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- calendar_today October 28, 2026
The Resurgence of the Wheeler Mansion
In Orange, Massachusetts, an impressive piece of the region's history has returned to prominence. The Wheeler Mansion, a 15,000-square-foot Gilded Age mansion built in 1903, is now on the market with an asking price of $1,147,000. Known locally for its grandeur and rumored ghostly residents, the home at 75 East Main Street stands revitalized after a careful restoration.
From Los Angeles to Orange: A New Vision
The comeback story of this historic mansion centers on Cynthia Butler. In 2020, Butler, a Los Angeles native and experienced renovator, responded to an Instagram call to save the then-abandoned property. She purchased Wheeler Mansion at auction for $150,000 and relocated to Massachusetts with her children, taking on what she described as her most ambitious house restoration yet.
“It was five times larger than anything I had ever restored before, but there were so many character details that I was just drawn to,” Butler said. She invested significant effort into returning the structure to its former grandeur following years of neglect, water damage, and decay.
A Storied History and Unique Architecture
Originally built as a private residence for John W. Wheeler and his wife, Almira, who amassed wealth in the sewing machine industry, the mansion displays the elegance of the Gilded Age. Its notable features include stately pillars, a domed billiard room, a hedge maze, and several jade and onyx fireplaces. Across its three stories are 13 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms.
After Wheeler’s death in 1910, the house was deeded to the Order of the Eastern Star, who operated it as a rest home for their female members from 1925 until 1990. The mansion later returned to use as a private residence but eventually fell into disrepair, standing vacant after a foreclosure in 2015 until Butler’s intervention.
Boutique Inn, Event Venue, and Community Hub
Today, Wheeler Mansion is marketed as a “turnkey boutique inn, licensed event venue, and short-term rental operation.” During her six-year residence, Butler has hosted a wide range of public events—from murder mystery nights to formal balls and weddings—and rented rooms through Airbnb. “The mansion just kind of lends itself to that because it’s the perfect backdrop for so many different things,” Butler noted.
Sara Lyman, with the Hometown Team and Real Broker, is managing the current real estate listing. She has witnessed the estate’s transformation firsthand and commented, “Orange, Mass., is definitely a post-industrial community, and to have something of this caliber brought back to glory for public events is just something very special.”
Haunted Mansion Lore and Lasting Legacy
Adding intrigue to its historic status, the Wheeler Mansion is rumored to be haunted by both John W. Wheeler and members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Butler herself claims to have experienced paranormal happenings, but describes the spirits as harmless and even playful. “We coexist with some other-realmly people,” she said, characterizing the ghosts as mainly “prankster-ish.”
As Butler plans for retirement, she and Lyman both hope the house continues to serve as a vibrant community event space. With its fully restored interiors, memorable history, and unique spirit, the Wheeler Mansion stands as one of Orange's notable real estate listings, ready for its next chapter and next owner.
A Glimpse Into Wheeler Mansion Today
- Address: 75 East Main St., Orange, Massachusetts
- Size: Approximately 15,000 square feet
- Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 13 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms
- Special Features: Billiard room dome, hedge maze, jade and onyx fireplaces, carriage house
- Historical Uses: Private residence, Order of the Eastern Star home, event venue
More Information
For those seeking a blend of history, hospitality, and local lore, the listing offers a rare chance to own and steward an iconic Gilded Age mansion, now reimagined for modern use in Orange, Massachusetts.
Source: boston.com.
