A classic Queen Anne Colonial on a double-sized lot, built out of love.
The nuts and bolts
6 bedrooms
5.5 bathrooms
6,000 square feet
.75 acres
House proud
Completed in 1913 as a gift from wealthy candy manufacturer William W. De Bevoise for his wife, Bertha, the home, named Wisteria Court, was and still is a showstopper in Jamesport. Sited on a double-sized corner lot featuring an eye-catching wraparound porch, the home has had only four owners in its 111 years.
“It’s a very romantic house and when you see it, you feel like it’s built out of love. It has a great flow of air and energy,” says René Giacobbe, the Douglas Elliman agent listing the property. The current owner is the son of the third owner, marking 70 years the same family has been in the house. “They always kept everything up. It’s in really fantastic shape,” Giacobbe says, noting the roof, plumbing, electrical and heating have all been recently updated.
What’s the plan?
A curved double mahogany staircase with carved balusters in the 478-square-foot entry hall is the epitome of a grand entrance and makes a statement about the finishes of the house. On either side of the hall, Ionic and Doric columns mark the entry into the other great rooms; the living room to the right and the dining room to the left, which, in turn leads into an oversized breakfast room that adjoins the kitchen. The second-floor landing is no less grand, with its curved banister and railing, French doors leading to a sitting room and original herringbone wood floors. One wing houses the 222-square-foot primary bedroom with its ensuite bathroom, and another 210-square-foot bedroom facing the front of the house. The other two bedrooms share a bathroom, and the hallway leads to the former staff quarters, now the second floor of a legal apartment. The third floor has a bathroom and is largely unfinished, used for storage and with the potential for conversion to other use in the 1,200-square-foot partially finished space. The unfinished basement has nine-foot ceilings.
What’s cooking?
The galley-style kitchen in the main house is a 114 square feet, and originally may have been a prep kitchen for the larger 246-square-foot kitchen that is now part of the back apartment. It has white cabinetry and appliances from an earlier renovation and though fully functional with ample counter space, a buyer may wish to update.
What else?
This home has many original details such as the inlaid and wood-patterned floors, moldings and wall panels, coffered ceilings, unique lighting, leaded windows and graceful flourishes such as glass windows that curve with the wrap-around porch.
Amenities and more
- Woodburning fireplace
- Covered patio
- Lush, mature plantings including specimen trees and flowering shrubs
- 10-foot ceilings throughout and 20-foot ceilings on the third floor
- Legal, income-generating apartment with its own entrance
One cool thing (or two)
When built, the house was the first in town to have electricity and indoor plumbing and a third-floor ballroom. Bertha Downs De Bevoise was the daughter of Captain Edward Downs, who built the Peconic Bay House hotel, which perhaps influenced the style of the home his son-in-law built on S. Jamesport Ave. Bertha was renowned for her talents as a pianist and harpist and often gave concerts at Wisteria Court and elsewhere to benefit charitable causes.
Agent’s callout
“This home is unique because of its size, grandeur and style,” said Giacobbe. “Though it’s an immense house, it’s really a home that flows very nicely and you can see a family living there comfortably.”
Location, location, location
The home is in the village of Jamesport, just two blocks from the Great Peconic Bay Marina. Local recreation includes the South Jamesport Park and beach, with nearby tennis and pickleball courts. Giacobbe says as the last stop on the railway, “the town was a pretty hopping place in the 1900s.” She says it’s historic with “really great energy” and easy access to restaurants.
Details
The home at 121 S. Jamesport Ave., lists for $2,279,000 and the details can be seen here.
