“Some stories are meant to be read. Others, like this one, are meant to be shared. Share the story of Steele Mansion—and help preserve the beauty of history for generations to come.”
In the heart of Painesville, Ohio, a magnificent building stands as both a monument to the past and a triumph of preservation: the Steele Mansion. With its commanding presence, French Second Empire architecture, and storied history, the mansion embodies everything enchanting about America’s Gilded Age—wealth, ambition, and, above all, resilience. Yet, few know how close this historic treasure came to total destruction—or how two visionary individuals brought it back from the brink.
This is not just a story about bricks and mortar. It’s a story about dreams, disaster, determination—and the powerful legacy of never giving up.
Born of Wealth and Vision
The Steele Mansion was originally built between 1863 and 1867 by George Worthington Steele, a prominent businessman and Civil War veteran.
At a time when many homes in Ohio were simple and utilitarian, Steele envisioned a residence that would speak to European grandeur and American promise. The result was a 17-room masterpiece, constructed with painstaking craftsmanship and extravagant detail.
Towering with a distinctive mansard roof and adorned with Italian marble fireplaces, French windows, and hand-carved walnut woodwork, the mansion quickly gained fame. It featured innovations rare for its time—indoor plumbing, gas lighting, and a grand ballroom fit for noble gatherings.
Locals referred to it as “The Grandest Home in Painesville,” and rightly so. But like many great American homes, the Steele Mansion would not remain in private hands for long.
A House of Many Lives
In the 1920s, the home was acquired by Lake Erie College and used as the official residence of the college president. Over the decades, its grandeur was slowly repurposed—sometimes respectfully, sometimes not.
The once-opulent ballroom was transformed into a gymnasium. Classrooms took the place of drawing rooms. By the 1950s, the mansion had become a dormitory known as “Mentor House.”
In later years, it was divided into apartments. The house that once entertained Ohio’s elite had become a relic of better days—faded, but still standing.
Then came the fire.
The Fire That Almost Erased History
In January 2001, a contractor was working to melt ice from the mansion’s roof using a torch. The job took a tragic turn. Flames erupted, engulfing the third floor and destroying the roof.
Without proper shelter, the structure was exposed to snow, rain, and wind for years. Vandalism followed. Thieves stripped the house of copper wiring, fixtures, and anything of value.
Nature and neglect worked hand-in-hand, and within a decade, the Steele Mansion was in ruin. Walls buckled. Ceilings collapsed. Weeds grew from the windowsills. It was added to the list of condemned properties and scheduled for demolition in early 2011.
And yet, just when it seemed all hope was lost, fate intervened.
A Vision Reborn
In December 2010, Arthur and Carol Shamakian visited the Steele Mansion—not to mourn it, but to save it. They had been looking for a new project and had stumbled upon the listing.
From the moment Carol stepped through the broken doorway into the hollowed-out remains, she saw something no one else could: potential.
While others saw ashes and debris, Carol saw fireplaces that could be restored, staircases that could rise again, and rooms waiting to echo with laughter and music.
The Shamakians purchased the mansion—unaware it had already been slated for demolition—and embarked on what would become a five-year odyssey.
The Restoration of a Lifetime
The scale of the restoration was staggering. The third floor was gone. The roof needed to be completely rebuilt. Load-bearing walls had to be reinforced.
Most of the interior had been gutted or rotted beyond repair.
But instead of cutting corners, the Shamakians did the unthinkable: they chose to restore the mansion to its original 1860s splendor—painstakingly, authentically, and lovingly.
Original blueprints were long gone, so they scoured historical photographs, architectural archives, and the recollections of local residents.
They tracked down craftsmen who specialized in 19th-century techniques.
Salvaged materials were repurposed wherever possible. Every fireplace, every piece of trim, and every stair tread was either restored or recreated to mirror the past.
One of the most iconic features, the grand walnut staircase, was salvaged from the rubble and reassembled.
The marble fireplaces were cleaned and returned to their former glory.
They tracked down craftsmen who specialized in 19th-century techniques.
Salvaged materials were repurposed wherever possible. Every fireplace, every piece of trim, and every stair tread was either restored or recreated to mirror the past.
One of the most iconic features, the grand walnut staircase, was salvaged from the rubble and reassembled.
The marble fireplaces were cleaned and returned to their former glory.
The mansion now serves as a venue for weddings, events, historical tours, and yes, even paranormal investigations. Guests can stroll the same halls once graced by Ohio’s elite—or sit beside the same fireplaces that nearly crumbled into dust.
But more than anything, the mansion stands as proof that no place is ever beyond saving.
A Story to Share
The Steele Mansion’s journey is more than a tale of one building. It’s a testament to what passion, grit, and vision can achieve. It teaches us that beauty can be born from rubble, and history can be rescued with love and effort.
Today, it inspires architects, preservationists, travelers, and dreamers alike. Visitors come not just to stay in a beautiful inn, but to be part of a story—one that reminds us to look beyond ruin and see the soul within.
So next time you pass a crumbling house or see boarded-up windows in a forgotten town, remember the Steele Mansion. Remember that revival is possible. And above all, remember the people who saw not what was—but what could be.
Some stories are meant to be read. Others, like this one, are meant to be shared. Share the story of Steele Mansion—and help preserve the beauty of history for generations to come.
