Historic Hillman House Finds New Life With Harris Family
Jessica Harris, 50, and her husband Matt, 52, have transformed Hillman House, a historic property in Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, into their family home. The couple, along with their six children, now live on a 70-acre plot, with the house itself boasting a rich history dating back to the 18th century.
The Harris family's connection to Martha's Vineyard began a decade ago when they first rented a cottage in Chilmark. They fell in love with the area and returned every August. Eventually, they decided to make it their permanent home.
The couple hired local builder Eben Armer to restore Hillman House, a project that took three years. The 260sq m South House was placed on a new foundation and restructured, featuring reclaimed pine floors and exposed ceilings. The North House, meanwhile, showcases a box bed on the first floor and two upstairs bedrooms adorned with charming wallpaper patterns.
The Harris family has no specific plans for the remaining 63 acres of their property other than using it for trails and exploration. They are content with preserving the historic home and enjoying the surrounding nature.
Hillman House, built in 1728, has a storied past. Before the Harris family, it was owned by Oscar-winning actor James Cagney, who spent nearly 20 summers there. In the mid-20th century, it became a backdrop to the Fort Hill Community cult's drug-fuelled exploits under Mel Lyman. Today, it stands as a protected historic home, welcoming the Harris family and their children to a new chapter in its long history.
