The McClellan House at 77 South Street, believed to have been built in 1803 for James McLellan, a descendent of the McLellan family who settled in Gorham 278 years ago, has undergone quite a transformation since it was purchased in 2016 by Dr. Cory Murray and his business partner, Dr. Benjamin Lamarche.
Murray said, “shortly after we purchased the building, a pipe burst and intensified the need for renovations. We tore it back to the studs. We removed all the siding. All of the original structure was preserved and reinforced as necessary with two by fours and other structural support. Every sill was rotten, and the foundation was crumbling, so we lifted the house and built a new foundation.”
Photo courtesy of Cory MurrayExtensive renovations were done to the McLellan House over the past several years.
In trying to keep with the historical significance of the original house, they decided to leave the hand-hewn beams exposed and sheetrock around them. They also incorporated exposed brick so it fit with the time period.
Prior to the purchase by Murray and Lamarche, the Town of Gorham leased McClellan House to Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) for more than a decade at no cost. Mike Parker of PRLT said, “In 2014 it became apparent to both the Town of Gorham and PRLT that McClellan House would require an investment that was beyond what either could provide. Parker went on to say, “PRLT and David Cole (former Town Manager) met with Christopher Closs of Maine Preservation, who recommended federal and state historic preservation tax credits as the best means of funding the extensive repairs.”
Photos courtesy of Cory MurrayAccording to Parker, this required that the building be sold. “The Town Council was persuaded to put McClellan House on the market with the stipulation that it be renovated using historical preservation standards. On the second round of perspective buyers, dentists Murray and Lamarche, who had previously renovated an historic building in Porter, demonstrated a plan that the council found acceptable,” he shared.
McClellan House currently houses Murray and Lamarche’s business, Gorham Village Dental, and features four patient treatment rooms. A third dentist, Dr. Franchesca Rolshud, recently joined the practice.
Parker noted, “It is a credit to the land trust for finding a means to rescue the building, the council for deciding to sell it for such a purpose, and Gorham Village Dental for investing the resources and vision to complete the project.”