From the hilltop of the Old Hill neighborhood, the views of Westport are stunning. It is from this vantage point that we take note of the character and charm of historic homes whose preservation helps keep the fabric of our area unique.
Westport has seven historic districts, the oldest and largest of which is the Kings Highway North Local Historic District, now 50 years old. First known as Taylor Town, the area was a village of farmers at first, then associated with maritime development of the Saugatuck river port and finally involved in the formation of the town itself.
The 1730 house built by LT. John Taylor (#82) centers the district on Old Hill Road. Homes on Wright Street, Kings Highway North and Ludlow Road make up the majority of the district. "The Kings Highway North District is a significant historical and architectural entity which embodies the major stages of Westport history.” reads the application for National Historic Status (received in 1998).
Amongst the homes, there are four noteworthy sites — a military drill ground (#45) used 1760-1850 at the intersection of Old Hill Road and Kings Highway and three cemeteries (#73, #46 & #47). The oldest, King Street Cemetery (1740) is the burial ground of 17 Revolutionary War soldiers and many original owners of the colonial period homes in the district.
The Taylor house and the Daniel Nash House c. 1736, at Kings Highway/Woodside Avenue (#10), represent the oldest homes in the district and are examples of the Colonial Saltbox Style. It was the Nash family that brought the Marvin Grist and Saw Mill to the area. It is said that the flour ground there was also baked in the massive fireplace/brick oven, serving as Taylor Town’s bakery. The Nash House may also have served as a tavern or public house.
Wheat, among other goods, was shipped from the Saugatuck River port, necessitating roads from Kings Highway to the river. Edge Hill became the connector from the Hurlbutt homes (#1, #87 & #88) to their docks where farm goods were shipped to New York as early as 1798.
Soon after, Wright Street was constructed and relatives built additional homes on family land (#91-96). A concentration of Greek Revival style homes can be found on Wright Street today. Ship captains, Peter Bulkley (#99) and Francis Bennett (#97) occupied homes on Wright Street by the 1850s. ”Wright Street is a well-preserved and exceptionally cohesive 19th-century neighborhood," states the application of 1998. It remains a highly sought-after neighborhood to this day.
In the late 19th century, farming was on the decline and farmland was subdivided for new homes. New families arrived and “old” families built new homes, like Joseph Nash’s daughter Annie Wood (#111), who built next to her father’s home. Westport Bank & Trust officials became residents of the district, including Presidents Edmund Taylor (#101) & Channing Harris (#11) and Treasurer Leslie Sniffen (#15). Goodyear Rubber Company inventor Frank Converser also lived on Wright Street (#36), in a home designed by renowned architect Charles Cutler, who also lived in the district (#42)
Illustrators and local artists, silent film stars and authors occupied homes in the early 1900s — and to this day Westport remains an artistic haven.
With so many homes built in the early 20th century and others updated during the same time period, the district has a distinct Colonial Revival feel. Architects and builders however concentrated on design parameters set by their peers in the 18th century, creating homes in similar size and proportion to the earliest Salt Box Colonials in the district.
Naturally homes have been modernized throughout time and in many cases enlarged. The Kings Highway North Historic Commission oversees all changes that impact the homes’ sightline from the streets. A Certificate of Appropriateness for planned changes must be presented to and approved by the commission, helping keep the architectural history of the district intact.
We are honored to have represented 64 Wright Street, the Frederick Morehouse Home c. 1840 for sale. It is currently undergoing an remarkable renovation that will restore the home to its original glory.
It is our pleasure to sponsor the 06880 Historic Home tour, taking place on November 5th. Read more about it here.
As the unofficial realtors of the district, KMS is proud to have represented 75% of the buyers and sellers of district homes in the past six years. Our team has unparalleled expertise in historic homes, guiding the stewardship of these and many other antique homes in the Westport and Weston communities.
