The David Anthony House, Swansea

[mbhenty]

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We all have our priorities in life. One of mine is the historical attributes an old building can offer.

The preeminence of a building has to do with many factors. Most are historical. I'm not talking about a building's monetary significance but it's archival value, which in many cases has to do with who owned it, it's architectural importance, or place in history.

To me one of those buildings is Bay Point, David Anthony's Swansea home at the mouth of the Lee's and Coles River and overlooking Mount Hope Bay. The owners, who make claim to having the building in the family for almost 100 years, have renovated it. The renovations are a death sentence to the Anthony house. The excuse usually used is that it is cheaper to tear it down then to renovate what's there. The make over of the Anthony house could not be more radical. History has been wiped away. The past erased. Architectural noteworthiness expunged.

Each to his own, but I find the reconstruction of the David Anthony House a sad and unfortunate transformation. Even all the large trees on the property were removed. Such is the taste of the untutored or those with little fondness for the past.

After all, this is Bay Point Road. Exclusive homes. Across the street from the Anthony house is a house lot for sale, overlooking the bay and the DA house. This is a house lot. No house on it. Asking price? $400,000. And after the Anthony house is completed it will be worth and nipping around 800 K plus.

[twinsrwe]

OMG, MB, this is so sad. The reconstructed house doesn't look anything like the old David Anthony house!!!

The reconstructed house has no character, at all. Why would anyone do something like this to a historical building that was such a big part of history, as the Anthony house was? I know you have already answered that question, but it just doesn't seem to be the right thing to do to such a building as the Anthony house.

I have only seen the old Anthony house via pictures, but those pictures told me that the house was a beautifully constructed home with a lot of character.

Thank you for sharing this sad occurrence with us.

[mbhenty]

Yes Twins:

To me it is very sad. And I'm certain I don't stand alone.

Here's another example of history and a marvelous building on the brink of destruction.

This news just came down to me today.

This is the Immaculate Church on Thomas Street in Fall River. (The 'tear it down' city)

This building was about 5 blocks down the street from where I lived when I was a little boy. Near by was a French Church, a Lebanese Church, a Portuguese Church, etc., all a couple off blocks away from my home. It's just the sort of city it was when I was growing up.

Now back to the church on Thomas Street. A request has been made of the city to demolish the old Church. This is an amazing little building with a wonderful tower, an historical building, solid and just beautiful. It, along with a brick rectory, was for sale for 399,000, with little offers.

Much of this city's historical buildings have been demolished or burnt down. Ostensibly, the trend continues.

Apparently, if true, the blessed building's days are numbered. UNBELIEVABLE!

Make no mistake. fall river is the "tear me down city." Ignorance, apathetic idiocy, and lack of regard and reverence for architectural structures.

[Franz]

I love the old houses. I have a book about the old country houses in Virginia.

[patsy]

Oh dear it's horrible that they took away the best parts of the Anthony house. I'm not a fan of uncluttered lines of structures if I even make sense. Who would think that days would come that Fall River and many cities like it would be known as tear down cities. Ugh.

That church is just too beautiful to tear down and I would think that the bricks alone may be of a kind that we don't see much of any more. Thanks for sharing the pictures, Mb.

[mbhenty]

Finally got my sailboat in the water for the season.

Other commitments have dominated my time or it would have been in the water the first of May.

Why am I telling you this?

Well... on my next sail I will be sailing by the back of the Anthony Property and will inspect what they have done with the water view portion of the property. The photo below was taken by me about 5 years ago as I sailed by.

[Franz]

Here is the frontispiece of the book.

[mbhenty]

That's great Franz.

I have a small book collection about old homes. My favorite are Cape Cod homes. (The building, not the area)

The book you posted is on eBay as we speak. The seller is asking 12 dollars for it. Probably can be had for 8 to 10. The old homes in Virginia are probably as American as you can get..... if you don't include New England.

My favorite architecture book is The Cape Cod House, by Stanley Schuler and first published in 1982.

Naturally, my home is a Cape Cod design, with a Greek Revival motif.

AS for the Anthony house, it would have made no difference if you tore it down and build new. The end results as it stands now is the same.

[mbhenty]

Though this tread has little to do with Lizzie herself, it is indirectly linked since Anthony was a contemporary of Lizzie and most likely well acquainted with her. Though there is no concrete direct proof to the dimension or magnitude of their relationship. Folklore has it that the were more or less engaged. But this is probably legend if not outright myth, since we have no narrative account or proof from the lips of anyone who could be believed.

So here we discuss the David Anthony house in Swansea which was/is at the tip of Gardner's Neck less than a mile away from the Borden summer farm. Anthony would have to drive by the Borden place to get to Bayview since there was only one main road, that being Gardner's Neck Road.

As expected the rear of the Anthony house is just as radical as the front. The entire rear of the house has been dismantled with an all new roof (s). By new I mean "new" pitch and all. Gone are all the towers, dormers, and Victorian adornment.

Below is a youtube video of the sailing vessel Saudades as I sail past the rear of the David Anthony house. Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/L87f4mirQ9I