370 River Street, Norwell, is known as "The Delano House". It was built in 1802 by the shipbuilder William Delano. From the first view of the wedding-cake exterior, the Delano House exudes the elegance and period detail of a fine Federal home. This remarkable and esteemed house is the perfect mixture of modern amenities and classic design.
14 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 full and 1 half bathrooms and 8 (that's eight) fireplaces surround you in this proud and magnificent, 3 1/2-story, 5,377-square foot home.
The modern kitchen boasts cherry cabinets, a soapstone counter and stainless stell appliances, including a 6-burner Viking stove. Panoramic views await you on the fourth floor. Hot water radiators heat the house using a new Buderus natural gas furnace.
Outside, the 6.8-acre estate includes a 3-story post-and-beam barn with 5 stalls, heated tack room, paddock and a riding ring. Then there's a pool, cabana and lovely gardens embracing the grounds, and a 2-car detached garage.
The history of this grand estate is fascinating.
The first Delano in New England, the 19-year old Philip de La Noye, arrived in Plymouth on the ship Fortune in 1621. His mother and father had originally arranged for Philip's passage on the Pilgrim vessel Speedwell, sister ship to the Mayflower, but it was forced to retum to England when she proved unseaworthy.
William Delano built the Federal Mansion on River Street the same year he married Sarah Hart of Boston. She was the daughter of the scion of the great Hart Ship Yard of Charlestown and Boston, where "Old lronsides", the ship Constitution, was built and launched. William built the two largest ships ever to be launched in the North River: the 112 foot, 450 ton whaler Lady Madison, and the 464-ton Mount Vernon, which was completed after William's death.
Sarah was left with the ships' store, located in one wing of the house, and seven children. The hand-carved moldings in the home that date back to this era bear seven carved marks - one for each of the children. The ships' store was well-provided with luxury goods from China and the East Indies.
The Delano sons continued the family's shipbuilding tradition. William married Sarah Brooks, of whom Sarah Delano did not approve. William and "the Brooks girl" lived in an upstairs parlor, but were forbidden the use of the front stairs, so William built a steep little staircase from the parlor to the second-floor chamber. The stair can be seen in the closet in the computer room off of the parlor. William and his family eventually moved to Boston, so that he could build larger ships than the North River permitted.
The second son, Benjamin, was to become the most prolific shipbuilder in the family. In 1833, he was commissioned to build ships at Grand Island in the Niagara River, New York, and he took with him his brothers William and Edward and about twenty North River craftsmen, where they built seven ships. He was later appointed Chief Naval Constructor at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. During the Civil War, Benjamin and his crew worked day and night to convert merchant ships for war purposes and to construct twenty-one battleships.
The third son, Edward, had a similarly illustrious career, and built Admiral Farragut's flagship, Hartford.
The property remained in the Delano family until 1916, when it was purchased by John Harris Gutterson. Gutterson was known for throwing lavish dinner parties complete with butlers and maids. Over its life, the gracious home on Delano Hill has only been owned by six families. This stately lady is graced by the original front entrance with its six-panel door, semi-elliptical fanlight and flanking sidelights. The hall wallpaper, Les Sulfides, is a reproduction of the 1790's hallway paper in the Hathaway House in Suffield, Connecticut. The original is by Reveillon, the famous 18th-century French printer. The wide pine floors hand planed doors and paneling, original hardware and moldings all point to the refined elegance that William Delano created 200 years ago.
370 River Street, Norwell, is offered for $1,290,000
Listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Brad MacKenzie would represent you as your Buyer's Agent. The information in this post was gathered from the listing information and other third-party sources including the seller and public records, and does not constitute any type of warranty, either express or implied. Any and all representations or warranties are disclaimed as to the accuracy of this information. All information should be verified by buyer prior to signing a Purchase and Sale Agreement.
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