The new owner of the Somers mansion is ready to embark on a renovation of the landmark home that she says will be a labor of love.

Christine Manson of Soquel, Calif., bought the yellow mansion, along with the original barn, carriage house and 6 acres, a year ago for the full asking price, $399,900. The historic home was built in 1903 by sawmill owner John O’Brien on a hilltop that offers panoramic views of Flathead Lake and the Swan Range.

The 14-bedroom mansion had been owned by Christin Didier, a former beauty queen who bought it for $1.1 million in 2005. Didier lived there for several years, but the home was foreclosed on in February 2011 and was bank-owned when Manson purchased it.

Manson plans to eventually live in a portion of the spacious home. She also wants to open the main floor for small venues such as weddings and music performances once the restoration is complete in a couple of years.

“I’d carve out my living space, and then start out with small venues on the main floor,” she said. “I want to do [the renovation] thoughtfully and graciously.”

The first order of business is repairing the roof of the 7,982-square-foot mansion. Manson said she had a roofer look at the roof last winter, but he was unavailable to immediately tackle the project.

“Hopefully something will start happening on Monday (today),” she said. “We have to at least do triage, get it winterized and fix what’s most glaring.”

A windstorm reportedly damaged the roof and south side of the home some time ago. Didier was in the process of getting the roof repaired, but the work was never finished. Portions of the roof are covered only with sheeting, which has caused some water damage on the upper floor.

Manson, an international flight attendant, spends as much time in Kalispell as her schedule allows. She stays with longtime friend and former business partner Susanna Paris Eaton and Eaton’s husband Ray.

“I’ve been coming here for five years and slowly fell in love with the area,” Manson said.

Once Manson expressed interest in buying a home in the Flathead, Eaton, a retired interior designer, kept sending her pictures of various homes for sale. When Eaton told her about the Somers mansion, Manson said, “sure, I’ll take a look.

“I didn’t have any expectations,” she said. “But I walked in and said ‘I love this house.’”

Manson quickly had the home inspected and was pleased when she learned it was “in amazingly good shape.

“I knew everything could be fixed,” she added.

Over the past year, Manson has been dismayed at the amount of vandalism that’s occurred in the vacant home. Thieves have made off with some of the original ornate hardware and other items.

An elderly neighbor who keeps an eye on the place once found four teens and their mothers in the home, who said they were “just looking around.” Another time — even before the sale closed on the house — Manson herself arrived to find a couple of unknown men “high-tailing” away from the scene after they were spotted. Even “no trespassing” signs have been stolen.

She wants to remind the community it’s not a public building. A new security system has been installed on the property.

Once the home is restored, Manson plans to furnish it with a number of items she’s gathered through the years, including a baby grand piano. She also has a huge gold-framed mirror she serendipitously bought awhile back.

“It needs a home,” she said about the huge mirror. “It’ll look wonderful in the main ballroom.”

She welcomes ideas and hopes to work with the Save the Somers Mansion group that set up a Facebook page a year ago. Members of that group, organized by Somers resident Brad Nelson, have indicated they’re willing to help in various ways.

“Everyone treasures it as a landmark,” Manson said. “I think it’s lovely so many care about the house.”

Nelson, who has a background in historic restorations, said he’s pleased to hear about the roof repair and pending restoration.

“That’s great news,” he said.

The restoration will be done as Manson can afford it.

“I wish I was a millionaire,” she said. “I cashed in everything to buy the house, so I own it outright.”

The taxes were triple the amount she expected to pay, though, and there’s no heating system left in the house, so that will be among the first expenses. The plumbing and electrical systems also have to be updated.

“I love the house so much; I’m going to make it work,” she said. “I want it to be a joyful house.”

Several local residents who bought items from the mansion at an auction have indicated they’d like to donate the items and artifacts so they can be returned to their original home.

Manson has set up a post office box in Somers to handle inquiries. Those interested in helping or sharing information may write to Manson at P.O. Box 10, Somers, MT 59932. 

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.