The Hancock-Mitchell House, possibly Martha’s Vineyard’s oldest building, is speculated to have been built by Rev. Thomas Mayhew, Jr., circa 1652-1657. A classic example of the “Cape-Type” house present throughout New England, it was probably first built as a “half-house” (a two room house on one side of the chimney), and eventually expanded into a “five window front house.” In the 18th century a new kitchen was added to the north (over the existing well) transforming the structure into the archetypal “ell house.”* In 2000 The Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation inherited the house and 150 acres.

Ioana Urma worked on this project at Maryann Thompson Architects to evaluate the condition of the house (which suffers greatly from termite damage) and determine how and if it could be used to accommodate various habitable functions.

This house and project is the best example of sustainability: keeping the existing building and limiting new construction.

The images here belong to M.T.A. Ioana Urma took/produced them.
*Source: Henry E. Scott, Jr. “The Story of a House; Perhaps the Island's Oldest,” The Dukes County Intelligencer, Martha’s Vineyard Museum Quarterly Journal, Edgartown, MA, Part one: May 1981, Part two: August 1981.