James W. Mort 1869 – 139 Methuen St., Lowell

5 bedrooms
2 1/2 bathrooms
3,099 square feet
10,525 square foot lot
Built 1869
$279,900

Kitchen Dim.: 15 X 25
Dining Room: 16 X 18
Living Room: 17 X 32
Bedrooms: 10 X 15, 7 X 14, 4 X 20

The front porch has an over-sized extra-long church pew-esque bench for enjoying the view of the large front yard. There is a quaint old-fashioned mudroom that leads into the kitchen. The kitchen is wonderfully antique – featuring an old wood-burning oven and stove, an island with a secret conventional modern oven and many built-ins. The sunroom is all floor-to-ceiling windows – definitely one of the most beautiful rooms in the house. The 20×40 foot living room has a large fireplace, the dining room has a big pretty mantle for decorating. The floors were original hardwood, the walls and ceilings distinctly Victorian with period wallpaper and medallions. The second floor turret library is easily one of the most beautiful rooms I’ve ever seen – purple walls with built-in shelves and lavishly decorative plaster ceilings with cherubs. In fact, many of the rooms feature painstakingly crafted wallpapered ceilings and walls and built-ins, closets too have many shelves and built-ins. The doorknobs throughout the house are ornate, as are the doorknob faceplates – the doorknob faceplate in the dining room, for example, is carved with a Victorian maiden. The first floor bathroom has a charming old-fashioned Victorian toilet. The main bathroom on the second floor is spacious – large enough for a couple dressers and a chaise lounge – as you can see in the photos below. The bathroom off the old maid’s quarters has a large walk-in shower. One of my favorite details of the house is the hand-painted mural staircase of a waterfall and country path lined with boulders (painted to resemble 19th century Lowell) into the third floor turret – a wonderful room offering amazing expansive views of Lowell. There is a vast screened-in back porch that includes a large hot tub and ends in a gazebo porch. This is one of the most charming details of the house! I don’t know about you, but I have *always* wanted a gazebo porch. The backyard is a certified nature conservatory – only native plants allowed. There is a beautiful fairy-tale orchard, a large ornate garage and attached carriage house. All have the lovely slate roofs and ornate Italianate stylings that match the house perfectly. James W Mort was a tobacco tycoon. Most wealthy families in Lowell at the time grew their wealth from the mills along the Merrimack. Mort’s fortune was to be found down south. The owners carefully and painstakingly restored and renovated the house over 10 years – repairing termite damage, insulation, plumbing, electrical and scraping away layers of 50s paint, paneling, linoleum and other atrocities often afflicted upon gorgeous Victorian homes in the 50s and 60s.

Listing:
Own a piece of history in this updated and beautiful Victorian home in desirable Christian Hill. James W Mort house with a mixture of Italianate and Queen Anne. Featured in Victorian Magazine in 2005, beautiful hand painted mural on second floor hallway and stairway to 3rd floor, resembling 19th century bucolic Lowell. Second floor media room and library with amazing elaborately detailed ceilings (includes plaster cherubs!) Great 3rd floor office with beautiful city views. Spacious rooms, beautiful finish details that must be seen to appreciate, come see the true value this home offers…
Seller is subdividing land and reselling Victorian home. Purchase of this home is subject to recording subdivision. The existing carriage house, garage, gazebo, and back porch will be taken down. The current assessment and taxes for this property will be adjusted. Seller will pay $10,000.00 toward buyers closing costs. Don’t delay!!!

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