The Restoration of the Howe Estate

The Nahant Historical Society is excited to announce that the Howe Estate is currently undergoing a privately funded, multi-million dollar restoration. The new owner, Ricky Beliveau, has graciously agreed to work with our Board Member, and Little Nahant resident, Susanne Macarelli, to document the entire restoration.

The Little Nahant neighborhood is grateful the new owner is committed to meticulously preserving this iconic and magnificent 1880 home, while also enhancing the charm of the surrounding neighborhood.

Follow along to witness the journey as this Little Nahant landmark, that has kept watch over Short Beach for over 140 years, is returned to its once former grandeur by Back Bay Design Corp (as featured on This Old House).

Follow along: NHS Facebook page

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

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.

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.

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.

1928, Purchased by Charles Phillips, Bernard Carahar, Leon Delano
1931, Purchased by Pauline Peckham
1936, Purchased by John Scanlan
1951, Purchased by Anthony and Paolina Cola
1963, Purchased by Constantine and Marianna Pezaris
2023, Purchased by Ricky Beliveau