The Whitmore Family House on Bellmont Avenue

The Whitmore family established their residence on Bellmont Avenue in 1903 after Henry Whitmore purchased and expanded the limestone mansion following his success as a railroad supply merchant. Three generations lived there, including Henry, his wife Clara, their children, and later grandchildren who participated in family business affairs. Their income came from railroad contracts, warehouse investments, and commercial property holdings.

City archives describe the home as a distinguished Gilded Age residence with active formal rooms, regular maintenance, and frequent family gatherings. The belvedere tower, library, and upper floors remained in daily use before financial difficulties changed the property’s future.

The first warning sign appeared in 1928 when Whitmore Supply Company lost major railroad contracts and experienced declining revenue. During the economic downturn of the early 1930s, Henry reduced household costs by dismissing staff and closing several unused bedrooms on the upper floors. Repairs to the marble veranda, slate roof, and garden fountain were postponed as business debts and property taxes accumulated. After Henry’s death in 1932, disagreements among heirs delayed decisions about selling the estate. By 1934, financial obligations forced Clara and the remaining family members to leave Bellmont Avenue while creditors reviewed the property.

The Whitmore House was abandoned in 1935 after foreclosure followed years of business decline, unpaid property costs, and unresolved inheritance decisions. No restoration occurred, and no Whitmore heirs returned after leaving Bellmont Avenue. Municipal records noted complicated ownership transfers and continued deterioration of the vacant mansion. The interior rooms remained closed, with household papers and personal belongings left behind. Over the decades, moisture damage, structural settling, and neglect affected the limestone residence. The Italianate mansion remains empty on the prestigious street, deteriorating without restoration or confirmed future ownership.