It wasn’t long ago someone sent me a photo that was circulating of a house that was destroyed by a developer. I thought it was horrible and created an image showing the before and after to post on Facebook. Everyone said what one would expect – house flippers strike again! For some reason I decided to look into this further and discovered what really happened. It was much sadder than everyone thought.
First look at the real estate listing from 2021. https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/501-Province-Line-Rd_Allentown_NJ_08501_M65384-15486
Here is a link to more photos taken by a photographer who thankfully photographs historic homes so we have documentation of what was once there. Photos of historic Boxwood Hall.
See how original this house has been kept and what love was put into it. It survived numerous homeowners for almost 300 years!
This house was difficult to research for it is listed as being in Allentown NJ but it is really just a small hamlet in North Hanover, Burlington county, NJ.
Known as Boxwood Hall, the house was built in 1740. Fast forward, in 1973 the house was purchased by Charles & Margaret Tanner Boles. Margaret passed away in 2007. Her obituary tells a lot about her. Not only was she a good steward of a historic house filling it with antiques, she also founded a local preservation group.
Obituary:
JOHN – Boles, Margaret E. “Peg” Tanner, 63, died Sept. 27, 2007 at her home in Allentown, N.J. Memorial Service 3 p.m. Saturday, May 24, 2008 at Fairview Cemetery in St. John, Kan. Friends and relatives are encouraged to gather before and after the service at the Tanner House, 504 N. Broadway, St. John. Because of her affinity for large floral hats, those attending will be requested to wear hats in her honor. White pearls and white gloves are optional.
Peg Tanner was born March 14, 1944 in Stafford, Kan., she grew up on a farm in rural St. John, Kan. After graduating from St. John High School and Kansas State University, she taught drama, speech and literature in schools in Kansas, Indiana and New Jersey. She retired from the Cherry Hill School District in 2005.
Peg moved to Allentown, N.J. more than 30 years ago and was instrumental in establishing “Friends of Arneytown” which was formed to help preserve the historic area. She owned Boxwood Corner, a house built in 1740 and furnished it with period antiques.
She was the daughter of the late Raymond and Ava Tanner. Survivors: son, James Tyson Boles of Philadelphia, Pa.; sisters, Beccy Tanner, Wichita, Patricia Nelson, Newark, Del.; brothers, John Tanner, Wichita, Jim Tanner, Tooele, Utah; a nephew, Chad W. Nelson of Newark, Del.; and grandson, Raymond Angus “Red” Harley Boles. Minnis Chapel, St. John in charge of local arrangements.
copied from Legacy.com-obituary.
As per Margaret’s will, the house was left to her son who was her administrator. He lived in Philadelphia. In 2008 the house was listed as a rental and then listed for sale in 2019. It took two years to sell this house. When the price of the house was reduced from$300,000 to $200,000 in 2021 the house sold right away.
Here is the deed from the sale:
I really wanted to find out why this was allowed to happen. I telephoned Margaret’s son to inquire but never heard back. Why was this house sold for such a low price? How could he do this to his mother? Why weren’t Margaret’s wishes (although not legally stated) carried out by placing this house in the hands of a good steward that would appreciate such a house? Maybe there is a reason – who knows? One can always say “they should have” and I find it hard to accept otherwise. There are a lot of questions.
- Is it her son James’ fault for not taking the initiative to sell the house to a good steward and make his mother happy? UPDATE: as per the comment below from Margaret’s friend, it is the result of the lack of love from her son!
- Is it Margaret’s fault for not protecting something so valuable that she loved so much? She was a historic preservationist and should have known to put a historic preservation easement on her house.
- Is is the fault of the realtor for not having some morals and filtering out the potential owners or is the commission more important?
- Is it the fault of the township historical group or the group Margaret founded for not protecting their historic assets?
- Lastly is it the fault of the new homeowner?
My opinion is that it is the fault of all the above to an extent. The one to blame the most would be Margaret. She was a big preservationist and should have known the importance of placing a historic preservation easement on her house to protect it from rabid homeowners and developers. She allowed this to happen! Was she then really a preservationist?
