What is Henry Sleeper's Beauport Mansion in Gloucester?

[@monkeygraborange]

I’ve been to Beauport and the sensation is that you’re actually in someone’s home, rather than some museum or mausoleum owned by wealthy hoarders. Plus, the location is absolutely magical.

[@QueenBee-gx4rp]

I’ve been to this house many times! It is a feast for the eyes, imagination, and senses! Each room has its own theme and it’s difficult to decide which is your favorite. One after the other, each seems more enchanting than the last. You didn’t show the fantastic round library or the bedrooms, but they are also amazing-as is the view to the bay. All in all, an extraordinary place!

[@megfuchs9425]

Were you able to view the secret passage ways? That is what interests me most!

[@curiousworld7912]

I really love it, when people design their own homes - from a simple straw-bale cottage, to a stunning mansion. The 'identity' of the designer is there, and that's what makes it special.

[@Ollie2846]

Makes me happy to know that this mansion lives on. Even better is the fact you can tour it. I wish more people would have done the same. Thanks for the great content.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Something about the house makes me think this was a happy place.

[@esleyhamilton4056]

I read a short book about Beauport when I was in my 20s, but I didn't get there until my 70s. I'm still thinking about it because of its many beautiful rooms, many designed to set off collections. For example, much of the effect of the Octagonal Room you showed comes from the collection of red-ground toleware. The dining room overlooking the harbor has pale and cool wall colors but bright green majolica tableware. And you mentioned the glassware displayed in windows, some of which are artificially lighted. The house also has a large collection of hooked rugs, which create areas of color, especially in the darker rooms. Another demonstration of Sleeper's design genius is the way he disguises the fact that the house is too close to the neighboring house to the north. We tend to save houses for the public because of their architecture or associations, but this is one of very few times when I house has been saved because of its interior was designed by a master.

[@JohnHausser]

This channel is so underrated! 👍 😅 Cheers from San Diego California

[@janedee6488]

Favorite so far!

[@cassandraralph5906]

My father would have been very intrigued and inspired by this particular house. He built both our houses, in different styles, the second one being similar to Beauport, in some ways. Thank you again. 😊

[@LJB103]

The photo of the octagon room (used for formal dining) doesn't do justice to the aubergine wall color. The pine kitchen was for traditional New England dinners, and there is a 3rd room overlooking the harbor with a large window that lowers to make the room seem like a porch that was used for seafood dinners. On the harbor side of the roof, there are 2 small bump-outs that are so a cannonball bed could fit flush against a knee-wall. There are several of those "windows" with different colored glass in the home. Sleeper started with a smaller house, but kept building to a point that he got too close to his property line and a neighbor put up an enormous wall to block the views from Beauport into his house's rooms. Sleeper also used exterior elements of houses being demolished as interior fixtures: an idea carried on by Henry Francis du Pont in his expansion of Winterthur from a mansion into a museum. I'm not sure if there is still a restriction on visiting Beauport (not Covid related): it was closed on weekends during the summer because the rest of the summer mansions on Eastern Point are still private (except the T.S. Eliot house) and owners didn't want all the traffic and tourists while there. This is one of those houses where photos are nice, but you really need to see it to understand just how beautiful it is - especially the Chine Trade room. Excellent video.

[@kodyjbosch1]

Thank you so much for sharing This House. 🥰 A visit to Beauport has been on my bucket list for many years !

[@StamperWendy]

Thanks for highlighting another Massachusetts home! Love it!

[@wdjones4735]

The glass collection in the window is beautiful😊

[@christopherkraft1327]

This beautiful mansion has a fascinating story!!! Thanks for sharing it!! 👍👍🙂

[@mysteriousfun4759]

This town of Beauport is so enchanting I feel like it could be a Kirby level. Cute designer beauty with an eye for cottagecore and oriental aesthetics.

[@PeterCombs]

I live in Gloucester and have been in the place many times, as well as Red Roofs next door. Both are well worth the time..

[@cassandraralph5906]

What a beautiful and interesting house, in an equally beautiful location! Thank you for this most interesting and educational video!

[@rayn8740]

What a wonderful home. It is certainly one of my favorites that you've documented. What a treasure and how fantastic that it survives today.

[@samanthab1923]

It’s crazy. Reminds me of the Winchester Mystery House.

[@Seiskid]

This house looks stunning. Thanks for showing it to us.

[@manshbro99]

Love the gothic room

[@gayletaylor148]

I lived next door to Beauport in the 60's in the pink stucco house that burned years ago! Sad to say never took the tour...Eastern Point was just beautiful!

