Venerable Italianate home in the heart of Southport Village
Historic Southport Village is renowned for its New England charm and its rich array of 18th- and 19thcentury architecture. Unique to the Village is the John Henry Wood House, a stunning, circa 1860 Italianate residence, whose photos have been documented in the Library of Congress. The home also boasts an award- winning modern addition that creates a wonderful balance of classic and contemporary.
To date, only five families have lived in the home. According to owner Havilande Whitcomb, the original house was built by John Wood, a saddle and boot maker who had a shop in Southport village. In the 1970s, a modern addition was put on the back of the home.
“The addition was done in a scale that matched the high ceilings and moldings of the original home and was given an award by the Southport Conservancy,” Whitcomb explained.
In fact, it was the distinctive blend of modern and historic that attracted the owners to the property when they purchased it in 1994.
“We had been living in
London and love old homes and traditional architecture,” the owner said. “My husband loved the historical aspect. As an interior designer, I came from a school that emphasized modernism, so I was very comfortable with the addition that is more updated. It is wonderful to have this large, light- filled family room with double-height windows and glass doors to the deck and garden, in addition to the more traditional rooms in the historic part of the house.”
At the front of the home, an elegant archway opens into the formal living room, accented with wide moldings and a beautiful ceiling medallion. Across the foyer, the formal dining room features a grand built- in china cupboard, which is one of the photos featured in the Library of Congress and whose design mirrors the archway in the foyer. This theme is also echoed in the library which features an arched bay window and handsome fireplace.
The owners have taken great pride in being custodians of this venerable residence.
“The house has a lot of character,” the owner added. “Living in a house with its own personality feels very nurturing. This was emphasized even more over the last few months as our children came home and we had eight people working at home, each with our own workspaces.”
Recent updates include modern baths and a new gourmet kitchen with quartz counters, island with bar seating, top- ofthe- line appliances and dining area.
On the upper level, the master bedroom is a delight among his and hers closets, a meditation/ reading nook and luxe bath with heated flooring, separate shower and deep soaking tub. Two more bedrooms and a full bath complete this level.
On the third level is a fourth bedroom with full bath, ideal for an au pair or teen suite. This bedroom connects to the “tower” at the front of the home, giving a bird’s eye view of the street.
“Our ‘ princess tower’ is a special little room that has been a number of things over the years from dollhouses to sleepovers and homework space. It is a great place where children can use their imagination.”
The garden has a large lawn for children’s soccer, croquet with cocktails and room for a pool.
The owner’s favorite spot, however, is sitting in the swing on the covered porch while reading, sipping a drink or waving to neighbors walking by — another advantage of the location.
“The Village is more of an urban lifestyle, where everything is so walkable. You can walk to town, shops, restaurants, fitness club, the harbor, beach and go kayaking without having to get in your car.”