NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. - The town of Northborough let people ignore the ‘No Trespassing, No Parking’ signs for one day at White Cliffs Mansion as the future plans for the property are discussed and people got to take a look inside for the first time in more than a decade.
What You Need To Know
“It’s a landmark," Stephanie Bacon said. "It’s an icon.”
Northborough town administrator Stephanie Bacon said the history White Cliffs is well known locally.
“In 1886, Daniel Wesson of Smith & Wesson, purchased land and built this for his wife, Cynthia." Bacon said. "And her mother lived across the street so they would pretty much summer here. But to tell you the truth, it's been more - venue for functions than residential home.”
At the open tour day on Friday people talked about how great the interior still looks and recalled decades of attending celebrations. Tracey Carter remembers her nephew’s wedding well.
“I believe he was the last one," Carter said. "I can remember hearing it at the time. And they just said it closed in December ’14. And he got married on December 13th of ‘14.”
“Everyone remembers this as the White Cliffs," Richard Tomaiolo said. "And a venue for their weddings - events.”
Tomaiolo attended to give residents some additional insider info about the building.
“My family bought this property in 1953 and sold it in 1985," Tomaiolo said. "And they were the longest tenured owners of the property.”
Tomaiolo said his family, who also started Worcester’s Parkway Diner, had 3 great decades of running White Cliffs.
“This property really became popular as the population increased in Northborough," Tomaiolo said, "and Northborough became a suburban town rather than a rural town.”
“It was so gorgeous here back then," Carter said, recalling 2014. "I was so sad to hear it was closing and the tour was really cool. I can't believe everything that's still in there; the kitchen appliances, everything. Like someone just walked away; it's so sad. So, I'm really excited that it's going to come back to life.”
Northborough will host a public information session Monday, Sept. 22 to discuss the plans of bringing Elegant Banquet LLC in as a tenant.
“We're working with a historic preservationist, and they're working with Elegant Banquets in order to see what is going to be preserved," Bacon said. "Any of the more modern additions and what is going to be removed, and to make sure that this place comes back to the way it used to be.”
Right now, the property is an expense Northborough tax payers are paying for, but if the lease is approved in a special town vote on Nov. 3, White Cliffs may be hosting once again sooner than people think.
“I'd say 18 months. They want to have their first function," Bacon said. "They want to invite everybody that had some type of event in the past and bring them back and show them what they did with this place. And it will look familiar to a point, but everything will be that much more - I'd say perfect.”
“It really tugs at my heart," Tomaiolo said, "to know that I've spent so much time up here and that people are taking a special look at this property.”
“We're ecstatic that we found somebody that not only could build this business up again and help our economic opportunity in town," Bacon said, "but they really care about the history of buildings.”