The Valemont Estate on Hawthorne Street

The Valemont family established their estate on Hawthorne Street in 1907 after architect Lucien Valemont completed the unusual stone residence for his family following years of success in urban construction. Three generations lived there, including Lucien, his wife Clara, their children, and later grandchildren who shared the narrow but elaborate home. The family income came from architectural commissions, building contracts, and property investments throughout the city.

Historical records describe the estate as a carefully maintained residence with active use of the library, veranda, and upper rooms before changing economic conditions weakened the family’s position.

The first warning sign appeared in 1927 when Valemont Construction recorded unpaid invoices from several unfinished building projects. After the economic downturn of the early 1930s reduced demand for new construction, Lucien dismissed employees and reduced household expenses. Several upper rooms were closed, while repairs to the copper roof, marble accents, and enclosed veranda were postponed. After Lucien’s illness in 1932, management of the family business became difficult. By 1934, accumulated debts and unpaid property taxes forced the Valemonts to leave Hawthorne Street, with creditors beginning proceedings over the estate.

The Valemont Estate was abandoned in 1935 after foreclosure followed years of business decline, unpaid taxes, and unresolved financial obligations. No restoration occurred, and no Valemont descendants returned after leaving Hawthorne Street. Municipal records noted unsuccessful ownership transfers and continued deterioration of the unusual residence. The interior rooms remained closed, with family papers and furnishings left behind. Over the decades, moisture, weather exposure, and structural damage affected the stone walls and decorative features. The Gothic Revival and Mediterranean Revival estate remains empty in the historic neighborhood, slowly deteriorating without restoration or confirmed future use.