We'd Buy This Massachusetts Home for the Chimney Alone
by Shannon McGurrin Gish.
Do you dream of that charmed New England life? We hear ya'! In our New England Dreams column, Shannon takes us on a virtual tour of the Northeast through the lens of her favorite old house finds.
When beach enthusiasts think of soaking in the sun along the shorelines of Massachusetts, the popular coastal towns of Nantucket, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard readily come to mind. But just a little over an hour north is the idyllic waterfront village of Newburyport. Named by the Boston Globe in 2013 as one of the top spots to live, Newburyport is chock-full of coastal town appeal with local shopping and restaurants, music and arts festivals, and for old-home admirers like us (read obsessed enthusiasts) plenty of classic architectural heritage and charm.
Situated between the Merrimack River, the ocean harbor, and lines of sandy beaches is The Harbut House, an enchanting Georgian c1750 stunner.
I mean‌ the original raised paneling, gunstock corners, and that exposed brick, right?
Did you get a peak at the quirky tight staircase? I love that kind of quirky, don't you?
Invite a few friends or family over for a backyard game of bocce or croquet amid the graceful and whimsical gardens, then gather around the fire pit for an engaging and relaxing evening conversation.
Updated with meticulous attention to its historical character, this timeless home offers classic style for both summer and year-round New England delights.
Asking price: $719,900. Listing and photos courtesy of RE/MAX on the River
AUTHOR SHANNON MCGURRIN GISH
Shannon McGurrin Gish is a New England transplant who was born and raised in the metropolitan area of Washington D.C. Along with her beloved husband and three treasured sons, she made her way to New Hampshire via residential stretches in Dallas, TX and Denver, Colorado.
When not obsessing over all things New England (historical homes, autumn festivals, and wicked good lobstah rolls), Shannon studies the intersection of art and peacebuilding in Cambridge, MA. “Forgive me for geeking out for a moment here,” she adds, “but there is a growing body of research demonstrating that architecture as an art form influences psychology, cognition, behavior, and overall health. That is why we feel drawn to certain structures and spaces; they appeal crossculturally to our intuitive senses, not just our visual biases. And in nowhere is inspiring architecture more influential than in the home.”