Property Detail - Ad Number 121929

Full Description

Spacious 1+ bedroom condo available in the historic Bogigian Mansion just off Rte 117 in the beautiful town of Lancaster, MA. Townhouse style (2 floors) with loft style master bedroom. Original post & beam features, exposed ceiling beams, built in shelving, wide pine as well as hardwood floors, and lots of charm in this fully renovated 6-condo conversion. Entry though elegant main foyer. Original fireplace (non-working) in entry as well as in unit. Kitchen with maple cabinets, gas range, and dishwasher. Ceramic tile floor in kitchen and bathroom. Hookup for stackable washer/dryer.

Pets OK with approval. Condo fee of $290/mo includes heat (forced hot water), trash removal, water, septic/sewer (town sewer betterment is paid in full), exterior maintenance including snow removal and landscaping, and Master Insurance.

Views of Mt. Wachusett. A must see!

Unit 4: Living Area is 1,005 sq.ft. Lots of closet space.

First Floor: Living Room: 14' X 18'4"; Kitchen: 9'4" X 11'; Den/office: 10' X 10'6"; Full Bath: 5'6" X 11'6" (w/stack washer/dryer hook up)

Second Floor Master Bedroom: 10'2" X 29'4" w/large walk in closet.

Additional Info: Buyer to pay 2 months extra condo fees at closing toward capital reserves. There are 6 units total in the building. Each unit has storage allocated in the full, unfinished above ground basement. Owner is a licensed Real Estate agent.

Owner Testimonial

Most owners do not write testimonials, but this is a very special house worthy of sharing some history and qualities that make it unique. This is a "good" house, well built and well designed. Previous owners and people who have lived here say there is something about this house that everyone who has lived here has felt -- a good aura -- this is a happy place.

The Bogigian Mansion was built in 1907 by Hagop Bogigian, written up in history as belonging to Lancaster, Boston, or for that matter "to the whole world". Bogigian was an Armenian immigrant who came to the US in 1875, befriended Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and made his fortune importing rugs. Bogigian became a well-known humanitarian with two causes unusual to his time -- humanity, especially widows and orphans, and the benefit of the education of women. Bogigian fought for both causes, both as an active spokesperson and by leaving his considerable fortune to these causes upon his death.

The original house is believed built in the late 1700's or early 1800's as part of the Damon farm and sat closer to Neck Road on the property. Bogigian bought the property in 1905 and moved the old farmhouse back up the hill, setting it on the cement foundation and building the addition including the "grand" entry in 1907.

In it's glory, the Bogigian Mansion was an 80-acre estate with an orchard, a pond, and formal rose gardens as well as the house, an 18 room summer mansion filled with art and imported rugs. Since Bogigians' death in 1931, much of the land was sold off and twice the house fell into disrepair. Always, however, it was restored. Today the front entry is filled with memorabilia and photographs.

An elegant marker stone sits out front:

Hagop Bogigian; Humanitarian Crusader; 1856 - 1931

He built and lived in this house from 1907 until his death. He was born in the Armenian Provincce of Kharpert in Ottoman Turkey and came to this country in 1875. He befriended Longfellow and established a successful business in Boston as a pioneer merchant of oriental rugs and as an importer-exporter. Later he became a well-known figure in America as a champion of the humanitarian causes of the Armenian People. He supported higher education for Armenian women. "So many Gods; so many creeds; so many paths that wind and wind; while just the act of being kind; is all the sad world needs." (inscribed on his tombstone in Washington, D.C.)