Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in one of LandVest’s properties? We invite our owners to tell us a bit about their experience, what they love about their homes and a bit of their history. The owners of 5 School House Road on Mason’s Island in Stonington, CT share some of the special qualities about their property.
Can you give us a little background on the site?
The first owners to build a residence on the property were relocating from Stonington Borough, where their home had been destroyed by a clipper ship washed ashore during a hurricane in 1938. Located at almost the highest point on the island, 5 School House Road was an attractive alternative to their previous location. There were no trees at the time, so there was also the 280-degree view to the river and the sound.
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When did you come to own the property?
From a direct descendent of John Mason (of Mason’s Island), 5 School House Road passed through just a few hands before it became ours in early 2002. We subdivided the land to maximize its value and to restore the view, we cleared the dense woods that had grown in over the years.
We loved the character of the house, but wanted to maximize the view, so in February 2004 we moved out and had the house moved 150’, turned to face the view and placed on a new foundation with an attached garage and a full basement.
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You had a lot of guidance when renovating, can you tell us more about who you worked with?
We were guided in our placement and landscaping by Eva Wong, an MIT-trained Feng Shui master. The renovation was carried out by Austin Patterson Disston Architects of Southport, CT. A landscape design for the entire property was created and implemented by Kent-Frost Landscape Architects of Mystic. Care was taken to maximize the views from the house as well as each portion of the property while maintaining privacy. The result is that very few homes are visible when looking out at the views to the marsh and the river.
What are some special features?
We had an osprey platform installed in the marsh as a focal point of the view. Another interesting fact is that the sun sets into the spire of the church in Noank on the winter solstice (best seen from the hot tub with a glass of champagne!).
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The island has a wealth of protected natural elements like the 47-acre nature preserve with walking trails, salt marshes filled with indigenous birds, and the island’s mix of rocky shores and sandy beaches.
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This property has a spectacular view out of the back, which is always changing in the light and seasons, and is full of wildlife which barely notices that it’s being watched. It’s so private that I always thought of it as a little piece of my original home, Wyoming, in Mystic.
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Tell us more about Mason’s Island?
The location is great. It’s situated at the mouth of the Mystic River by Fisher’s Island Sound, an excellent spot for boating, fishing, and kayaking. The Mason’s Island Yacht Club offers sailing instruction, small boat racing, swimming, tennis, and bocce. From sailing in the summer to the passive watching of wildlife throughout all the seasons, it’s tough to beat the quaint coastal community of Mystic.
For more information about 5 School House Road, contact Joanna Dresser, jdresser@landvest.com or 617.584.6855.
