Roomba Inventor to Demolish Historic Home Designed by William Ralph Emerson
Beverly’s historic Loring House – designed by William Ralph Emerson and currently owned by the co-inventor of the robotic vacuum cleaner known as the Roomba – will be demolished.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the Loring House was designed by Ralph Waldo Emerson. The home was designed by William Ralph Emerson.
Well, that sucks!
According to The Boston Globe, Beverly’s historic Loring House – designed by William Ralph Emerson and currently owned by the co-inventor of the robotic vacuum cleaner known as the Roomba – will be demolished.
The home was first built 130 years ago and switched owners several times before being acquired by Helen Greiner, formerly of iRobot Corp. and now chief executive of CyPhy Works, for $3.75 million in 2012. The decision puts to rest a lengthy struggle between Greiner and Beverly’s Historic District Commission that wanted to preserve the home for its historic character.
From the Globe:
“Designed by William Ralph Emerson, the Loring House — also known as Pompey’s Garden, named for a slave who once worked the land — is perhaps among the prime examples of Shingle style architecture still standing.’’
While some have admired the home from afar, it is less attractive up close. Greiner had planned to renovate the home by gutting the interior and installing a porch. But Beverly’s historic commission cried foul at her proposal because it would have completely altered the home’s architecture. The commission was unable to stop her plan, so instead it hit her with a one-year delay. Greiner came back to the commission with a plan to demolish which resulted in another one-year delay. This second delay expired in the spring.
According to Greiner:
“For 25 years, the house has been going to ruin, and it wasn’t under my watch … I would be moving in this year if the historic commission had let me go forward. I never expected to be in this position.’’
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