Historic Home Donated To Nantucket Preservation Trust

A historic island home dating back to 1930, located on Sherburne Turnpike, has been donated to the Nantucket Preservation Trust (NPT), making it the first property owned by the non-profit organization.

The donation of 10 Sherburne Turnpike by anonymous donors "will further NPT’s mission of historic preservation on the island," the organization stated in its announcement.

The architectural design of the historic home is attributed to Helene Clayton Hindley, its first owner. Helene’s husband, Charles Thomas Hindley, worked for his family’s interior contracting firm, Thomas Hindley & Son, based in New York City, according to NPT. The Hindley House, also known as Three Bears and Edgecliff, reflects the craftsman-built Colonial Revival style of the 1930s.

"The house remains a remarkably well-preserved example of its era and a contributing property within the Nantucket National Landmark Historic District," NPT announced on Thursday. "The house and its character-defining features will be protected by a Preservation Easement, held by the ’Sconset Trust, another qualified easement holding organization on Nantucket."

The preservation easement being held by the 'Sconset Trust is due to the fact that NPT cannot manage a preservation restriction on a property it owns.

“We are profoundly grateful to the donors of the Hindley House,” said Mary Bergman, NPT’s executive director. “It is extremely gratifying to know NPT’s work resonates with the stewards of the Hindley House, who have taken thoughtful care of the property for decades. NPT looks forward to being the next steward of the historic house.”

Until now, the house at 10 Sherburne Turnpike has been used only as a summer home. NPT plans to spend the winter making minor improvements to the house to make it suitable for year-round use.

“For over six decades, Nantucket has been our place for natural beauty, unique history, and incomparable preservation," said the anonymous donor in a statement provided by NPT. “These aspects of Nantucket, especially the preservation of historic structures, are under threat. With this in mind, we undertook the process of preserving the property that we have been the custodians of for 32 years. With the expert assistance of the Nantucket Preservation Trust and the ’Sconset Trust, we have registered a historic preservation restriction on the property. Now, since it is time for a new custodian to care for "Three Bears / Edgecliff", we are conveying the property to the Nantucket Preservation Trust to ensure it will exist and thrive into the future. If you are the owner of a historic property, we urge you to consider some or all of these preservation steps. The current trend of disregarding the importance of Nantucket's architectural history can be reversed. It needs to start with the custodians of that history!"