Page 9 - Flathead Beacon // 11.27.13

8 | NOVEMBER 27, 2013 NEWS FLATHEADBEACON.COM

New Owner Outlines

Plans to Refurbish Somers Mansion

Future of iconic Somers home

has been shrouded in mystery

for a year

BIy JUSTIN FRANZ of the Beacon

t seems that anyone who has spent some time in
Somers knows at least a little bit of history about
the storied yellow mansion on the hill that over-
looks the old company town.
But to its new owner, Christy Manson, the Somers
Mansion was just an old home she fell in love with. She
had no idea of its deep roots in the community until a

few days after she made an ofer last November, when
the sale ended up on the front pages of local newspa-
pers.
“I never anticipated the huge spotlight on me when
I bought it,” she said last week. “It’s overwhelming.”
Built in 1903, the mansion was owned by the family
of John O’Brien, the irst manager of the Somers Lum-

ber Co. Through the years, the three-story mansion
has been used as oice space, a hotel and a private resi-
dence. In 1946, it was purchased by the McDevitt fam-
ily and was closed to the public for the next six decades.
In 2005 it was sold to Christin Didier and was heavily
damaged by a storm in 2007. It quickly fell into disre-
pair and Didier was evicted in 2012. While the irst and The Somers Mansion. FILE PHOTO BY LIDO VIZZUTTI | FLATHEAD BEACON
second loors are relatively untouched, the third loor is Within a few days, she made an ofer to pay the full “I just want people to be assured that I’m not going to

in deplorable condition because of a leaky roof.
$399,900 for the house and a few days after that, the tear it down. I put everything I have into buying the
It was put up for sale in November 2012. The ask- home ended up in the newspapers. Manson soon real- home and I’m going to keep working on it.”
ing price was $399,900; shockingly low considering the ized she wasn’t the only one who loved the house. The She said she hopes to have the roof replaced in the
14-bedroom home sits on 5 acres of land overlooking sudden attention was concerning to Manson, who con- next few weeks before winter sets in. She also said that
Flathead Lake. Local residents, including Brad Nelson siders herself a very private person.
rumors about the house falling apart are exaggerated.
who started a Facebook group called “Save The Somers “I’m going to do whatever I can to preserve what I A home inspector looked at the house after she pur-
Mansion,” were worried a developer would buy the can,” she said. “But it seems that the whole town thinks chased it and said it’s in stable condition. Manson said
property and knock the house down.
it has a say in what happens.”
much of the damage on the third loor is only cosmetic.

It was around that time that Susanna Eaton saw For months, rumors about the new owner and the “People get emotional and overdramatic about the
the real estate listing and thought the house would be mansion have been spreading, especially on social situation,” Eaton said. “It’s a well built house and it’s in
perfect for her friend Manson, an international light media. Nelson said as winter approaches, people have ine shape.”
attendant from California. For the last few years, Man- grown worried about the building’s future. He said the Manson plans on continuing work next year and
son has been splitting her time between California and locals only want to help.
eventually living on the second and third loors. The
Montana and hopes to retire in the Flathead. When she Manson said she appreciates the ofers of assis- irst loor she said could be used as a wedding and event
saw the listing, she decided to take a look at the house. tance, but says she’s worried about accepting help from venue. She said the house will be refurbished, but it’s

It didn’t take long for her to fall under the old home’s people she doesn’t know. She added that the home has just going to take time.
spell.
been broken into on multiple occasions this year and “It’s a lot of house and it’s going to take a lot of capi-
“Driving up the hill (to the mansion), it just felt like some items have gone missing.
tal,” she said.
I was coming home,” she said. “When I walked in I said, “I think people thought a millionaire would come [email protected]
‘Oh my God, I love this home, I want this home.’”
in and wave a magic wand, but I can’t do that,” she said.

Making Plans

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