required a minimal width hallway. Must have been fun maneuvering large pieces of furniture or beds through here.  That said, I love the look.  Thanks for sharing.

You're correct. I'm pretty sure this is in the rebuilt back wing, of which nothing from the original survives (additionally I believe this is the third floor, which was not--I think--in this wing when first built--just in the main house). I guess to make the rooms as commodious as possible they settled on a very narrow hallway. This section looks like a more whimsical version of a hotel you would see in an old western. I would love to know where they got all of the lighting fixtures. I don't know if any are actually antique, or new ones based on historic designs.

They appear to be antique to me although some fairly decent reproductions have been made in recent years. I doubt that large chandelier is a reproduction but it was surely costly regardless of age.

I know, I can't imagine the $$$ spent on lighting fixtures alone throughout the mansion. I wonder if the transoms above the doors work...

some nice video and photo gallery--

 

Inn business picking up for renovated historic Steele Mansion home

 

http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20150307/inn-business-picking-up-for-renovated-historic-steele-mansion-home

 

 

Interest in the 1867 Steele Mansion apparently hasn’t waned in the five years that the Shamakian family has been working to bring it back to useful life.

 

The home-turned-inn hosted a sold-out guided tour and catered dessert event March 7 to give participants a look at the progress inside the 20,000-square-foot fixer-upper.

 

Such special events also are intended to help provide a return on the family’s huge investment in the property at 348 Mentor Ave., now that the renovations are “virtually” complete.

a couple of recent photos, maybe the original dining room (?). Looks amazing!

 

 

Really incredible.  I can't imagine how much money they have poured into this project. 

picture is a bit grainy, but nice lighting! 

^ That's what you call the money shot.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy visits the Steele Mansion

Some examples of rooms available. I wonder if everything has that "new" smell or if they were able to recapture that musty old house scent. I guess neither would be desirable  :|

 

 

 

 

I've toured the property and those pictures do not do it justice. The level of detail they went to in terms of both the rehab and the furnishing is incredible.

Grand Opening June 2!

 

 

This is in the category of a picture is sometimes worth a thousand words-when reviewed from the beginning, this is one of the most encouraging preservation stories I've read in a long time. Remarkable house, remarkable family that decided to restore it. I hope this venture succeeds beyond their most ambitious plans and will encourage others to rescue other endangered historic structures throughout Ohio.  A once derelict ruin of a house has furnished employment to local tradespeople, will now become a new start up business in town, and will continue to bring revenue and taxes into the local economy for decades to come. Had this structure been razed (as were over 100,000 structures statewide via the "Moving Ohio Forward" state demolition program) all that would be there now is a vacant lot with few hopes of any revenues from the site going into the local economy in the future. Congratulations to everyone involved in this project for reaching this milestone.

My cousin works for Morley Library and she went to the mansion today after work and put a bunch of pictures on facebook. Looked great!

^Morley Lib? I worked there in HS :-( Appropriately for the era, I think there were supposed to be Civil War reenactors there also (Union troops, I assume :|); no pictures yet. (I have a friend who said she would go but due to construction on Mentor Avenue the traffic was reduced to one lane so she gave up. I don't think she made much of an effort :x)--

apparently "President and Mrs. Garfield" attended the grand opening. I wonder if they took a Laketran bus from Lawnfield. lol

wow what a fantastic save and restoration. its funny that ne ohio has a steele mansion. very fitting!

^I believe the woman in the "period" garb and the one standing next to her are actual descendants of the Steele family. The day was chosen because it was the 191st birthday of the patriarch who built the home--George Steele ( don't know what he did, probably not in "steel!")--

Undated photo in front of the Steele Mansion (posted by the Shamakians)--

Undated photo in front of the Steele Mansion (posted by the Shamakians)--

 

Black Widow Baby!!!!!    That High-Victorian fashion on Mom looks like something Sigourney Weaver battled in the movie "Alien".

^I think that's possibly the original Mrs. Steele. Her husband died at only 57 (or is that him in the background?)--

nice article--

 

Mentor photographer discovers love for Steele Mansion on urban exploration

 

http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20140603/mentor-photographer-discovers-love-for-steele-mansion-on-urban-exploration

 

By Devon Turchan, The News-Heralds

POSTED: 06/03/14, 11:07 PM EDT | 0

 

The first time he stepped foot into the mansion, somewhat illegally, a Mentor teen found a skeleton key that he figured would not be missed.

Armed with his Olympus E-3 digital SLR camera, Johnny Joo snuck into the abandoned former home of George W. Steele with some friends in 2007.

 

After he took pictures of the second floor from the basement — as the floor had fallen through — and haunting pictures of the damage from multiple fires and age deterioration, he tucked the key in his wallet, where it remains to this day.

 

It wasn’t the first time 24-year-old Joo (pronounced “yo”) had traipsed onto a property without having first received permission, and it wouldn’t be the last. But this particular structure would become something more to the then hobby photographer.

 

“I love how it looked then, and I love it even more now,” Joo said to owner Carol Shamakian, standing on the porch of the 22,000-square-foot Steele Mansion.

 

there will be a book signing at the Steele Mansion, Friday, July 31, 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm for this photographer and his book "Empty Spaces" which features photos of the mansion. I believe this time slot coincides with the regularly scheduled happy hour there--all the more reason to go!