George Cress of Real Broker Email: george@callcress.com Call/Text: 212-203-5251
298 Harbor Road
Fairfield, CT 06890
- 5
- beds
- 6
- baths
- 5,595
- SF
Our Take
298 Harbor Road in Fairfield is an 1834 home associated with sea captain Ward Bulkley, transformed by architect JP Franzen and Moore House Design. Original pine floors and expanded millwork are paired with Venetian plaster, reclaimed stone, and artisan finishes. A vaulted kitchen centers on an 11-foot island, while a hidden speakeasy sits behind the wood-paneled staircase. The home has five bedrooms, five full and two half baths, with a primary suite on either the first or second floor. The property also includes seasonal water views, a pool, spa, and outdoor sauna.
Historic Profile
298 Harbor Road is the Captain Ward Bulkley House, an early-1830s cottage associated with Southport’s seafaring community. By 1970, it was the residence of Mrs. Norton Sturges and was recognized for retaining its early appearance. The house is included in both the local Southport Historic District and the National Register district.
Over time, additions produced a complicated interior layout. A renovation by architect John P. Franzen and designer Blair Moore reorganized those spaces while retaining historic features. A new glass breezeway created a direct connection between the kitchen and former cabana, replacing a route that required going upstairs and down again. Original living-room flooring and the dining room’s historic fireplace mantel and trim were retained. New living-room windows were designed with slender proportions, and new paneling was added alongside the older fabric. The Fairfield Historic District Commission also approved exterior door, window, and lighting changes in 2022.
Research note: The Southport Historic District’s 1970 National Register nomination dates the house to 1831; the Fairfield Historic District Commission’s 2021 handbook gives approximately 1834. The 1831 date also appears in the project representative’s presentation recorded in the commission’s September 8, 2022 minutes. The precise construction year remains unresolved.
Property Details
Listing Facts
- Acres
- 0.88
- Year built
- 1834
- Taxes (July 2026-June 2027)
- $72,165 (July 2026-June 2027)
- Price/SF
- $1,071
- Days on Market
- 18 Days
- MLS number
- 24200591
Highlights
- Architect JP Franzen and Moore House Design
- Original pine floors and expanded millwork
- Vaulted kitchen with an 11-foot island
- Hidden speakeasy behind wood-paneled staircase
- Flexible first- or second-floor primary suite
- Five bedrooms, five full and two half baths
- Seasonal water views with pool and spa
- Outdoor sauna
Read the full listing description
What began as the restoration of sea captain Ward Bulkley 1834 home became something far more extraordinary. The years-long transformation of 298 Harbor Road, recently featured in Architectural Digest, brought together architect JP Franzen and Moore House Design to carefully preserve and reimagine nearly two centuries of history. No detail was too small and no opportunity to honor the original home overlooked. The result preserves the character and craftsmanship of another era while creating a home that, for all its beauty and pedigree, is remarkably comfortable, inviting and meant to be lived in. Generations of additions were reconsidered and unified; original pine floors preserved; millwork expanded; and Venetian plaster, reclaimed stone and artisan finishes introduced with extraordinary attention to craft. A spectacular vaulted kitchen centered around an 11-foot island exemplifies how seamlessly historic architecture and modern living were brought together. Behind the wood-paneled staircase, a hidden speakeasy offers an unexpected nod to another era-one of the many details that makes this home so intriguing. The home offers 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half baths, with the rare flexibility of a first- or second-floor primary suite. Set on .8 acres with seasonal water views, a pool and spa, and outdoor sauna, 298 Harbor Road achieves something exceedingly rare: a remarkable convergence of history, exceptional design and modern luxury in the heart of Southport Village.
Schools
- Elementary
- Mill Hill
- Middle
- Roger Ludlowe
- High
- Fairfield Ludlowe
School assignments as reported by SmartMLS.
Price History
| Date | Event | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Listed | $5,995,000 |
Listing Agent
Brown Harris Stevens · (203) 254-1500
Wendy Ryan · (203) 964-7450
Map
298 Harbor Road, Fairfield, CT 06890
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SmartMLS · Listing #24200591 · Under Contract
Listing data checked: Oct 27, 2026, 5:38 PM EDT.
Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Cress commentary is separate from the MLS listing description. Contact Cress about a correction.
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