LOCATION DESCRIPTIONS
201 North Street, circa 1784
Verle and Ron Weiss
The Greek revival dwelling rests on foundations of another dwelling dating to 1772. According to official documents held by the current owners, Thorougood Keeling owned this dwelling. The earliest known owner of this home was Reverend Agnew, a Torie Chaplain. This dwelling has a three bay facade with a Doric porch and columns supporting a full entablature with dentil course. The addition was added in 1821. The home features its original staircase with hand carving, heart pine floors and wainscoting, original hand carved Chippendale fireplace surround and mantle in the library and Adam fireplace in the parlour. Many of the windows throughout the home are made from original hand blown glass. It is now known as the Patriot Inn, and the current owners are the Inn Keepers. This home was also featured on the HGTV program, "Restore America" in June 2004.
221 North Street, circa 1825
The Hill House
Imagine, if you will, a family gone for an afternoon stroll about the neighborhood and never returning home. Such is the appearance of the Hill House, an early 1800s English basement home, completely furnished with its original family belongings and left in place. To this day there is an original, elegant wardrobe hanging in one of the armoires! It is evident from the furnishings that the Hill family were avid collectors and lived graciously over a period of 150 years. The house remains in its original condition, with limited restoration though the years. This is truly a unique opportunity to observe how an antique home begins its restoration process. The Portsmouth Historical Association is headquartered here and repairs have begun.
While it is unknown what the garden layout was when the last Hill sisters and brother lived here, we do know they were avid gardeners. Displayed throughout the house are gold and silver award certificates from international flower shows. Until this year, the last major garden renovation was in 1964. These elaborate plans still exist and will help guide the garden renovation to begin in Spring 2012.
415 North Street, circa 1880
Fred Schoenfeld and Dr. Jean Haskell
Known in the early days of Portsmouth as the Hope house, 415 North Street was built by Dr. Frank S. Hope and his family in the early 1880s. Dr. Hope was a prominent doctor in town, surgeon for the Volunteer Fire Department, and served as Portsmouth mayor for several terms. His wife, Anne West Hope, helped found the Portsmouth Humane Society and the first shelter was named for her. During the time the Hopes lived here, there was a carriage house and stalls for two horses that Dr. Hope used in making his rounds.
The house was occupied in more recent memory by Dr. Hays, another prominent local physician and his family. Many older people in town still call it the Hays house. For a brief period in the early 1990s, the house functioned as a bed and breakfast. The current residents, Fred Schoenfeld and Dr. Jean Haskell, own the historic Commodore Theatre in Portsmouth. They purchased the house in 1996 and continue conservation work on the home that they share with their two Jack Russell terriers, Popcorn and Banjo.
This residence has extensive woodwork of quarter-sawn oak, some with egg and dart carving, oak floors with mahogany inlay, an imposing oak staircase, original chandeliers, and ten fireplaces. A center hallway with dual parlors (one the dining room, the other a bedroom) and pocket doors, a large living room, a newly remodeled kitchen, covered patio, and landscaped garden are on the tour.
In the dining room, a massive crystal chandelier retains its original gas fittings and is always fully decorated for Christmas. The desk in the living room showcases a collection of unusual Santa Claus reproductions. The new kitchen is warmed by stone walls, quartz countertops, and bamboo flooring that makes the stainless steel appliances stand out. Throughout the house there are touches of movie memorabilia. Throughout the home many art and craft artifacts from Appalachia (the focus of the professional work of one of the owners) including pottery, baskets, coverlets, photographs, paintings and much more are visible.
500 North Street, circa 1799
David McRae
This Federal-style house was built by Colonel Dempsey Watts and remained in the Watts family for more than 150 years. One of the larger homes in Olde Towne, the house was originally located in the middle of the square it presently occupies and was carefully moved to its current location in 1908. A few of the many elegant features of the house include elaborate plaster ceiling medallions, hand-carved wooden mantels, heart pine floors, graceful fluted columns separating the two parlors, and a three-flight stairway with handmade mahogany railing. With inspiring proportions and a dramatic collection of statuary, this home was built for entertaining.
Among the many guests and dignitaries that were entertained in this 8,500 square foot home were Henry Clay, in 1844, and Chief Black Hawk, who was given a tour of the area by order of President Andrew Jackson in 1833 to see the might of the American Navy. Jackson thought that if Chief Black Hawk saw this much power he would quit fighting. He did. Through the years few additions have been made and the original building remains almost unchanged.
361 Dinwiddie Street, circa 1902
Nettie Fischer
Welcome to 361 Dinwiddie Street, a Queen Anne Revival of the Victorian Era characterized by columns, upper bay window and witches cap. Built in 1902, this is the youngest house on the block. This residence was originally constructed by the Seaboard Airline Railway as a single family house and later served as a home- away- from- home for the Seaboard's yardmaster and several employees until 1904.
As was common for most dwellings from this time period, the ceilings are high and there are several transom windows. Throughout the years many alterations have been made, but the original bath tubs and subway tile walls of the bathrooms survived.
Early residents included the widow Mrs. Roberta Ball and her student son Robert, from 1909 to 1915. In 1928 during the shipbuilding boom, 361 Dinwiddie Street was converted to a duplex to accommodate the need for more housing in Portsmouth. A two-story structure, which would become the present kitchens, was added to the rear of the house.
The house reflects Ms. Fischer's personality and is decorated in a rather eclectic style. Please enjoy your visit.
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