Demolition day in Rockport: Old cape, workshop torn down for something new
An old home, built sometime in the early 19th-Century, was torn down July 17 in Rockport Village to make way for open space. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The house, contractors said, was "an old one" evidenced by oak dowels. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Although it was mostly empty, there were items left in the house, such as folded towels in the bathroom. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The cape comes down, but the house to its left, 30 Mechanic Street, under the same ownership, remains standing. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The workshop at 321 Commercial Street (Route 1 near the intersection of Pascal Ave. was torn down to make way for a new building to house a Crossfit training facility. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
An old home, built sometime in the early 19th-Century, was torn down July 17 in Rockport Village to make way for open space. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The house, contractors said, was "an old one" evidenced by oak dowels. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
Although it was mostly empty, there were items left in the house, such as folded towels in the bathroom. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The cape comes down, but the house to its left, 30 Mechanic Street, under the same ownership, remains standing. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
The workshop at 321 Commercial Street (Route 1 near the intersection of Pascal Ave. was torn down to make way for a new building to house a Crossfit training facility. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)
ROCKPORT — Two buildings were demolished in Rockport July 17, an antique home on Mechanic Street in Rockport Village, and an old workshop on Route 1. In the latter case, the building spot is being reclaimed for a new gym; as for the former, a vintage house has yielded for more landscaping in an upscale neighborhood.
Mechanic Street wasn't always such. In the harbor's heyday as a thriving industrial center, a collection of working class homes were constructed around the waterfront's rim, representing various styles of New England architecture — capes, farmhouses, and hybrids. In the early 20th-Century, some larger estate cottages were built, and in the latter part of the century, many of the older homes were renovated and gentrified, especially those with waterfront. Hedges and stone walls went up and Mechanic Street became tonier.
Over the last 10 years, two other homes have been demolished on Mechanic Street, either to make way for something architecturally new, or lawn. In the case of 32 Mechanic Street, the house and garage were torn down on Wednesday to make way for green grass and gardens, according to contractor Bruce Cole, of Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Property owners are John and Susan Weatherley, of Ridgefield, Connecticut. They also own the house next door at 30 Mechanic Street and own property at 28 Mechanic Street, where another old house was located, and torn down in 2006.
The cape that was demolished on July 17 had been assessed by the town at $232,390. The land, by contrast, is assessed at $504,700.
The age of the house was not known, although Cole characterized it as "old."
Other contractors said the age was evidenced by the oak dowels used in its construction.
"It had some soft spots," said one contractor, indicating the house needed some work.
Workshop on Commercial Street
The other building torn down July 17 was an old workshop on Route 1 (321 Commercial Street) near the intersection of Pascal Avenue. The workshop was adjacent to an old house that remains standing. The property was just acquired by Nicholas Brown from Peter and Priscilla Spectre, of Roadtown, British Virgin Islands.
The Browns had used the building for yacht restoration work and woodworking. Prior to that, it was home to State of Maine Cheese, cheesemakers. And before that, Wally Brown had worked on old Volvos there.
Nicholas Brown now intends to erect a fitness studio. He is owner of Stone Coast Crossfit at 16 Rockport Centre, on Commercial Street.
Editorial director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.
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