By Gretchen A. Peck

Close to Mystic’s coastline, in a residential neighborhood that looks out across Mystic Harbor to Mason’s Island, is 102 School Street, known as the Maxson House. It’s newly listed for sale this week, with showings by appointment beginning on August 24. A public open house is also planned for Saturday, August 24, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Keller Williams Coastal’s Michael Lamb is the sellers’ agent. They’re asking $739,000 for the property.

Lamb introduced Welcome Home to his clients—the homeowners—Alex and Erica Cutting. They bought the house as an investment property and have successfully leveraged it as a short-term vacation rental. Its charm, its New England historic significance and its proximity to Mystic’s historic district make it a popular spot for vacationers. It’s typically booked spring to fall, the owners said.

It is more than a house; it’s a Mystic landmark. The front of the house is adorned with signage that honors the man who built the house in 1854, William Ellery Maxon. Maxson was a shipbuilder based out of the Willow Point Shipyard, about a mile from the property. Today, it’s home to the Willow Point Marina and the Mystic Yachting Club.

“One of the more famous ships he built was the U.S.S. Galena—one of the first three ironside ships that were built in this country for the U.S. Navy,” Erica Cutting explained. “We actually found some old newspaper clippings that showed interior drawings of the ship. We have some exterior pictures of the ship in the dining room.”

Those artifacts will stay with the home and the new owners, the couple agreed.

Many of the original interior details have been preserved over time, including the curved staircase banister, two fireplaces—though one has been decommissioned—flooring and millwork.

The floor plan has been modified over time. There’s indication that at least two former doorways have been walled off to better define two of the upstairs bedrooms and the library and dining room downstairs.

Several recent improvements brought the baths and kitchen up-to-date for contemporary living.

The house has two full baths upstairs and a powder room on the first floor.

“We redid the powder room, adding a new vanity, wallpaper and new lighting,” she said. They freshened and painted the primary suite’s bathroom. The second guest bathroom has a deep claw-foot tub.

“We had to do lots of painting throughout the house,” she said. “We painted every room, and we refinished all the cabinets in the kitchen.

The kitchen is designed with a terra cotta tile floor, cabinets in a soft shade of green and complementary green granite countertops. “It has lots of storage,” she pointed out.

One of the two wood-burning fireplaces is in the kitchen, and the couple reported that it’s functional—though a buyer should do their due diligence to have it inspected and cleaned for continued use.

In addition to the kitchen and powder room, the main level of the house affords a foyer, living room, dining room, home office and a laundry.

One of the three bedrooms, the primary bedroom delivers seasonal water views.

An interior designer, Erica Cutting expertly chose the décor to be comfortable and inviting. “The whole house got a big facelift from the inside,” her husband said.

“The contrast of modern amenities and the historical aspect of the house mesh well with the general vibe of Mystic,” he added.

For outdoor seating, dining and grilling, there’s a brick patio off the back of the house. They strung outdoor lighting overhead, anchoring the strands to two sailboat masts.

Though not original to the 1850s house, a one-car garage was added to the structure by previous owners. The couple said that it’s best suited for storage, rather than a vehicle; however, there’s plenty of parking available in the driveway. They estimated that it could accommodate as many as 10 cars when entertaining guests.

The house is situated on a 0.64-acre lot, with hedges for privacy, flower gardens—include a circular garden with dahlias and peonies—and raised beds for vegetables and herbs.

Restaurants and shops in Mystic’s historic district are within walking distance. “It is less than a mile to downtown,” she said. “And there’s sidewalk the entire length of the walk.”

Asked about the quality of life in Mystic, Alex Cutting described it as quintessential “coastal New England.” Though tourists come to town to enjoy its culinary options, museums, the aquarium and the Mystic Seaport, there is still a “small-town vibe.” And seasonal tourist crowds are far removed from the property, which is part of a quiet, residential neighborhood.

Property: 102 School St., Mystic

Bedrooms: 3

Baths: 3

Square Footage: 1,997

Acreage: 0.64

Asking Price: $739,000

Listing Agent: Michael T. Lamb, Keller Williams Coastal; Mobile: (401) 644-8349; Office: (401) 785-1700; mikelamb@kw.com