Posted: 3:03 p.m. Monday, June 2, 2014

Sorg Mansion repairs begin on the roof

By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — 

    The new owners of the Sorg Mansion say repairs and renovations to the 127-year-old residence are “moving in the right direction.”

    Mark and Traci Barnett, who live in Baltimore, purchased the Sorg for $225,000 after seeing it listed for sale on the Internet. Mark Barnett said he was impressed by the mansion’s exterior and the way the interior was preserved.

    Workers have been repairing the roof and gutters for the last few weeks. He said the roof was in “bad shape” and there were “major issues” with leaking.

When the roof is completed, the windows will be replaced, he said. Then, the renovations to the interior will begin.

    “It’s one step at a time,” he said Monday afternoon from his home.

Earlier, Barnett estimated the repairs to cost between $400,000 to $500,000, but he said that was just a guess.

    Eventually, the Barnetts plan to relocate to Middletown and spend their retirement years bringing life back into the Sorg Mansion. They may turn the mansion into a bed-and-breakfast. They have purchased and renovated four homes.

    “It’s what we like to do,” said Barnett, 56, a railroad engineer.

    The Barnetts visited Middletown a few weeks ago and were impressed by the Sorg and the neighbors they met who live on South Main Street, in the city’s historical district. He called it “a nice experience” and said the neighbors were pleased the mansion was sold.

    Rachel S. Lewitt, broker and owner of Finkelman Real Estate, which handled the property, called the Sorg Mansion “a critical part of Middletown’s history and cornerstone for redevelopment of downtown.” The property has been in the Finkelman family since 1936, said Lewitt, the granddaughter of the late Harry A. Finkelman, who died in 2004.

    It was built in 1887 by Paul J. Sorg, one of Middletown’s first industrialist and first multi-millionaires, for $1 million, according to records.

    The three-story, 12-bedroom, eight-bathroom brick-and-stone Romanesque castle features 12-foot ceilings and fireplaces in every bedroom. There’s also a ballroom, formal dining room and library. Much of the original stained glass remains today, according to Lewitt.

    In September 2009, the property was listed for sale for $525,000, according to newspaper reports. The mansion has been home to dance and photo studios, a construction company and low-income apartments over the years.

    Jeffrey Diver, president of the Middletown Historical Society, said it’s “very exciting” when he drives by and sees work being done on the mansion. Diver, who never has been inside the Sorg, said he’s looking forward to when the building is “brought back to its original glory.”