Local historical records portray Willowmere House as a classic Carpenter Gothic residence that was once a proud and well-maintained family home. For many years it featured actively used rooms filled with daily family life, fresh coats of paint applied regularly, and a neatly cared-for yard that reflected the pride of its owners. The first clear warning signs of trouble emerged in 1928. Thomas, the head of the household, saw his working hours sharply reduced at the local textile factory after it lost several major contracts. The economic pressure continued to build. By 1930, the factory had closed its doors completely, leaving Thomas unemployed and the family’s financial situation precarious.
With income gone, they were forced to dismiss their outside help and shut up the upstairs guest bedroom to reduce maintenance costs. Necessary repairs to the porch railing, roof trim, and chimney were repeatedly postponed while unpaid utility bills and overdue property taxes continued to accumulate.After months of searching unsuccessfully for stable work in the area, Thomas and Clara made the difficult decision to leave Willowmere House in 1933. They moved to another town where relatives assisted them in securing temporary housing.
The following year, in 1934, the property was officially abandoned. The devastating combination of the textile factory closure, prolonged unemployment, and overwhelming household debts had made it impossible for the family to keep the home.No restoration work was ever undertaken after the abandonment. None of the Holloway descendants ever returned to occupy or reclaim the property. Municipal records show repeated but unsuccessful attempts to sell the residence over the years, while the structure continued its steady decline. Inside, the rooms remained closed and untouched, with furniture, personal papers, clothing, and everyday belongings left exactly as the family had departed.
Over the following decades, the elements took their toll: rain, wind, and snow damaged the distinctive clapboard siding, weakened the porch, and eroded the ornate decorative trim that had once given the house its charming Carpenter Gothic character.Today, Willowmere House still stands empty on Ashford Street. The once-vibrant family home continues to deteriorate slowly, awaiting any future restoration or confirmed new ownership that has yet to
