SALEM, Ohio (WKBN) — For nearly 150 years, a Salem house has stood on the same corner. But for the last 30 years, it’s sat empty. Now, the home known for its twisted chimneys has a new owner and a new future.
“Well, it’s kind of muddy,” said 15-year-old Austin Kurtz.
That’s how Kurtz began the story of how he and his family decided to buy and renovate the house on Salem’s South Ellsworth Street — the one with the twisted chimneys.
“Oh, those chimneys look super recognizable and very gothic inspired, and so obviously I was super, super into it,” Austin said.
Joe Kurtz works for Verizon and is Austin’s dad, who, along with mother Jodi and sister Morgan, bought the twisted chimney house across from the downtown fire station in April of last year.
“But really, our goal is to bring new life to this old house,” Joe said.
Dr. Eli Sturgeon, a Salem surgeon, politician and Quaker, finished construction in 1884. Since then, it’s been a doctor’s office, and during World War II, it housed women who worked in Salem’s factories.
For the last 30 years, it’s been vacant.
“Many of the bricks are decaying and crumbling because of water damage. On the inside, there is also a significant amount of damage,” Joe said.
The roof was being put on earlier this week, and you could see where the windows had been replaced. But there are still many signs of history, including a diamond-shaped, second-floor window, part of the original slate roof, and ornamental designs on the gables — all of which will stay.
Morgan guided First News Anchor Stan Boney through the inside, where little has changed in the 15 months since the house was purchased. Much of the wood trim remains, as do the original floors. But the front sitting room is piled with old doors and wooden pieces.
“I don’t think much has moved,” Morgan said.
The wallpaper is peeling, and every room has discarded furniture.
“It all has holes in it. I don’t know where it came from,” Morgan said.
One piece that still works is an antique pump organ that gets its power from a foot pedal.
The Kurtzs paid $114,000 for the house and believe it’ll take $400,000 to renovate it.
Within three years, they hope to open it as the Twisted Chimney Inn, a combination bed and breakfast and dinner theater.
“Our son’s a musician, and so is our daughter, and they’re big theater kids. So, they want to write scripts. They want to be involved in the process from start to finish,” Jodi said.
“We kind of all do different parts of the house. I mow the lawn sometimes, and my dad will come in and check everything out, and it’s just like a fun way for our family to come back together, and just like, do everything together as a team,” Morgan said.
And here’s an interesting twist on the twisted chimneys: they were commissioned by the previous owner and completed in 2009.
“They are probably the most recognizable landmark about the home, but they are not original. They are a relatively new addition,” Joe said.