Southport

Margaret Hamilton House – Witch’s House // 1852

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Photo by Paul VanDerWerf

This house sits alone on Cape Island off the southern tip of Southport, Maine and has been known as the “Witch’s House” for decades. The island was purchased by actress Margaret Hamilton and her son, Hamilton “Ham” Meserve in 1961. The 20-acre island is about 900 feet from the mainland and includes this adapted farmhouse, originally built in 1852. Margaret Hamilton, best-known for her role as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, spent her summers in this house until her death in 1985. The island to this day is lovingly referred to as the Witch’s Island, a nod to a great actress and woman, Margaret Hamilton.

Southport General Store and Barn // 1895

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In 1882, Edward Everett Pinkham, known as Everett, opened a new store in one side of his house on Hendrick Hill in the island community of Southport, Maine. The store was known for years as E. E. Pinkham and Son. Everett soon built a proper store adjacent to his house. He served the Town of Southport in many capacities: Postmaster, Town Clerk (1887-1905) Treasurer (1883), and Selectman (1888-1893). Sadly, on May 21, 1895, the store and house burned along with all of the old town records inside. The community helped Everett rebuild the present general store before the busy summer season. Edward’s son “Charlie”, would take over the business and the building has served as the town’s social center ever since. Year-round and summer residents bump into eachother at the store, catch up, and share local news, like every general store should be! Sadly, in so many communities, the “general store” has been replaced by big box retailers or convenience stores, removing the sense of community or place, so these businesses are more important than ever!

Southport United Methodist Church // 1904

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The Southport United Methodist Church of Southport sits cross the street from the Town Hall of Southport, Maine, and is one of the best examples of a Shingle style church in the state. The modestly sized church was built in 1904, shortly after a fire destroyed the local Methodist congregation’s former church building. Members hired the great Maine architect, John Calvin Stevens, who had just joined in a professional partnership with his son, John Howard Stevens, to design the new church. It remains as one of the more notable architectural landmarks in the town of roughly 600 year-round residents.

Southport Congregational Church // 1875

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Southport was and still is a part of Fairfield, Connecticut, but it has long been very different from the geographic center of town. Largely due to distance, Fairfield Congregationalists in the Southport area of town sought to establish a new parish to worship closer to home. By the 1840s, their request was granted and a small wood-frame Greek Revival house of worship was built in 1843. By 1871, the increase in population and wealth in the village necessitated a new, larger church. The congregation hired the architectural team of Lambert and Bunnell who made a huge statement here! It is constructed of granite ashlar masonry with a steeply pitched roof and soaring spires.

William W. Wakeman Mansion // c.1833

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William Webb Wakeman was born in Southport, Connecticut on June 19, 1799, the son of Jesup Wakeman, an eminent citizen of the community. As a young man, William worked with his father in his commercial and trade enterprises. He acquired his own vessel early in his career, and gradually accumulated a line of trade vessels, sailing to New York, Savannah, Georgia and Galveston, Texas. By mid-century he was involved in the East Indian and China trade under the firm name of Wakeman, Dimon & Co. He built and owned a line of steamships during the late 50s, and was commissioned by the Federal government during the Civil War to transport troops and equipment. His massive Greek Revival mansion was built around 1833 on one of the largest house lots in the village, perched high on a hill overlooking the harbor. The three-bayed facade is framed by a two-story portico. Supported by four fluted columns, the capitals and entablature are similar to the “composed” order of Minard Lafever and the “composite” order of Asher Benjamin, popularized in the 1830s and 40s in their pattern books for architects and builders. After William died in 1869, it was likely his widow, Mary Catherine (who lived to be 99 years old, outliving all of her six children) who enlarged the home with massive two-story ells.

Trinity Parish Chapel, Southport // 1872

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The Trinity Episcopal Church in the Southport section of Fairfield, Connecticut was established in 1725. As the parish and town grew, a large and architecturally stunning church was erected in 1862, and housed services for some of the wealthiest and well-connected residents of Connecticut. During Rev. Edward Wells’ rectorship, it was decided that a parish school was needed, and as an ardent believer in religious training, he started planning for a new chapel for use as a school. The Trinity Parish Chapel was designed by Southport architects Disbrow & Taylor and erected 1871-72. This Gothic Revival building is an excellent example of the rural church architecture which enjoyed widespread popularity throughout the country during the mid 19th century. Designed on a simple rectangular and decorative wooden bell cote, the small chapel’s board-and-batten siding and modest though strong Gothic details create a composition which compliments the more grand church just steps away. The chapel was originally built as a free-standing building, but was connected by a large, brick addition in the 20th century.

Chidsey-Dimon House // c.1850

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Located on Harbor Road in Southport, CT, this stunning Italianate residence is properly sited on a small bluff overlooking the village’s harbor. According to historic maps, the house was owned by an “I. Chidsey” who appears to be Isaac Chidsey (1793-1865). The large Italianate style home is boxy in form and stands three full stories with two original one-story side wings. Sleeping porches were added in the early 20th century; those along with the rooftop belvedere, would allow for sweeping views of ships entering and exiting the harbor here. The house was recently restored by the architectural firm of Fairfax & Sammons and it looks amazing!

Oliver Perry House // 1843

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This imposing Greek Revival house is located in Southport and is one of a handful of the stunning Classically designed mansions near the waterfront. The house was built in 1843 for Oliver Perry a Yale Law School graduate who did not work in law, but became a successful merchant and businessman instead. Oliver H. Perry established his fortune as a shipowner and a merchant and was Treasurer and Director of the Southport National Bank. He was active in civic affairs and served as speaker of the house of the Connecticut General Assembly and commissioner to survey and settle the border dispute between Connecticut and New York. His Southport house is a stunning example of the Greek Revival style in the temple form with a two-story projecting pedimented portico supported by four Doric columns.

Charles Gilman House // 1871

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Southport, the coastal village in Fairfield, Connecticut is an old house lover’s dream! Case-in-point, the Charles Gilman House. Charles Gilman, a Bridgeport lawyer, constructed this house on the ridge parallel to Main Street in Southport between 1871-1874. The building is a fine example of the Stick style of architecture, in which the decoration on facades and gable ends reflects the building’s internal structure. Gilman used the services of two New York architects, J. Cleaveland Cady and William H. Beers, to design the house and the later (1900) library addition, respectively. In the 20th century, the house was owned by Richard Joyce Smith, an attorney who was hired to guide the New Haven Railroad through a long and tricky bankruptcy reorganization ending it it being acquired by the Penn Central in 1975.

Samuel Bradley House // 1715

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Welcome to Southport, one of the most walkable and charming seaside villages in all of Connecticut, and it’s also in Fairfield! Southport became a leading coastal port on Long Island Sound, its ships carrying produce and goods back and forth to New York City. Sea captains houses, historic banks, and stunning churches line the streets in the village and are all in a great state of preservation. This is because much of the old village area is part of a local historic district, first established in 1967, where buildings from three centuries are protected for future generations. This house was built in East Haven, Connecticut by Samuel Bradley in 1715. The saltbox house is evocative of many early Colonial homes of Connecticut built at the time with a large central chimney and symmetrical facade. The house remained in the family until the mid-1940s when it was purchased, disassembled, shipped and reconstructed on this site on Harbor Road in Southport.