The Historic Fulton Mansion

I was in Rockport about four years ago and looking forward to seeing the Fulton Mansion but it was covered in scaffolding during a huge remodel so I was glad for the chance to come back.

The house was built between 1874 and 1877 by George Fulton and his wife Harriet and was originally called "Oakhurst". It is French Second Empire style with plank walls and shell aggregate basementand a mansard roof.

The tour starts in a building behind the mansion with a lot of historical information.

Not surprising that cattle ranching started it all although you don't always think of that when you are on the coast.

The laundry room was in the basement of the mansion but it was pretty light since a good part of the basement sits above the ground.

Pantry storage room.

The fuel storage room was unique since few houses had central heat like the Fulton Mansion. This was only one of the many innovative features of the house.

This room is the larder which is like a refrigerator where perishable food was stored. The walls were thick and water circulated around blocks of ice.

Next up is the butler's pantry with a description below.

The dining room included the Fulton's original china which had a rose band pattern and the letter "F" on it. Several of the chairs were originals.

The fireplaces were the heat registers where the central heat was ducted from the Coleman furnace in the basement. Each one was finished differently and were very ornate.

I think this was the office/library.

There was a small conservatory for plants.

This is the master bedroom.

This is part of the Holden bedroom where the two daughters would stay when they visited. Annie and Hattie married two brothers....Eldridge and Charles Holden.

One of the rooms was left in the unrestored state so you could see how extensive the renovation was.

Another view of the Holden bedroom.

The Fulton House has two and a half bathrooms with hot and cold running water and three flush toilets with a septic tank buried outside.

Rainwater was collected on the roof for the copper-lined tub.

The sitting room.

The tour was very interesting. We noted in the renovation room that a trailer park was located on the front lawn of the house prior to when the state took it over in 1979.  Had to include a shot of Carolyn in Anita's Slingshot as that is how she traveled over to see the Fulton House.