$9.5 Million New Hampshire Estate Built by Titanic Survivor Hits the Market for the First Time in 100 Years

A stunning lakefront retreat that was built by a survivor of the ill-fated Titanic was just listed for the “titanic” price of $9.5 million—landing on the market for the first time in 100 years.

The rare real estate gem on Squam Lake in Moultonborough, NH, was built in 1899 by Richard Beckwith, 13 years before he and his wife, Sallie, boarded the doomed ocean liner as first-class passengers.

Accompanied by Sallie’s daughter from a previous marriage, Helen Newsom, the couple were among the 706 passengers who survived the horrifying sinking of the Titanic—with listing agent Jacalyn Dussault, of Dussault Real Estate, explaining that the family’s experiences on the ship actually helped inspire James Cameron’s iconic movie about the incident.

“They were one of the first ones out of the boat because they woke immediately,” Dussault tells Realtor.com®. “Their story inspired the ‘Titanic’ movie.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Beckwiths sold the property to Pennsylvania industrialist John J. Evans in the 1920s, and the home has been passed down through generations of his family ever since.

Something special

“The property is really unique in that it has only had two families own it all this time,” Dussault adds. 

Overlooking Squam Lake, the shingled, multigenerational estate sits on nearly 4 acres with 964 feet of shorefront.

“Not a lot of families have 1,000 feet of water frontage on the lake,” Dussault notes. “It’s a pretty special place, and the views are spectacular. I have never seen a property that offers both beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

“It also has a boathouse, which is special because you can’t build that anymore on the lake.”

Simplicity at its finest

The seasonal legacy property has been in the Evans family for five generations and has the look and feel of a summer camp, with current owner, retired banker John Evans telling the WSJ that the home still retains “many original elements, down to the door handles, windows and bathtubs.”

However, the home’s historic look and feel also come with what some potential buyers might see as drawbacks: namely, a total lack of heat.

“The Evans family used it in the summertime only,” Dussault says. “There is no heating system, so you would have to insulate the home and also do something with the septic if you wanted to turn it into a year-round residence. You’d probably want to drill a well as well, but they do have a pump house.”

Along with the boathouse, there’s also a swimming area with a large boat dock and numerous outbuildings, including a historic icehouse and detached, two-car garage.

A rare find

One of the most prominent features of the 5,605-square-foot, three-story interior is the open floor plan’s three fireplaces that serve as a focal point of the main level.

“The three-sided fireplace is really beautiful,” Dussault notes. “The views all around the home are just spectacular. Squam Lake has a lot of history in the area, and 25% of the shoreline is protected forever. There’s no commercial activity on Big Squam, so there are no restaurants or anything like that. It’s very quiet and peaceful.”

If the sellers get anywhere near their $9.5 million asking price, it would be a top sale for Squam Lake.

“There are other properties that have gone for higher along Lake Winnipesaukee, but this would be the highest sale on Squam Lake at $9.5 million,” Dussault says.

Other historic details inside the home include exposed-wood beam ceilings, custom millwork, wood-paneled walls, and claw-foot tubs in each of the three bathrooms.

“All of the home has been pretty well preserved over the years,” Dussault says. “The wraparound porch is so grand, and there is a part that is screened in and another part that is open. The ambiance is just so peaceful.

“There’s interest in the property from different types of buyers. One would like to restore it, and others would like to build a year-round home and use this residence as a summer house. We hope the next buyer will want to keep it the way it is.”