You can buy a condo in an 1850 mansion once home to a Maine governor

A condo in a restored Hallowell mansion that was once home to a former Maine governor is for sale for $329,000.

The one-bedroom, one bathroom condo is on the top floor of the Second Empire-style home that was built in 1850 and owned by Joseph Bodwell when he served as Maine’s governor in the late 1880s.

Bodwell renovated the house in 1875 to give it its Victorian details that remain on the building’s exterior today, according to the Maine Memory Network. The home is among the most recognizable in Hallowell and stands out from the less ornate homes along Middle Street.

Born in Massachusetts in 1818, Bodwell was a farmer and businessman who founded Hallowell Granite Works before launching a political career, according to Friends of the Blaine House. He served as Hallowell’s mayor and a State Representative before he was elected Maine’s 40th governor and sworn in on Jan. 6, 1887. His term lasted until he died in the Hallowell home on Dec. 15, 1887.

The home fell into disrepair long after Bodwell’s death and was placed on Maine Preservation’s Most Endangered Historic Places list in 2000. The organization’s list began in 1996 and seeks to call attention to derelict historic buildings throughout the state.

The mansion was slowly restored within the last decade and broken into four units, all of which are occupied except the unit for sale. The current owner bought the condo in 2022, according to local property records.

With an asking price of $329,000, the condo is less expensive than the price of an average home in Hallowell, which rested at nearly $374,000 as of Tuesday, according to Zillow. Like elsewhere in Maine, home prices in Hallowell spiked dramatically during the pandemic, but have started to drop slightly in recent months.

The home is perfect for “someone that appreciates classic architecture blended with modern efficiencies,” said Tyler Gaudet of Sprague & Curtis Real Estate, the listing agent for the property.

“The units are quite energy efficient and they have updated systems throughout them, but they did a really good job of preserving the exterior and the original woodwork,” Gaudet said. “They really preserved the past.”

With more than 1,200 square feet of living space, the condo has an open floor plan with large windows that let in natural light, cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors and granite countertops. The unit has access to the widow’s walk at the top of the building that could be used as an art studio, office or space for guests, Gaudet said.

“This is the only place I’ve ever sold with an accessible widow’s walk,” Gaudet said. “It’s pretty unique.”

The buyer would also have access to one spot in the detached garage and the shared courtyard on the property, Gaudet said.