Looking to buy? This historic 1800s Fairhaven house will take you back in time
The 5,200-square-foot historic Clark Mansion in Fairhaven is on the market for the first time in more than 50 years.
The corner-lot home at 703 14th St. that overlooks the bay is listed for $2.4 million.
It was designed in 1890 by the architectural firm of Longstaff & Black, which also designed the Fairhaven Hotel and the historic Gamwell House.
Historic remodel
The home was first built much differently than it appears today. Its original Queen Anne style was remodeled by the second owners into a Tudor-style home in 1919.
“It’s drastically different,” said Compass Real Estate listing agent Ann Wark.
The motivation for the remodel is unclear but in the renovation, an iconic bell-shaped tower was removed. But much of the unique interior woodworking and metal design remains the same today.
“(The renovators) did not — thank goodness — do anything to the very elaborate staircase,” Wark said.
The outside of the house is fairly unassuming but the inside boasts unique artistry and attention to detail.
The three-story home features two staircases, an elevator, four fireplaces, and even a top-floor ballroom. Many of the windows are stained glass and an exterior porch also wraps around the main floor.
Prominent owners
The house has not been seen publicly since the late 1960s when the current owners, the Cuevas family, moved in.
Dr. Cres and Angela Cuevas raised their four daughters in the home.
Before then, the home was owned by several notable figures in Bellingham’s history, according to a nomination form submitted by the city of Bellingham to classify the South Hill neighborhood in the National Register of Historic Places.
It was built for A.H. Clark, a prominent local banker. It was subsequently owned by Frank and Anna Wood, owners of Fairhaven’s E.K. Wood Lumber Mill, which operated in the area now known as Boulevard Park.
After Frank Wood’s death, the home was passed to one of his daughters. Her husband, Charles Sefrit, managed The Bellingham Herald for nearly 40 years during the first half of the twentieth century, according to HistoryLink.
“They were definitely captains of industry who lived there originally,” said local Bellingham historian Jeff Jewel.
Despite the home’s age, unique look and prior ownership, it’s not officially listed on any historic registries, according to Wark.
So, the new owners are free to update it and make needed repairs, Wark said.
This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Looking to buy? This historic 1800s Fairhaven house will take you back in time."
