A visit to Halibut's 'cottage'

ROCKPORT — Where many passersby saw a dilapidated old cottage nestled in a wooded area of Halibut Point State Park, John Beckwith and his wife, Pat Tosches-Beckwith, saw the potential to create the home of their dreams.

Beckwith, a home inspector, and his wife, a holistic therapist and artist, couldn't afford to buy the park's Glenledge Cottage.

But they couldn't ignore their attraction to the neglected, yet promising, property and were prepared to move in and take responsibility for its extensive rehabilitation.

"We really fell in love with the place," said Tosches-Beckwith, 57, who along with her husband has been living in the cottage since March 2000.

Glenledge Cottage is one of 15 state-owned properties being renovated by live-in tenants with long-term leases. The tenants, who will never own the buildings, are participants in the state's Historic Curatorship Program — designed to affordably save the most historically significant of approximately 2,500 buildings owned by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The DCR developed the surplus of properties over the years as a result of land or park acquisitions. While the structures could be considered a bonus in the acquisition deals, they came with a $1.6 billion backlog of maintenance projects.

The agency is holding a free open house at the 13 Gott Ave. cottage on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in an effort to showcase the Historic Curatorship Program — and as a way for the Beckwiths to fulfill a requirement of the program that states the property must be open to the public at least twice annually.

Since the program began in 1994, 15 curators have accepted the renovation challenge, including other nearby efforts at Bradley Palmer Park in Topsfield and in Newburyport's Maudslay State Park.

Under the program, the tenant agrees to tackle the renovations and associated costs while living rent-free in the home. The length of the lease, generally between 10 and 50 years, is mathematically determined by dividing the anticipated expenses by fair-market monthly rent.

It's advantageous to the state as the work enhances the beauty of the building and surrounding state-protected land at minimal cost. Meanwhile, the sweat equity and skills allow the tenants to live in a place their bank account might not otherwise afford.

To date, the Historic Curatorship Program has leveraged more than $10 million in outside investment, said DCR spokeswoman Wendy Fox.

In theory, tenants must move out at the end of their lease. However, the Beckwiths have the option for two, five-year lease renewals and don't anticipate ever having to live anywhere else.

While curators don't pay rent, they are responsible for both property taxes and all utility bills. In the Beckwiths' case, they are not required to pay property taxes.

When they married in 1995, becoming residential curators was not in the plans. Rather, their dream house would be situated near the ocean, featuring three stories, a fireplace, French doors, and vegetable and flower gardens.

However, that dream carried with it a steep price tag, and so the Beckwiths began their search for Plan B.

The pair, both from the Boston area, found it when the state awarded them the Glenledge curatorship in 1996.

That excitement was short-lived after a few unanswered questions scared them off — questions about the septic and heating systems, and if there was arsenic in the well water.

A year later, the project was put out to bid again. This time, the questions had been answered — the septic system had been installed just before the state assumed ownership; the heating system was new; and testing determined there was no arsenic.

The couple were awarded the lease in November 1999, but spent four months tackling all-new wiring and plumbing before finally moving in with their two sons.

Though the original Queen Anne-era cottage, built in 1887, had a plumbed shower and toilet on the front porch, they preferred to have a bathroom inside and moved walls accordingly. They also built a new kitchen adjacent to a new mud room.

"We forgot how bad this place looked," said Tosches-Beckwith after looking through old photographs in preparation for Saturday's open house.

The couple encountered plenty of surprises — like the lone rusty spike that was holding up the entire front porch, and so many rotten clapboards that they had to reframe much of the house.

"The state definitely makes out on the deal, but we do love living here, it's one of the most beautiful areas around," Tosches-Beckwith said. "If you like living in nature, seeing lots of birds, and hearing the roar of the ocean, what's not to love?"

John Beckwith did extensive work for the Historical Society of Old Newbury and the Newburyport Maritime Society and understood what the Massachusetts Historical Commission wanted when requesting "historically acceptable renovations."

"This was a summer cottage that suffered through some bad renovations," Beckwith said. "The additions we made brought the character back to the property and reflect how the house originally was."

The Beckwiths have invested $350,000 in the cottage since moving in a decade ago, and they're far from finished. Currently, they are working toward completing a new, three-season screened porch off the kitchen.

The Beckwiths will be on site to greet visitors, as will a Department of Conservation and Recreation ranger.

Tosches-Beckwith said she is also interested in solving one of the home's enduring mysteries — the name of its first owner.

"We haven't been able to discover the very first owners, that remains a mystery," she said Thursday.

It's believed that a doctor and his family were the first people to live in the home. It was then occupied by an "old Hollywood type" gentleman known as Mr. Shapiro, who was said to host numerous parties featuring young "starlets" and trips to the nearby quarries for nude bathing, Tosches-Beckwith said.

The state first assumed ownership of the park's 52 acres in 1981.

Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.

GLENLEDGE COTTAGE

Halibut Point State Park, Rockport

What: 2,400-square-foot Queen Anne cottage built in 1887.

Where: Former summer cottage sits on 1.3 acres within the waterfront state park.

Lease: 20-year lease signed in 1999, with option for two five-year renewals.

Renovation costs: To date, curators have spent $350,000 in materials and sweat equity, $190,000 more than original estimate.

Current use: Single-family home.

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