PORTLAND – The Observatory, atop Munjoy Hill in the East End, and Victoria Mansion, near the center of the peninsula, are two of the city’s best-known and most admired landmarks. Their West End counterpart is the George F. West Mansion, which presides over the Western Promenade and its park, its stunning facade presenting a memorable introduction to the city when you enter from the south.

Built in 1912 for George Fletcher West for a then breathtaking $100,000 (of the fortune he made in gas and electric utilities,) the Georgian Revival mansion was designed by the renowned Frederick A. Tompson, Greater Portland Landmarks notes, and describes the home as “palatial in scale and rich in architectural style.” Imposing it certainly is, with its 30-foot Ionic columns. But grandeur is tempered by the muted “viva gold” exterior and the charming red-tile roof, the lush and cheerful flower gardens and the gentle bubbling of the side-yard fountain.

The closer you get, the more welcoming the home becomes. Stepping through the leaded-glass foyer into the magnificent central hall, the sweeping tiger-oak staircase and Tiffany stained-glass Palladian window before you, it’s impossible not to be awed. But you also quickly sense the home’s natural warmth, the “livable” quality that generations of owners have enjoyed.

The West Mansion on occasion has comfortably hosted more than 300 people. It measures 13,764 square feet of finished space, and has 17 rooms, and every one is a candidate to be somebody’s favorite. Traditionalists may prefer the huge library/living room, bookcase-lined beneath a coffered and stenciled ceiling, or the elegant “tea room” – its wall coverings are silver-coated teabags.

The top-story home gym, the lower level’s splendid man-room with bar, and the gorgeous, gourmet’s kitchen offer contemporary appeal. If the lovely conservatory is properly described as “inspiring,” so too is the portico, with its elevated panoramic views out to Mount Washington. And each of the nine bedrooms (several have one of the home’s 10 fireplaces) represents a personal haven for someone.

The home at 181 Western Promenade, Portland, is listed for sale at $2,550,000 by Ed Gardner of Ocean Gate Realty, LLC. Taxes are $28,230 (2017). For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Ed at 207-773-1919, 207-415-4493, or at ed@oceangaterealty.com.

The Home of the Week is produced by the Marketing Department of the Maine Sunday Telegram. Photographs by Peter Morneau. Please send feature home suggestions to jrolfe@pressherald.com.


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