Couple Turns Abandoned $58K ‘Outhouse’ In Maine Into $5.2 Million Beachfront Home That Will Provide For Their Kids For Years To Come

In June 1973, Vic again Marsha Steinglass they moved from their rental home in Connecticut to the first place they ever bought: a one-acre piece of waterfront land on the Maine coast that was home to a small, ramshackle house from the 1940s and a boat repair shop overlooking the water.

They paid just $58,500 for the property—located in the port city of Rockport and, despite its year-end appearance, destined to become their family’s heirloom—now on the market for $5.2 million.

At the time, the buildings were in very bad shape, Marsha recalls: “All the neighbors called it the ‘outhouse on the beach.’

But the young couple was excited about their new home, having searched the property for a waterfront log cabin in one of the country’s most beautiful coastal towns.

“All we cared about was the location,” Marsha admitted.

Having found their dream property, they were confident they could turn it into a dream abode with a little elbow grease—and a lot of patience.

Today, the property, humorously named “Duck Down,” houses an architecturally celebrated home and a unique beach house—and is almost unrecognizable from the abandoned shack the Steinglasses bought more than 50 years ago.

Rather than being easy to fix and flip, the space now at 1 Ship St. it is a testament to Marsha and Vic’s ingenuity, dedication, perseverance, wisdom, and foresight, which they hope will serve as a beneficial source of wealth for their children and grandchildren.

The process wasn’t too quick—and for the first few months, the couple lived inside the mansion, doing more than a few cosmetic renovations to bring the place to life.

Together, they painted, wallpapered, and cleaned the “rural” residence, which they heated mostly by burning wood in the fireplace, while groceries were sledded down the street when it snowed.

By the time their second son was born in 1979, they had begun the herculean project of converting a waterfront boat workshop into a three-bedroom house that would better suit their growing family. Vic and Marsha did almost all the work themselves, with little input from a local painter.

However, Vic, who is a veterinarian by profession, was able to devote his limited time to this project, leaving Marsha to deal with the day-to-day maintenance work, while taking care of the children.

“Every day when he came back from our veterinary hospital, he expected to see the whole building collapse into a pile of wood and glass,” Marsha said with a laugh.

The Steinglass boys were largely raised in that repair shop, the couple he did manages to turn into a beautiful family home by the water, despite Vic’s comical concerns about the residential building’s structural integrity.

At that time, the family began work on converting the original “outhouse on the beach” into a two-bedroom rental, and the property began to generate income for them.

When it came time for the sons to leave the nest, the land was given away again: They sold a small piece of land where the rental house was, and kept “important parts of the area, like the beach front,” Marsha says.

The proceeds from that land sale helped them put their sons through college, while improving their financial situation significantly.

In 2008, the Steinglasses were ready to realize their real dream for the place. Marsha used to love the work of Hugh Newell Jacobsenan architect known for designing Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis‘ home in Martha’s Vineyard.

But it was Jacobsen’s design for the “Life Dream House,” which was featured in Life Magazine, that piqued his interest—especially because he noted that the building could be built by any average American family.

Marsha had written to the architect when she first saw the idea—and the two stayed in touch, so when she was 60 years old and had the energy to build her “dream” home, she reached out to Jacobsen to bring the idea to life.

Jacobson agreed to design the home they had always dreamed of, stepping back from and above the beach house.

Completed in 2008, the simple, yet elegant, two-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home with unobstructed views of the harbor has since been hailed as a near-perfect example of architectural excellence, featured in several leading design publications, including Architectural Digest and “American Modern Home,” Rizzoli’s book written by Marsha and Vic on the covers’.

Now, the property is on the market for the first time in its history, a decision Marsha says stems from the couple’s realization that they need to downsize—which is in line with their desire to create real wealth for their children.

The decision to sell was prompted, at least in part, by rising property taxes in Rockport, which Marsha admits are “eating away” at their retirement savings, pushing them to cash out and reap what rewards they can before that nest egg dwindles.

Although the listing doesn’t include the interesting story behind the home’s creation, it does it does to consider the property’s architectural value, recommending it as “a premier waterfront residence with stunning harbor views, commanding an impressive southeast view of the Indian Island Lighthouse and beyond to Penobscot Bay and its islands.”

The home, known for its clean lines and light-filled interior, has an open main floor plan with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that flood the living spaces with sunlight.

Two bedrooms are conveniently located downstairs, and both have en-suite bathrooms and walk-out patios overlooking the water.

A high, open-topped ceiling soars above the great room, which opens to a light and bright dining area and a kitchen with a center island.

Wood and tile floors help keep the home cool and clean, two fireplaces make it cozy and warm, and built-in bookcases serve as design elements that add an air of simple sophistication.

In addition, there is a neat, three-room garage with a workshop and a large second floor convertible above.

The charming and cozy Beach House on the waterfront, originally a boat repair shop, is also part of the deal. It now serves as a year-round home with a large open floor plan with a Pullman kitchen, a balcony with harbor views, and two bedrooms and a bath on the second floor.

All of this is set in a glorious, landscaped setting surrounded by lush gardens, beautiful stonework, and a private sandy beach unlike any other property in the bay.