The Preservation Society of Fall River recognized homeowners Ruben and Stephanie Oliveira for their outstanding historic restoration efforts at the c. 1890 Alfred D. Butterworth House at 528 High Street following an extensive fire in 2022.
“Rather than letting this piece of history be lost to fire and left in the past, the Oliveiras’ efforts helped this historic home rise from the ashes,” Preservation Society President James Soule said. “Thanks to their vision, the Butterworth House was not only restored and preserved, it continues to complement the historic nature of the Highlands Local Historic District.”
The preservation award ceremony was attended members of the Preservation Society’s Board of Directors, Fall River Historical Commission Chair Jason Bouchard-Nawrocki, and Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, who also presented the Oliveiras with a citation from the city for their work to save a piece of Fall River’s history.
The future of this historic house was previously in doubt after a fire caused severe damage. Ruben and Stephanie Oliveira purchased the home after the blaze and, despite the damage, rebuilt it to near exact replication of the original structure, honoring the homes’ architectural style and complementing the surrounding historic neighborhood.
This sensitive preservation effort was done with help from the Fall River Historical Commission to follow the guidelines inside the neighborhood’s protected MGL 40C Highlands Local Historic District – the only protected district in the city.
“Almost immediately after purchasing the house, which suffered a devastating fire that left large openings in the roof and one entire facade charred, the homeowners contacted the Historical Commission to seek guidance on what would be the best practices at reconstructing this home located in the city’s protected Highlands Local Historic District,” Historical Commission Chair Jason Bouchard-Nawrocki said. “Using the Preservation Design Guidelines, the homeowners and the Historical Commission worked together to identify and preserve the character-defining elements of the house’s design, which is attributed to one of Fall River’s most prolific architects, Joseph M. Darling.”
“The Historical Commission prides itself on being approachable and flexible with property owners of historic structures,” Bouchard-Nawrocki added. “The restoration of the Alfred Butterworth House is a testament to the willingness of stewards such as the Oliveira family, and their dedication to preserving a piece of Fall River history.”