Young Norwood Couple Purchase and Restore Historic “Winslow” Estate-August 9, 1978

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FOR SALE: 1870s French Victorian; 21 rooms, seven baths; marble fireplaces in both sitting room and elegant dining room; several other reception or living rooms; two-car garage, four landscaped acres. An exceptional value at $100,000. While such a listing would normally only appeal to an undertaker, nursing home operator, or a romantic of considerable means, a young local couple dared to take the leap.

Robert Pegurri, 31, a New England Telephone installer, and his 23-year-old wife, Barbara, recently packed up their belongings from 220 Nahatan St.—where they operated the Colonial Inn rooming house—and moved into 289 Walpole St., the historic estate formerly known as the Cenacle and most recently owned by the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity.

Built originally by a member of the Winslow family, one of Norwood’s prominent industrial dynasties, the imposing French Victorian mansion sits majestically on a knoll overlooking the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Park (Winslow Park). The property previously served as the home of Massachusetts Governor Frank Allen. Though the estate required some cosmetic restoration following a period of vacancy and minor water damage from vandalism after the nuns departed, the structure is fundamentally sound. The home features 200-amp electrical service, a meticulously overhauled oil-fed steam heating system, exquisite gumwood double doors, a creak-proof front staircase, parquet floors, and floor-to-ceiling paneling surrounding a black marble fireplace in the formal dining room.

Bob Pegurri expressed immense enthusiasm for the restoration project, noting his enjoyment of the historic craftsmanship, slate roof, and copper detailing. To help finance the $100,000 purchase, the couple made the difficult concession of selling off two rear lots on the Fisher Street side, though the remaining four acres still boast magnificent copper beech trees and expansive vistas connecting visually with the adjacent Charlwell nursing home grounds and Winslow Park.

Barbara Pegurri has ambitious design plans, including painting front rooms in Wedgwood blue and white to highlight the architectural friezes and eventually pursuing a listing on the national registry of historic places. Looking toward the future, the couple hopes to fill the sprawling home with Bob’s collection of Chinese brass and Barbara’s handcrafted miniature dolls and dollhouses—with plans to eventually build a miniature model of their grand new home.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger

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