One would think this house was purchased by developers but that is not the case. These homeowners are monsters. Even though the new owners may have been raised in the woods by a pack of rabid wolves, one would think a they would still have some common sense and compassion for such a landmark.
Complete demolition would have been a dignified death of such a building instead of making a mockery of it.
ATTENTION – This happens all the time. Why waste your time, money, and efforts to restore your house if you don’t care enough to protect it? You may request your family to find a worthy buyer but what happens the the owner after that?
So bad karma to the new owners. As for you, I know life is busy and you would prefer as I, to watch I Love Lucy reruns, but life is short, so don’t procrastinate protecting all your hard work.
Margaret Tanner Boles 1944-2007 (tombstone photo)
Perhaps the state of the house, left uncared for and unattended after my dear friend died, speaks volumes,symbolizing the lack of love and care received from her son.
You would think, in this young country of ours, that we would be MORE intent on saving our old, original homes. (First Period to (for me) 1930s). You can never EVER duplicate these homes and the workmanship that make them what they are. The products used are not in existence anymore just as the craftsman who built them are no longer around. What happened to this house literally made my stomach sick. I always say, “If you want a new house, build a new house!”
I feel the people of the town, along with a Historic Society, should have stepped in to save this house. There needs to be a Nationwide ruling that a house of a certain age cannot be touched in any way until it has been brought before a board of citizens who are totally FOR the preservation of said homes. Once they are gone, they are gone.
I totally. In Montclair NJ, a mayor locally designated all houses historic before 1940. Don’t know what happened with the next mayor.
Hi, Great article!
Can you do one on False Mansards?
https://www.redfin.com/CO/Fort-Collins/2925-Meadowlark-Ave-80526/home/35092019
OMG – That is just awful. The sad part is that people really think that it looks like a mansard roof. On my TV show off camera, I was looking at a historic photo of a house with friends of the homeowner. I said how different the house looks now. They said it looks the same! Unbelievable – I was speechless, for the house was awful. Someday maybe an article – they take days of work and focusing on a book on paint color placement now.
My husband and I actually toured this house twice back in early 2020 when it was listed with a different realtor, at that time for $400,000. I fell in love with that house, but we were not in a position at that time to buy it. The history inside was amazing (I took lots of pictures!) We always kept an eye on it over time and had mixed feelings when it finally sold. I did my own research on the new homeowners, and they are a woman from Philly, and a man from England. Surprising, because the British seem to be more into preserving their history. We drove by the house one day and saw the bump out on the attic and we’re appalled. I keep waiting to see this house show up on Realtor.com as a flip. I appreciate that you reached out to John Boles…. perhaps reach out to the new homeowners and grill them on their intentions with the house? Unfortunately, we moved out of state, so we have not seen the house in a few years. I’ll always love the Lawry House (the original owner).
Hi – I could never contact them and remain calm. Hopefully they may find this article to know everyone’s feelings.
I sorrowly cringed everytime I drove past this house as the ‘renovations’ were happening.. vinyl siding?! Huge shed dormer through the roof?! Etc etc. 🤮😢
Peg was my friend. I live right up the road and tried to save her with cpr the night she died. She loved her house so much! When I saw this picture my heart skipped a beat. I used to help her clean the house from time to time as well.
Her son did not share her fondness.
This is so sad. I wish there was something that could be done to allow her legacy to live on.
I shot this house when it went on the market back in 2019. How sad … here is a link k to my page with photos. I shoot historic homes to preserve them . Such a rip down society 😟https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Bc7rpBbQMx5faejB/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I worked with Peg as she tried to establish an “Historic zone” for the tiny section known as Arneytown. I have toured the home she loved, and even reached out to Burlington and Monmouth county to purchase this amazingly preserved pre-revolutionary home. How much ended up in a dumpster? Horrible. I even telephoned and spoke with the contractor, imploring them to remain authentic in their restoration. He told me he would do what the owners wanted done. So sad to lose our history this way.
I live in Allentown Boro, not far from this once lovely home. I felt sick after driving by and seeing what had been done to it.