Katharine Hepburn’s Former Estate
The Connecticut estate where late actress and four-time Oscar winner, Katharine Hepburn lived for many decades has been listed for $28 million by current owners Barbara and Frank Sciame, the chief executive of F.J. Sciame Construction. The house, located in posh borough of Fenwick in Old Saybrook, was built by actress’ parents in 1913 for an expense of just $2,400. The house got destroyed in 1938 during The Great New England Hurricane and was rebuilt by her parents. Hepburn stayed in this mansion till 2003, when she died at the age of 96. Mr. Sciame bought the estate in 2004 for $6 million, divided it into three lots, raised the home several feet and totally renovated it.
The house sits on more than 3.4 acres with 680 feet of waterfront from which Old Saybrook’s Outer Light and Inner Light lighthouses can be seen to the east, and where the mouth of the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound. Another feature is the Fenwick Golf Club. The house lies in between the par-3, 2nd hole of the Fenwick Golf Course and the water.
The 8,300-square-feet house has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, beautiful fireplace, a den, a chart room and a gourmet kitchen. The interior of the house is painted in white and has pristine white furniture. The house was designed by John F. Wayne of West Hartford and Robert B. Swain of Hartford was the builder.
Another unique feature was the saltwater pond, fed from Long Island Sound from an inlet over which a stone bridge was built. This was built by LaMay Construction of Old Saybrook, which also did the foundation, grading and road building.
The colonial style home, which is listed on William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, has divided the estate into three sections, available to buy together or separately.
