Address: 142 Main St., Southport, CT
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 5
Square feet: 3,603
Price: $5,499,000
In the heart of Southport, CT’s charming village on the shore, the former estate of Eleazar Bulkley, is a lovingly restored piece of local history. Bulkley was a Revolutionary War soldier who became a captain when he returned from the war and purchased a fleet of ships, which he kept in the harbor. E. Bulkley and Sons became a major shipping company, particularly known for shipping the Southport onion, a major local crop at the time. The current owner brought the Federal-style home down to the studs, rebuilding it with modern amenities from central air to gas heat. It now has a whole house generator and a heated two-car garage. But much of the charm of the original home has been preserved, including salvaging and restoring the original Virgin Pine floor boards, and reconstructing all the home’s original windows with rope pulley systems. Six fireplaces now have upgraded chimneys. Four of them have been converted to gas while two are still wood burning.
“I’m truly amazed,” says real estate agent Libby Tritschler, luxury real estate specialist with William Raveis Real Estate in Southport, CT. “It’s really the best of old meets new. Buyers today want to bring their suitcase and unpack it and that’s it. This house definitely fits that desire.”
While the original footprint is preserved, three small rooms at the back of the house have become what is now a spacious kitchen where modern families can gather. A large island with temperature-controlled wine storage, a quartz countertop and plenty of seating is the center of the kitchen. Custom cabinetry surrounds the Lacanche range with dual ovens. The original kitchen hearth has been preserved and now serves as a cozy working fireplace for New England winters. Just off the kitchen a butler’s pantry provides a place for a fully stocked bar or pantry.
The original gracious nearly 9-foot ceilings and wide doorways indicative of the luxurious lifestyle lead by the original homeowners, continue to set a tone of easy elegance. Deep windows let in lots of natural light and outside, there are lots of spaces for outdoor entertaining, from the classic front porch to the large bluestone patio off the kitchen. A six-bed raised kitchen garden and patio planters provide ample room for fresh herbs and vegetables as well as flowers. In the side yard, The Lattice House, built off an oval walking path on a large green, provides a cool and shaded gathering spot for morning coffee, afternoon tea or evening cocktails. “The current owner is a member of the Garden Club, and she has amazing gardens that are just starting to bloom,” says Tritschler. “That side yard could be the perfect place for a family who wants a swimming pool.”
The neighborhood is ideal for those who like to walk or bike, she adds. “I feel like I’m on Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket or Southampton, but without the traffic,” Trischler says she has heard from potential buyers. “A lot of people don’t really know Southport is here. It’s a unique spot and you feel very tucked away from the rest of the world.” The village, with its quaint markets, high-end boutiques, well-received restaurants, and beach access, has been home to a number of celebrities who have discovered its secrets, from Celebrity Chef and Author Ina Garten to actor Jensen Ackles, known for his role in Supernatural.
“We’ve got everything here,” adds Tritschler. “The village is adorable.”
CONTACT:
Libby McKinney Trischler
On the Harbor Real Estate
Team AFA/William Raveis
Southport, CT
203-913-9454, libby.trischler@raveis.com
PHOTO CREDIT: Borgatta Photography
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