31 South Water Street is an 1860’s vintage captain’s house along Edgartown harbor. This home is also located within the Edgartown Historic District and all exterior approvals had to be obtained from the Historic District Commission. The recently completed restoration was complex. The house has been heavily modified over the years. Most of the original interior and exterior detail was either removed or significantly modified and as of last year, only the basic massing of the house was intact.

Based on an archival story, we were able to document the photographs how the house appeared in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The goal was to recreate the original primary façade with like kind and similar materials and detail per our research.

The original foundation was crumbling and was not supportable. Therefore the entire house was lifted in place and a new brick veneered foundation was installed under the existing house. The house was then lowered back in place and the preservation of the house began in earnest.

The interior was carefully reconstructed with new spatial allocations to respond to the topography and site conditions. The redevelopment included a pool, cabana, and extensive landscaping master plan that included bluestone patios and native plantings.

This house not only is a wonderful example of sensitive preservation, but its contribution to the greater good and the historic village is equally important. 31 South Water Street in its present form enhances the overall streetscape and plays an important role in unifying the entire South Water Street imagery due to its central and harbor front location and thereby enhancing the built environment within Edgartown village.