[@krcmaine]

I worked for Historic New England for several years (until COVID), didn't guide this house -5 in Maine though-, but have had the pleaseure to tour it. Every room is unique and orante. My favorite story is that he built a room to fit a 3-piece wooden curtain set he bought; the Library also contains an original colonial door. There is also a full size portrait of George Washington in the kitchen, which I think is oddest choice in the whole place! If you ever do Sayward-Wheeler, Hamilton, Jewett, Nickel-Sortwell, or Castle Tucker -Let me know! Happy to help.

[@jeanbaker2087]

I really enjoy watching Ken's videos. You get historical information about the owners and construction. I'm such a nosey person and a history buff that this satisfies both of my weaknesses. Keep them coming please.....

[@LJB103]

Sorry, forgot this point: Red Roof where Sleeper saw Eastern Point in Gloucester was the home of A. Piatt Andrew (U.S. Congressman, wealthy, and closeted - because of his political job, and the times - gay man). I mentioned him in a post concerning Hammond Castle where it was mentioned that Hammond and Sleeper were lovers. It's usually been Andrew and Sleeper whose names seem to get paired as possible partners

[@QueenBee-gx4rp]

Hammond Castle is another amazing place.

[@SewingWithLawayne]

I googled Sleeper and it said that the tours of the house now acknowledge their relationship.

[@RKyleHarney]

Hi Ken, Firstly, I want to say that I genuinely enjoy your channel. You showcase a great array of homes. Having said that, I wanted to share with you a couple of interesting things about two of the houses that you have featured. On Beauport, the house that you are sharing in this video, "The Pine Kitchen" is from the Barker house known as "The Garrison" in Pembroke MA. I am familiar with the house as I live in the house that was built by his son Robert Barker Jr. The house was built in 1685 and is now known as "The Adah Hall" house and is also in Pembroke MA. On the Seiberling estate, "Stan Hywett Hall" in Akron Ohio, another house that I am very familiar with as I was a docent there for many years. You showed the dining room and said that above the wood panels there was a border with "figures amongst nature". The frieze is actually a mural depicting Chaucer's Canterbury Tales painted by Robert Sewell. Each of the characters are labeled and Sewell painted himself into the scene, labeling himself "Limner" meaning "traveling artist". There you have it. I hope you enjoyed the information. Thanks again for your interesting channel. Be well. -KH

[@christopherpatzke3090]

I was the Curator of Landscapes at Historic New England years ago when the landscape was restored. Having synthesized three landscape reports, drafted the plan and guided the interpretation of the landscape through Historic New England’s demanding Proactive Preservation and Interpretation Planning Committee I can tell you there is much to admire about Sleeper’s landscape as well!

[@mileshigh1321]

Ken, if I win the lottery this weekend we are going on a road trip to this incredible house! I can see how his interior design knowledge influenced the Dupont house interiors!

[@ThisHouse]

Sounds like a plan to me! Come on lucky numbers!

[@wendywarrior2264]

I visited Gloucester a few years ago, but did not visit. The octagon room looks awesome!

[@heatherscott-fleming4888]

It's amazing.

[@kimmoses6397]

It was in Essex, MA that Henry purchased the wood that wood be the start of Beauport

[@kellingtonlink956]

Thanks for another thorough video. If you are looking for more Canadian content (in the future), I would consider researching Casa Loma in Toronto. Or maybe even the McLaughlin Estate (Oshawa) who was Canada’s automotive pioneer (McLaughlin Buick), expanding on General Motors presence in North America. Cheers.

[@ropeburnsrussell]

I'm going to go see this one!! Road trip!!!!

[@HarvestStore]

Great video.

[@kimberlylovell9478]

I would love to visit this house!

[@Ivehadenuff]

Nothing happened to Beauport. It’s still there. I am inspired and I’m going to take a ride over and visit soon. I used to live nearby yet I can’t recall ever going there.😮. I do love Hammond Castle, also in Gloucester, during Halloween.

[@anthonycalbillo9376]

It's, um, um....um....very unique.

[@horizon42q]

You should do a video of the Historic Park Inn in Mason City, Iowa. The last and only Frank Lloyd Wright Hotel.

[@brandonpiazza6210]

This would be my house. Come on Megamillions 🤞🏻!

[@lawaynesplace]

He was shown the area by it was believed his lover A. Piatt Andrew who lived in Red Roof.

[@SkippackCougar]

i think you would find 'casa loma' in canada very interesting!

[@francesgrumblatt3420]

Mold and dust!

[@heathergreen6394]

My aunt would of loved the glass

[@SKF358]

Description location says Long Island, but this is Massachusetts.

[@mikeday62]

Hey Ken, that statue near the rooftop standing inside the open shutters, is that Christopher Columbus or Barnabas from Dark Shadows?

[@dumbestoyster]

Why were there no current pictures of the interior?

[@ThisHouse]

We generally only use photos we can get permission to use.

[@joenicoud5967]

👌

[@francesgrumblatt3420]

That’s a lot of “stuff

[@mercedesspada1966]

🤔😐👎🏻