The Right Equation for Responsible Development: Spotlight on Gehring House (Bethel)

MEREDA Recognizes its 2025 Notable Project Award Recipients

Each year, the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) recognizes some of the state's most "noteworthy and significant" real estate projects, completed in the previous year. The exemplary projects from across the state, completed in 2025, not only embody MEREDA's belief in responsible real estate development, but also exemplify best practices in the industry, contributing to Maine's economic growth by significant investment of resources and job creation statewide.

This year, MEREDA honored projects from throughout the state, with each receiving special recognition at MEREDA's 2026 "Notable Night" social celebration in April.

In a multi-part series exclusive to the Maine Real Estate Insider published by Mainebiz, we'll provide an up-close look at the most notable commercial development projects of the past year that are helping to fuel Maine's economy in terms of investment and job creation. MEREDA is proud to recognize responsible development based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, difficulty of the development, uniqueness, social impact and job creation.

Mainebiz also featured each of our Notable Project Recipients in their second annual "Groundbreaking Maine " publication. Be sure to check it out!

MEREDA's 2025 Top 7 recipients include:

The Downs, M&R Development (Scarborough)

Estabrook's Pownal Production Facility, Estabrook Farm & Greenhouse, Inc. (Pownal)

UNE Harold & Bibby Alfond Center for Health Sciences, SMRT Architects & Engineers (Portland)

Wedgewood, Avesta Housing & Lewiston Housing (Lewiston)

University of Maine Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Harold Alfond Sports Arena Renovations and Additions , University of Maine (Orono)

Boyd Block (178 Middle Street), East Brown Cow (Portland)

Gehring House, Northern Forest Center (Bethel)

Please join us this week in celebratin g the Gehring House.

MEREDA: Describe the building and project.

Gehring House: The Gehring House is a historic 19th-century residence in downtown Bethel, Maine, that was carefully rehabilitated and adapted into new residential housing. The project preserved the architectural character of the building while introducing modern systems, increased energy efficiency, accessibility improvements, and updated interior layouts to create comfortable living spaces that support year-round community vitality.

MEREDA: What was the impetus for this project?

Gehring House: The project was driven by the need to preserve one of Bethel's most historically significant buildings while addressing the town's growing shortage of year-round housing. The Gehring House had sat vacant for more than a decade and was at risk of further deterioration. At the same time, rising real estate prices and the growth of second homes in the region have made it increasingly difficult for local workers to find housing. Through the leadership of the Northern Forest Center, the project presented an opportunity to restore a landmark building while creating much-needed housing.

MEREDA: How long were you in the planning stages before construction started?

Gehring House: Planning and pre-development-including feasibility studies, historic review, funding coordination, and design-took approximately 13 months before construction began.

MEREDA: Tell us about the most challenging aspect of getting this project completed.

Gehring House: The most challenging aspect was integrating modern mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems into a historic structure that was never designed to accommodate them. Nineteenth-century buildings did not include mechanical chases for heating, cooling, or modern utilities, so routing these systems from the basement through three floors required creative problem-solving to maintain the building's historic integrity.

MEREDA: Something unexpected you learned along the way was….

Gehring House: Something unexpected we learned along the way was just how adaptable the original structure could be. With careful coordination, we were able to integrate modern systems and new layouts while preserving much of the historic fabric, including original woodwork, flooring, and millwork that were salvaged, stored, and reinstalled. The discovery of wood trim signed by the original carpenter, Gilbert Tuell, further reinforced the value of this preservation-first approach, offering a tangible connection to the building's 19th-century craftsmanship.

MEREDA: Now that it's complete, what feature of the project do you think makes it the most notable?

Gehring House: What makes the Gehring House project most notable is the way it reconnects an important piece of Bethel's history with a pressing present-day community need. The building was originally constructed in 1896 as the home and clinic of Dr. John George Gehring, a nationally known physician and early psychotherapist whose work attracted patients from across the country.

While Gehring is often remembered for his use of hypnosis, his treatment philosophy was far broader. Patients came to Bethel for extended stays where therapy included rest, counseling, time outdoors, and structured daily routines designed to restore both physical and mental well-being. His home functioned as a therapeutic retreat and intellectual center, bringing national attention to the small mountain town.

Over time, the building fell into disrepair and sat vacant for years. Its rehabilitation transforms the historic structure into much-needed year-round housing for people who live and work in the Bethel area. The project carefully preserved the building's historic character while introducing modern building systems, energy efficiency, and comfortable residential layouts.

Today, the Gehring House once again serves the community - this time by providing housing that helps sustain Bethel's workforce and year-round vitality. The project demonstrates how historic preservation can honor a building's past while giving it a meaningful new role in the life of the town.

For more information on these seven impressive projects, please click here.