Construction begins on final phase of Bonaparte Castle renovation – Salisbury Post

SALISBURY – The final phases of construction have begun on the historic Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless House at 619 South Main St. in Salisbury.

This announcement was made by October Ninth Investments LLC in collaboration with Bonaparte Castle Events Inc. in a press release stating, “This milestone follows the successful completion of the final phase of financing, facilitated by Mark Lewis of People's Bank, whose “Extraordinary efforts were instrumental in achieving this goal.”

Sandra Toscano and husband, CP Edgar owns the three-story granite home, known for its steeply pitched roof with decorative shingles, wraparound porch and intricate woodwork.

The couple bought it in July 2021, and the renovation process began then and was a year of permits and structural planning, Toscano said.

Renovations continued with grading of the backyard and landscaping, she said.

The following year the tavern, which originally served as a kitchen, was completed. This space has been converted into a fully functional tavern, which opened for outdoor events in October/November 2022.

Additional approvals, planning and financing will occur in 2023, Toscano said. As a result, no further renovation work took place other than adding fencing around the property and some structural damage control below the main house, as she noted that “basically there was a river found underneath for decades.”

Finding contractors and getting bids to renovate the main house occurred in 2024, and therefore, she said, “we lost a whole year there.”

But in 2025, demolition began, as on January 10, Toscano said they would be working there, and an excepted completion date was given as May.

She also shared that they are booking events.with the vision and expectation that we will be fully operational by June,” he says, saying this will be the final phase of major renovations.

This final phase, a press release states, will focus on the extensive renovation of the main house, the centerpiece of this 1897 Second Empire-style landmark. In 2014, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Key elements of the renovation include restoring the main house to its original splendor while introducing state-of-the-art upgrades to meet modern standards. Key elements include the preservation of historic features such as the granite facade, original fireplaces and intricate wood details; modern infrastructure including the installation of updated HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems; Event-ready improvements including the creation of indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings, corporate meetings and private parties, as well as enhancing boutique hospitality.

When renovations to the castle are complete, Toscano said the space will be rented primarily for weddings, anniversaries or other types of events.

However, there were times when it was open to the public for charity events, Christmas balls, Mardi Gras masquerade balls, or other major traditional holidays such as St. Patrick's Day or Cinco de Mayo.

Room accommodations will also be available as they will feature five bedrooms and a renovated guest house next door which will have two bedrooms and one bathroom.

She also said there would be a cottage at the back that would also be renovated and is expected to be completed in 2026 or 2027. Toscano said the cottage “actually belongs to the property next to the castle, although we fenced everything in to make it basically one property,” but it will be part of the property, the plan and the event space .

The end of the renovation process is “incredibly exciting,” Toscano said, adding that “at the same time, it's a little scary just because of the enormous resources that have to be spent on it.” The first quote was what was disappointing, she said.

But “it’s exciting in the sense that we’re doing what we promised.”

She said it was a proud moment to be able to complete the project because they are now able to achieve what was promised and what the city and the historical society believe.

“It's about fulfilling a promise and bringing this beautiful building back to life to the city of Salisbury and adding this elegant space to this South Main Street corridor,” she said, adding that they hope “that's something like “Can be a….” The foundation for the start of serious renovation work on this site.”

Knowing she wanted a wedding and event venue, Toscano said when she saw the building's structure and tower, “For me, it was the perfect fairytale wedding venue.”

There are many others that offer barn weddings or hotel weddings, but she said this unique space would provide options for wedding couples.

“It offers them a timeless and elegant space for their memories and wedding experience. That’s why we try to create a unique and unforgettable experience that they can remember for a lifetime.”

In a press release, Toscano also expressed great appreciation to its partners and employees for supporting this project.

Once completed, the castle will host a special event to celebrate this achievement and introduce the property to the public as a premier events venue and hospitality destination.

Anyone who would like to book an event at the castle can do so via their website, Facebook or Instagram at bonapartecastle.com.