The Sargent House (HOM.3)
Photos and text about the Sargent House which was built c. 1840 and run as an inn and livery stable during the late 1800s and early 1900s
The Sargent House
The Sargent house on Reach Road near the center of Sargentville, is said to have been built by William Haskell Sargent in the 1840s.
Captain Jasper Sargent moved into the house in 1858 and his son Fred James was born there.
When Jasper retired from the sea he ran the house as an inn and livery stable and when he died in 1918, Fred and his wife Nellie Clapp Sargent took over and carried on the business with its tradition of hospitality and helpful service. Open year round, they catered mostly to “drummers” or traveling salesmen in the days when they travelled by boat or horse and carriage. Later their guests were the tourists and “summer people” who came to the area.
Around 1890, after he retired, Jasper opened a small general store near the road in front of the house. The building was torn down 1944-45. The small horse in the photo, possibly a paso fino, named “Rico”, was brought from Puerto Rico for Catharine on a ship captained by Llewellyn Sargent. When Rico was unloaded at the Sargentville wharf “he was totally wild and came off on his two hind legs”. The children weren’t allowed near him for quite a while.
Fred J. Sargent ran a successful livery stable for 30-35 years. His business served those travelers arriving by ferry and others in need of transportation. This Shore Road photo has the three-story W.G. Sargent store, the grain building (still standing) and the grist mill in the background.
Front row: Capt. Jasper N. Sargent, Helen Joy Sargent, Abigail Byard Sargent, Catharine Clapp Sargent. Standing: Hattie Forhan Sargent, wife of Llewellyn, Fred and Nellie Sargent, Captain Llewellyn Jasper Sargent.
Sherman Sargent (b. 11 Aug 1892, d. 23 Jun 1913), the 3rd child of Benjamin Choate and Flora E. Crockett Sargent died at the age of 20 of pulmonary tuberculosis. He worked for Fred as a driver of the fine rigs at the livery stable.
 Sargent home circa 1910 |
 Abigail Roberts Byard Sargent |
 The Sargent house is still, in 2015, a private residence. |
 Sargent House, Famous for Hospitality, Serves No More newspaper clipping |