The Victorian
The James Fletcher Whitin mansion located at 583 Linwood Avenue, across from the Linwood Cotton Mill, is a 13,000-square-foot Mansard-Victorian home on gracious, five-acre grounds. Linwood is a village within the incorporated town of Northbridge.
James F. Whitin (December 21, 1814 - March 2, 1902) was the youngest son of Paul C. Whitin, and brother of John Crane Whitin, who founded the Whitin Machine Works in 1831 at Northbridge, Massachusetts. James Whitin would also enter the family textile business, at a later age. The Whitin Machine Works grew to become one of the largest textile machinery companies in the world.
James Whitin acquired the land near the Whitin Railroad Depot where he built the Linwood Cotton Mill in 1866.
As owner of the Linwood Mill, Whitin lived in this 2 1/2 story Second Empire mansion. It is a wood framed structure that is well set back from the road.
Built in 1871, its scale and design reflected James Whitin’s prosperity and social status as owner and manager of the Linwood Mill.
From 1971 to 1993 it was an elegant restaurant and inn known as The Victorian. Actor Paul Newman was known to be an occasional guest there and enjoyed watching Summer League basketball games at the outdoor courts of the now Northbridge Middle School on Linwood Avenue. Over the years, couples were engage and married at The Victorian.
There is a 4,300 square foot carriage house located behind the residence. In recent years theatrical set construction, cast parties, and barn dances have taken place there. An English greenhouse was added by the Whitins at the turn of the 20th century.
The Victorian is a contributing building for the Linwood Historic District.
Delain and Rebecca Wright purchased the home in 2005 as a private residence.
Tragically, on April 29, 2022 flames broke out and firefighters spent several hours battling the multi-alarm fire but they were unable to save the history property. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire.
Carol H. Brouwer of the Northbridge Historical Society called the property a “grand old house,” and its loss to the community is “tremendous.” "The home had a grand staircase, high ceilings, and big windows." she said. It had rich green and rose floral wallpaper in the living room, frosted glass door panels, mahogany woodwork and three jewel toned stained glass panels over the third floor stairwell.
“It was one of the few remaining mansions from Whitinsville,” Brouwer said, referring to the historic mill area of town. “Most of them are gone...some burned down.”
Click here to read an article from the Boston Globe about the tragic fire.
S.J.Buma updated 4/30/2022
The James Fletcher Whitin mansion located at 583 Linwood Avenue, across from the Linwood Cotton Mill, is a 13,000-square-foot Mansard-Victorian home on gracious, five-acre grounds. Linwood is a village within the incorporated town of Northbridge.
James F. Whitin (December 21, 1814 - March 2, 1902) was the youngest son of Paul C. Whitin, and brother of John Crane Whitin, who founded the Whitin Machine Works in 1831 at Northbridge, Massachusetts. James Whitin would also enter the family textile business, at a later age. The Whitin Machine Works grew to become one of the largest textile machinery companies in the world.
James Whitin acquired the land near the Whitin Railroad Depot where he built the Linwood Cotton Mill in 1866.
As owner of the Linwood Mill, Whitin lived in this 2 1/2 story Second Empire mansion. It is a wood framed structure that is well set back from the road.
Built in 1871, its scale and design reflected James Whitin’s prosperity and social status as owner and manager of the Linwood Mill.
From 1971 to 1993 it was an elegant restaurant and inn known as The Victorian. Actor Paul Newman was known to be an occasional guest there and enjoyed watching Summer League basketball games at the outdoor courts of the now Northbridge Middle School on Linwood Avenue. Over the years, couples were engage and married at The Victorian.
There is a 4,300 square foot carriage house located behind the residence. In recent years theatrical set construction, cast parties, and barn dances have taken place there. An English greenhouse was added by the Whitins at the turn of the 20th century.
The Victorian is a contributing building for the Linwood Historic District.
Delain and Rebecca Wright purchased the home in 2005 as a private residence.
Tragically, on April 29, 2022 flames broke out and firefighters spent several hours battling the multi-alarm fire but they were unable to save the history property. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire.
Carol H. Brouwer of the Northbridge Historical Society called the property a “grand old house,” and its loss to the community is “tremendous.” "The home had a grand staircase, high ceilings, and big windows." she said. It had rich green and rose floral wallpaper in the living room, frosted glass door panels, mahogany woodwork and three jewel toned stained glass panels over the third floor stairwell.
“It was one of the few remaining mansions from Whitinsville,” Brouwer said, referring to the historic mill area of town. “Most of them are gone...some burned down.”
Click here to read an article from the Boston Globe about the tragic fire.
S.J.Buma updated 4/30/2022