From left: Alison Lampke, the new owner of 32 Friendship St., and her Realtor, Jessica Pooley. (Alexander Violo photo)
A pair of historic buildings in downtown Waldoboro recently changed hands, and the new owners plan to revitalize the structures while staying true to their historic character.
The historic properties at 32 Friendship St. and 35 Pleasant St. are of different styles and have different owners, but both parties have similar goals in mind.
Bill and Keli Greenwood, of Savannah, Ga., bought the building at 35 Pleasant St. on Oct. 25, according to Realtor Jessica Pooley, of RE/MAX Jaret and Cohn’s Waldoboro office. Alison Lampke, of Marblehead, Mass., bought the property at 32 Friendship St. on Nov. 17.
Pooley, the Realtor for both properties, described the property at 32 Friendship St. as an iconic Victorian home overlooking the Waldoboro village and the Medomak River.
Lampke, who plans to work on the home during the winter, said she intends to maintain the historic character of the home and use it as a second home in which to stay and entertain friends on the Midcoast.
The new owner of the Victorian home at 32 Friendship St. in Waldoboro plans extensive improvements and repairs to the building. (Alexander Violo photo)
“A friend of mine moved to Round Pond, I have another friend in Whitefield, and I was looking casually online when I saw this house. I was introduced to the area and liked it and decided to buy. I love decorating and restoring old houses,” Lampke said.
Lampke said the first part of the project will be to get the heat and water running in the house, with further work planned for the spring.
“In the spring there will be painting and work on the roof, and I’ll be slowly working on gardens and landscaping,” Lampke said.
Lampke said she is excited to work on the property and the plan is to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in the house next year.
“It’s rewarding. This is a dream I have turned into a reality,” Lampke said.
Lampke said the building’s previous owner, Tom Kronenberger, of Bremen, owned the property for around 10 years.
The building at 35 Pleasant St. in Waldoboro was originally built by shipwrights in the mid-1800s. (Alexander Violo photo)
Pooley said the Greenwoods’ plans for 35 Pleasant St., previously a four-unit apartment building, include rehabilitation of two of the building’s attached apartments and restoration of the main house as a single-family dwelling.
Bill Greenwood described the building as a post-and-beam structure built from huge timbers in the mid-19th century. Shipwrights built the home after a big fire destroyed homes in downtown Waldoboro in 1854.
Greenwood said he and his wife honeymooned in the area 30 years ago. He is happy they were able to purchase a home in the Midcoast after visiting the area for their 30th anniversary.
Greenwood said the house was previously a dentist’s office and, over the years, the original flooring had been covered up with laminate.
“We ripped all that out and got down to the original white pine floors,” he said.
Greenwood said the couple is looking forward to continuing their work on the house.
The interior of 32 Friendship St. in Waldoboro. (Alexander Violo photo)
“The main house is in really good shape. We are going to tidy her up to what she was in the 1800s,” he said.
Greenwood said the plan is to finish painting in the spring and to complete work on the two rental units, of 1,200 square feet each.
“We are looking forward to offering two nice rental properties,” he said.
Greenwood said the couple hopes to spend time at the property next summer.
“These old houses need a little TLC, but it’s well worth it. There aren’t a lot of structures like this around anymore, and we are happy to have the opportunity to make her grand again,” Greenwood said.
Pooley said it’s great to see revitalization in downtown Waldoboro.
“It’s a renaissance for the area,” she said.
