Before & After ~ Gehring House, Bethel, Maine. Designed by architect Frederick A. Tompson and built in 1896 for Dr. J.D. Gehring, the house is Free-Classic Queen Anne in style leaning toward Colonial Revival. In the early 20th century, Gehring was a noted psychologist to the wealthy and famous, many of whom stayed with the Gehring family during treatment.
Vacancy and neglect in recent years left the house threatened by vandalism. I became involved in efforts to restore the house in 2017, and, after several false starts, new owners have finally succeeded in saving and restoring the building, right down to its original paint colors.
Every house can’t be saved, some genuinely are too far gone to be saved, but many homes are destroyed every year that could have been preserved. Knowing it is possible is often the critical first step toward accomplishing something good.
I wrote “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” to help people know what is possible and how to achieve it.
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2026.
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