Davenport Inn of Portsmouth gives 1758 building new life: 'This should be a museum'

PORTSMOUTH — A sign outside the newly opened Davenport Inn depicts three hand-carved stair balusters, artwork portraying the ones found inside the restored Court Street colonial structure.

John Samonas, principal broker and co-owner of Portsmouth’s Samonas Realty, pointed to the balusters as one of several original elements he and his family preserved within their newest venture.

Samonas, along with his wife, Cricket Prevost, and son, Andrew Samonas, have spent the last year working sunrise to sundown overseeing the overhaul of the 1758 building’s interior and transforming it into a small hotel. They were drawn to the history of the Nathaniel Treadwell House property.

With eight suites, an on-site manager’s bedroom, homemade banana bread set out for guests and a rich backstory, the inn opened in September and joins a list of boutique inns in the Seacoast area.

“In the back of my mind and in my heart, I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” John Samonas said.

What is the history of the property? Who is Mary Treadwell?

The two-story building was constructed originally in 1758 by Mary Treadwell — an English seamstress who moved from overseas to New Castle, then to Portsmouth — for her son.

Samonas, working with the Portsmouth Athenaeum to research the building and its past inhabitants, is unaware of why Mary Treadwell came to America. She sewed for clients, offering them free coffee while she tended to their clothing, and sewed fishnets for New Castle fishermen. Treadwell later had other buildings constructed in Portsmouth, in addition to multiple schooners.

“This may not sound like anything today but in the 1700s, we (now) certainly consider her one of America’s first female entrepreneurs,” Samonas said.

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The building, which was two properties away from being engulfed in the Great Fire of 1813, was later turned into an inn by John Davenport. The property, which Samonas added housed American soldiers in the War of 1812, was purchased by Davenport in part to reopen a tavern called “The Ark” following the 15-acre downtown fire, according to Prevost. The property later housed the Young Women’s Christian Association.

In 1955, the building, originally built on the corner of State and Fleet streets, was purchased by local lawyers for $1 and moved on a farm tractor to its current 70 Court St. location. Until the Samonas family bought it last year, the building was being used as law offices.

“This building should be a museum,” Samonas added. “I’m glad I bought it.”

What do the suites look like?

Some suites feature painted portraits of the late Mary Treadwell, while all have a copy of “Architectural Heritage of the Piscataqua: Early Houses and Gardens of the Portsmouth District in Maine and New Hampshire” by John Mead Howells, which Samonas and Prevost bought at Strawbery Banke Museum.

Prevost led the interior design charge, deciding on decorating each room with old maps and photographs of Portsmouth, giving each room a different paint color and buying period furnishings.

“It was a very delicate balance for me in terms of keeping a historic and modern feel,” she said. “I wanted it to be clean and timeless, but I also wanted it to not feel dated.”

How much do the suites cost per night?

Renovations required electrical wiring upgrades, as well as adding a new heating system, new air conditioning, new sprinklers and nine bathrooms. The family was assisted by Portsmouth carpenter Brian Turner in the renovation process and has implemented a “touchless” system for guests to check into their suites using codes sent virtually to them, which expire after their stay has ended.

The property is listed on online booking websites, with per night prices currently ranging from $295 to $575, though they could fluctuate throughout the year.

History of the property was 'falling at our feet'

Prevost and Andrew Samonas both admitted they were hesitant when John Samonas approached them with the idea of purchasing the property in early 2022. And when the family bought it, their plan was was for a simpler renovation than what they ended up doing.

“It did evolve. I don’t think we set out to do this at all,” Prevost said. “We started getting into it, and the history was coming to us and falling at our feet, so we felt like we had to honor this as best we can.”

“When my dad originally brought me to the inn last January or February and told me he thought we could convert it into an inn, I told him, ‘I think you’re crazy,’ Andrew Samonas remembered. “But this I think has so much character and passion to it. It takes that craziness to ultimately create something that shows our amount of care.”

For long stretches, the three would begin their days around 6 a.m. inside the building and stay there until 9 p.m., walking the property and brainstorming how best to approach the project.

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Andrew Samonas remembered when they couldn’t reach the now attic-level suite without a ladder and were seeking advice from local inn owners Doug Palardy and Jay McSharry. In the weeks since they’ve opened, the family is now hosting couples celebrating their anniversary, visiting guests from as far as Texas and California and city dignitaries to stay the night in the Davenport Inn.

“Over the last 13 months of work, we knew that there was a vision, but to have that vision validated and well-received by the public, the city and guests has become a high point of gratitude for me,” Andrew Samonas said.

“This wasn’t here, and we created it. It means a lot to me and I think it should mean a lot to Portsmouth because we built it so it can be enjoyed for decades to come,” his father said. “The history of Portsmouth is so special. It’s the reason why people come here and spend money. It’s the reason why we have 20,000 restaurant seats and 22,000 people. Portsmouth is really special, so we just wanted to add to that.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Davenport Inn of Portsmouth NH opens at 70 Court Street