Tabor Academy to potentially restore and modernize historic Percy Browne House

MARION — Tabor Academy is exploring the restoration and expansion of the historic Percy Browne House to adapt it for modern use.

The Marion Historical Commission completed a study in late August on potential future uses and restoration cost of the Percy Browne House, located at 192 Front Street.

Preservation Massachusetts named the 1882 house last year as one of the 10 most endangered historic resources in the state. The house is regarded by historians as the prototype of the shingle style in America, influencing later examples in New England, a Preservation Massachusetts report said. Plus, President Grover Cleveland summered in the house.

Tabor Academy, the property’s owner, has been exploring potential future uses for the house since the beginning of last year. Tabor originally planned to demolish the home but reconsidered due to community feedback.

The study recommended restoring the house as a single-family residence with a modern kitchen and bathrooms, while preserving the living spaces and historic features like the stairwell, fireplaces and trim. It also proposed constructing a separate 800-foot building behind the home for a faculty apartment and as a complementary carriage house for the property.

Tabor Academy supports the proposed design but said the project is not currently feasible due to other priorities. The restoration and expansion will cost approximately $3.5-4 million.

The academy has taken steps to prevent further deterioration of the house, including testing for insect damage, roof repairs to keep the building weathertight, minor exterior repairs and landscaping.

 "The Marion Historical Commission appreciates the steps Tabor Academy has taken to help protect the Percy Browne House in the short term, but they do not resolve the larger question of its future," said Meg Steinberg, Chair of the Marion Historical Commission. "We remain hopeful that Tabor will continue exploring funding sources and partnerships that could support the restoration and long-term preservation of this important historic property."