418 Harbor Road in Southport, CT is a Wakeman Widow’s Second Empire Victorian Home

The Mrs. Zalmon Wakeman House at 418 Harbor Road in Southport, Connecticut, exemplifies the impact of post-Civil War construction advancements on Second Empire architecture. Built in 1874 at the highest point on Rose Hill, the home reflects the era’s increasing precision and artistry while offering commanding views of Southport Harbor and Long Island Sound.

Commissioned by William Wakeman for Mrs. Zalmon Wakeman and her daughters after the passing of Captain Zalmon Bradley Wakeman in 1865, the home was completed shortly before Mrs. Wakeman’s own passing in 1873.

Designed by Edward R. Lambert & Rufus W. Bunnell of Bridgeport, the house showcases intricate detailing made possible by steam-powered saws, prefabricated architectural elements, and improved iron and steel production. These innovations enabled its elaborate woodwork, ornamental brackets, and the delicate colonettes adorning its elegant piazza.

A hallmark of the Second Empire style, the home features a mansard roof, deeply recessed windows, carved dormers, and a grand interior with 12-foot ceilings, a stained-glass skylight, and finely crafted woodwork in white pine and black walnut.

Original residents Mary and Frances Wakeman lived in the home until 1913. The house has remained largely intact, with only minor modifications, such as bay windows added in 1885. It changed ownership in 2020 for $2.2 million.