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CAPE HOUSE HUNT
-real-life set design Y armouth Port
By Marina Davalos
Contributing writer
YARMOUTH PORT —
Acclaimed set designers
Herbert Senn (1924-2003)
and Helen Pond (1924-2017)
were well-known locally for
having designed some 400
sets for the Cape Playhouse
in Dennis. But they also
did sets for many shows on
Broadway, and for 35 years,
created award -winning
scenery for the Boston Bal-
let's "Nutcracker." In 1986,
Senn and Pond purchased this
1800s Universalist church in
Yarmouth Port, which hadn't
functioned as a church since
the'6os, and over the years,
transformed it into an ornate -
masterpiece of their own.
They called it Strawberry
Hill, and it was their home for
the rest of their days.
A Sunday school room had
been added to the back of
the church in 1934, and here
we have what was the main
living space. The kitchen is
simple and rustic, but with
unique details such as the
six -burner Garland gas range,
right out of another era, and
a quirky pull-out stool. The
living room features a wind-
ing spiral staircase leading
up to the two bedrooms; and
extravagant go' ft i balconies
up here overlook the living
room. Huge floor -to -ceiling
windows let the light in to
show off the masterful design
and craftsmanship. Unique
Gothic -style molding lines
the interior, and a turn -of -
the -century chandelier hangs
here, which pulls down to be
lit. Pocket doors are adorned
in intricately painted tromp
Poeil made to look like ornate
molding, and open to another
room, also in tromp Poeil,
which overlooks elaborate
backyard gardens.
In the former -main sanctu-
ary, Senn had all the pews
removed and carefully stored
in the attic. This room is
dressed to the nines, with the
wide -plank wooden floors
painted in black and white
faux marble, a huge turn -of -
the -century chandelier and
New England's oldest pipe
organ. It's the perfect set-
ting for a party, and indeed
many took place here. The
ceiling, also in tromp Poeil,
is a copy of a rose window
in a New York City church.
The more time you spend
in here the more intricate
details you notice, includ-
ing busts of Mozart, Haydn
and Handel; plus, at closer
look, you notice the curtains
aren't really curtains at all but
adornments made of wood.
The original church bell,"
an 1837 Hooper, is kept in the
basement, as is the machinery
that powers the pipe organ. In
the attic, the Howard Clock
mechanism may even func-
tion again one day.'
— Marina Davalos is a
freelance writer who lives in
Cotuit. Follow her on Twitter
@Marina Davalosl.
Suggestions for a home review may
be sent to: Cape House Hunt,
c/o Mary Weatherby, Cape Cod
Times, 319 Main St., Hyannis MA
02601. If you have questions,
email mweatherby@capecodon-
line.com. Home selection is made
by The Cape Cod Times. This does
not imply any endorsement or
warranty.
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17 Church St., Yarmouth Port [PHOTOS BY TYRA PACHECO)
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About this house
LOCATION:17 Church
St., Yarmouth Port
ROOMS: 6
YEAR BUILT:1836
SQUARE FEET: 3,442
ACREAGE:.24
UTILITIES: town water,
natural gas, electric
ANNUAL TAXES: $5,545
LIST PRICE: $625,000
PRICE PER SQUARE
FOOT: $182 '
CONTACT: Dory
Marchildon, Marchil-
don-Hagopian Team,
Kinlin Grover Real
Estate,508-221-0676
• To see more photos
of this week's fea-
tured House Hunt, go
to capecodtimes.com/
photos. ,