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“I wanted to make sure it blends together,’’ said Sterling McDevitt, who has owned the home for 40 years. “The house is all set up for modern living. But it still feels very much like an 1800s house.”
The four-bedroom, 3.5 bath home is listed for $1,500,000 by Ginny Fingelly and Paul Triantafel of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. The home has 3,300 square feet, 1.06 acres and is steps from Southport Harbor.
McDevitt said the home, which was built in 1809, has been updated throughout. Even though it’s more than 200 years old, he said it does not show signs of age.
“We took it down to the bare wood about 20 years ago,’’ McDevitt said. “There wasn’t a bad plank. Every window frame was perfect. You buy a new house today, you have to replace the windows in 20 years. You cannot get the wood that they used to build this house. It was virgin timber.”
McDevitt said because of the craftsmanship that went into the original structure, the maintenance has been less than is required for many newer homes.
The home is described as a Federal Colonial, with plaster frieze moldings, patterned hardwood flooring, French Doors and marble trimmed fireplaces. The kitchen and bathrooms have been updated, and McDevitt said the roof is fairly new.
He purchased the home after he found it met a fairly long list of requirements. “I wanted an historic home, very livable, in a good location and close to everything,’’ McDevitt said. “I also wanted a certain amount of privacy. I had to be able to afford it and I wanted it to be near the yacht club. It took me a while to find this house.”
McDevitt said potential homebuyers need to see the house to get a full appreciation for its distinctive features. “You don’t get the full impact until you see the quality,’’ he said. “There are very high ceilings, and there’s a feeling of spaciousness. The flow of the house is great. They’ll be amazed at the detail, the thickness of the doors, the moldings, the magnificent marble mantles and the plaster work around the walls.”
McDevitt, who is moving out of the area, said the nearby conveniences are also a major feature of the house.
“It’s close to two train stations and just blocks from the Post Road,’’ he said. “But you get back here and you’re in a different world. Just today, I looked at my back window and saw the most beautiful red fox I’ve seen in my life. I’ve seen wild turkey, deer, possum, raccoons and big hawks. It’s like a nature’s wonderland.”
For the complete property details, click on the listing website.
