Ricketson Homestead Farm, South Dartmouth, MA

This lovely, historic, 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath home, built by Clark Ricketson (it is believed that Clark's Point and Clark's Cove were named after him) in 1804, is a fine example of Federalist style architecture. The home offers 3,592 square feet of living space, is sited on a lovely, level, .97-acre lot with mature trees, and is offset by stonewalls and fine stone pillars with wrought iron gate and railing. The house has a natural shingle exterior with red trim, a hip roof, a center chimney, 5 fireplaces, a rear covered porch, a two-car garage and more. The property is located just a few blocks from the New Bedford Yacht Club in the center of Padanaram Village.

The handsome front doorway with semi-circular fanlight exhibits a carved wooden pediment, pilasters and shutters. Its twelve over twelve windows contain original wavy glass. The frame members are assembled with mortise-and-tendon and wooden pegs. It boasts five fireplaces, four of which are tastefully carved. These four were made shallow to conserve heat and have fine mantels. The fireplace used in the original kitchen is larger but simpler in design with a high opening that is convenient for its intended use. The details in the wooden mantels have been carried out to the moldings around doorways, ceilings, and wainscoting in the spacious, front stairway.

The first floor includes: a fireplaced front parlor with built-in bookcases; a large, fireplaced living room that opens to a screened porch; a large, fireplaced formal dining room; a fireplaced, eat-in kitchen with a pantry; and a paneled office. An attractive staircase with a beautifully carved banister leads to the second floor. Here we find five bedrooms and three baths. One of the bedrooms also has a shallow fireplace. From the attic, one can climb to a roof deck that overlooks the village area.

This fine home is in the heart of Padnaram Village, which has shops, restaurants, marinas, yacht club, antique stores, and more. Dartmouth's lovely town beaches are a short drive or bike ride away. This relatively undisturbed piece or area history does needs some updating, but also, the wrong things haven't been done to it and it remains ready for someone with a taste for historic homes. It would make a wonderful rear-round or summer home. Call Olde Dartmouth Sotheby's International Realty today for a showing.