PORTSMOUTH — Another one of Portsmouth historical remnants recently went under the wrecking ball. 

The Borden-Macomber House, at 65 Immokolee Drive, was torn down last month to make way for water-view condominiums. Built around 1833 — Town Historian Jim Garman said it may have been constructed as early as 1810 — the early Victorian had remained in the same family for decades.

It was first owned by Isaac Borden and then — legend has it — given as a wedding gift to Joseph Macomber and Finis Borden Macomber on Sept 9, 1847. 

The Macombers were farmers, and at the turn of the century they owned everything from what is now Clements’ Marketplace down to the Sakonnet River, Mr. Garman said.

“He was probably one of the most prominent farmers in Portsmouth,” he said. “A lot of that stuff went by steamboat from Bristol Ferry to Providence.”

The house fell into disrepair in recent years, “but when it was intact, it was gorgeous,” said Mr. Garman, who featured the home in his 1976 book, “Historic Houses of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.”

According to a property real estate listing, the 2.5-story, four bedroom home on 2.5 acres of land offered more than 3,500 square feet of living space, but was even bigger at one point.

“It is believed there were an additional 23 rooms surrounding the original structure that exists today,” according to the listing. 

Among the house’s special features: a central hallway on each floor, with rooms that flow into each other on either side; and 10-foot ceilings, intricate 12-inch baseboards, 8x3-foot windows, French doors, multiple marble finishes, three wood fireplaces and a rooftop central cupola.  

Can they be saved?

Mr. Garman said it’s sad to see another historic home bite the dust.

“It’s like the Chase house across from the grocery store,” he said, referring to the large Greek Revival at 2492 East Main Road. That home was owned by John Chase (1786-1831), another well-known farmer who was also elected to the General Assembly 

“That’s going to go pretty soon. That’s going to collapse on its own,” Mr. Garman said. “It’s getting a little depressing. Despite the efforts of the (Aquidneck) Land Trust, things are just going.”

Rich Talipsky, the town’s director of business development, said the current draft of the Comprehensive Community Plan includes sections (3.4.1 and 3.4.3) that address the need to preserve these properties.

“Over 200 pre-20th century homes are identified in Portsmouth,” said Mr. Talipsky, adding the goal is to get these properties on the National Historic Register. Currently, there are 13 sites in Portsmouth that are on the register.

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