Postcard from the past provides clue to home's history
The home at 22 North Street had its share of secrets before renovations this year.
Inside the then faded, but still stately house, a possible hideaway for Underground Railroad passengers was discovered.
When current owners Timothy and Deborah Diggins purchased the property, it was evident the house needed work. Also, it seemed like something was missing. The couple happened upon a historic postcard of their house that showed a striking front porch no longer in existence.
The postcard’s discovery prompted the Digginses, working with Tristan deBarros of Saltonstall Architects, to restore the home’s façade to its original appearance. It was found in the Mattapoisett Historical Society’s book “Picture Postcard Memories of Mattapoisett.”
DeBarrows said the society was supportive of the project and provided original photographs. The pictures helped the architects during the design phase.
“The porch really grounded the building to the street and gave it a nice base,” said deBarrows. “Giant bushes had been planted in its place and hide the house. It wasn’t historically accurate.”
The couple received the Sarah R. Delano Preservation Award on Aug. 28 for their restoration efforts. The Waterfront Historic Area League recognized the couple for restoring the home, built in 1844 in the Greek Revival style.
As project manager, deBarrows worked with lead architect Will Saltonstall to design plans based on the postcard’s photograph.
“This is one of the great American house projects,” said Wendy Nicholas, the league’s interim executive director. “The Digginses have done a superb job in restoring twenty-two North Street in Mattapoisett.”
Founded in 1962, the league fosters historic preservation in New Bedford and the South Coast through advocacy, education, training, and restoration projects. It is a private, member-supported nonprofit.
The league applauded the Digginses for making the home historically accurate.
DeBarrows accepted the award on the couple’s behalf.
To rebuild, a special permit was required. However, neighbor support and the fact the porch was a pre-existing structure helped the project earn approval.
People passing by will immediately notice the home’s exterior, but deBarrows said the interior was renovated with an eye on historical accuracy.
Carpets were removed to show previously hidden wood floors. Working from historic photographs, the project’s contractor re-built exterior and interior trim and moldings to get the details just right. He credited Silva Building Contractor Inc. for exceptional work. Landscape work was done by Clara Batchelor.
The home was built by Lemuel LaBaron. His grandson Lemuel LaBaron Dexter lived there in the early 1900s. A prominent lawyer and Mattapoisett resident, Dexter’s signature was found on a rafter inside the house during renovations.
In the attic, deBarrows said a hatch and ladder were found. Located above the house’s main entrance, the ladder drops into small hiding space only accessible from the attic. Though it’s “purely speculation,” deBarrows said there’s a chance the space may have hid runaway slaves before the Civil War.
To save that space, he said other parts of the structure were reinforced to maintain state building codes.
The project took a year and half to complete. The Digginses declined comment for this article, but deBarrows noted they made a conscious effort to save a historic local building.
“Judging by the poor shape the house was in they definitely could have knocked it down and restyled it,” he said. “But that wasn’t their choice.” For more information on the Waterfront Historic Area League, visit www.waterfrontleague.org.