The former Gulf Hill Dairy Farm in Dartmouth has undergone a $2 million transformation, embracing its historical roots as a dairy barn and morphing into a luxurious private dwelling, complete with a rooftop deck and a sauna designed to pamper its residents, according to Boston.com. The once operational dairy farm, established in 1896 brought milk into New Bedford with horse-drawn wagons was a front-runner in dairy techniques in the region until the shift to more industrial practices post-World War II and now finds new life offering nearly 7,891 square feet of rich architectural detail nestled on an estate just shy of two acres.
The residence, located at 1 Masthead Lane, boasts modern amenities like the Lutron app-controlled smart home features and a 12-car garage but also pays homage to its past, featuring the original bones of the barn with exposed beams and natural wood overhead - a nod to its agricultural heritage, Sotheby's Realty details a setting fused with a sense of history and the sophistication of contemporary design. Offering light-filled interiors, the main living area is dominated by a dramatic double-sided stone fireplace and elegance-minded Brazilian cherry floors, and radiant heat ensuring the home remains as inviting as its storied past.
Secret rooms and a hand-carved mahogany pub imported from the UK are among the unique features of the transformed space, a grand home that provides both secluded nooks and expansive entertaining areas, according to Boston.com. The reinvented barn manages to also include environmentally conscious updates like solar panels installed in 2023 and updated mini-splits in 2024, melding the charm of the past with considerations for the future.
Additional living spaces in the home have been methodically mapped out to maximize both the historical architecture and the site's expansive views, featuring a greenhouse, and a rooftop deck where residents can gaze upon Padanaram Harbor as revealed by Sotheby's Realty. Although the Gulf Hill Dairy Farm no longer supplies milk or ice cream those visiting the town landing at Apponagansett Park in Dartmouth will still find a piece of its legacy, the oversized Gulf Hill Dairy Ice Cream Bucket, a relic proudly displayed harking back to the farm's enterprise in the 1930s and a whimsical tribute to a bygone era.
