All over town, builders and families are buying old (and some young) homes, and tearing them down.
Some were poorly constructed, and go easily. Others are more sturdy. But they too succumb to the wrecking ball.
It will take a lot to topple 50 Sylvan Road North — the 1920 Tudor Revival owned by a host of well-known people, including actor Frank Gorshin and billionaire Marc Lasry.
(Photo courtesy of MLS)
Fortunately, that won’t happen.
And not just because the walls are more than 2 feet thick.
50 Sylvan Road North, today.
The 9-bedroom, 8 1/2-bathroom stone home, on a 3-acre lot, was bought 2 1/2 years ago by attorney Jeffrey Ment and Dr. Mary Murray, Westporters since 2000.
Sturdy construction, from 1920.
They’ve painstakingly renovated the long-neglected property, both inside and out.
Mary Murray, in her back yard.
The interior was in bad shape. The exterior — including gardens, statues and fountains that had disappeared under weeds and algae — was worse.
It’s taken time, energy, creativity and love. But now, 50 Sylvan — beckoning behind an old-style stone wall — looks much as it did when Charles Cutler designed it over 100 years ago.
If it looks a bit like other local landmarks, there’s a reason: Cutler also created the Westport Bank & Trust (Patagonia) building downtown, and Greens Farms Elementary School.
The first owner was Arthur Dare Whiteside, president of Dun & Bradstreet. Subsequent owners included a variety of artists and actors, including Gorshin — The Riddler on “Batman,” among many other notable roles.
But by the time Murray and her husband — who passed it often, on their walks from nearby Marion Road — bought it, it had fallen into disrepair.
It took them a while to figure out what to do, or even where to begin.
As landscape architects Beate Hochman and Emilio Mandujano explored, they found overgrown sculptures, rock gardens, even a pond. “It was like an architectural dig,” Murray recalls.
This sculpture and fountain was rediscovered, and restored.
Gradually, the property has been transformed. The owners have added their own touches too, like a farm building with 10 chickens and 5 ducks, and a nearby koi pond.
The chicken and duck coop, with pond in front.
Inside, Murray and Ment have restored carvings — of Latin sayings, animals and more — in nearly every room. They’ve brought old fireplaces back to life.
Intricate carvings, over one of many fireplaces.
They’ve worked on rooms that were important a century ago but are no longer needed, like the one where Whiteside’s driver could pull in and wait. He was not allowed anywhere else in the house.
It’s been a labor of love — and mystery — for the owner. “This is such a special place in Westport history,” Murray says. “I keep imagining that world, and what it was like, 100 years ago.
“Westport is a place of creativity. It’s nice to remember who we were, and still are.
“I don’t why anyone would need new construction, when they could have this.”
Mary Murray, at the rear of her home.
Another restoration at 50 Sylvan Road North.
Landscape architect Beate Hochman is responsible for much of the work on 50 Sylvan Road North. The detached garage in the back was added by a previous owner, after the home was built. (All photos/Dan Woog unless otherwise noted.)
(“06880” regularly covers Westport’s past, real estate now — and like today, their intersection. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
