“Daybreak is a truly magical piece of land,” said owner Christopher Hart, of the majestic brick home and the surrounding landscape that he and his wife, Alissa Eason, treasure at the edge of Wiscasset Village. It was the sweep of the home and land that captured both of them five years ago when they first entered the property. 

According to Hart, the name Daybreak, or some variation, has been attached to the home for at least 50 years. While the name’s origin is a mystery, the east-facing orientation of the home is the giveaway as the dawn light greets sleepers daily. Hart said his collection of sunrise photos, taken at all times of the year, is extensive.

Daybreak, built in 1927, is a house of mystery and local lore and has turned the owners into home-based sleuths. Hart said he and Eason are “given to believe” that Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schultz really did once lease the property for a summer. And the claim that Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited the home’s original owners seems credible as a convenient and inviting stop on his journey to Campobello Island, another 175 miles further northeast. But there’s no doubt that the eight-acre slope to the Sheepscot River behind the house really did support a working vineyard.

Hart said that, in addition to seeing remnants of the grape vines planted about 25 years ago, equipment for winemaking, an unfinished tasting room, and a label for Daybreak Vineyard wine, were left behind. References to Daybreak Vineyard can still be found on the internet. 

When Homes on Tour visitors enter Daybreak, they’ll be struck by the exuberance of the home’s interior, the deep colors and collections of these two world travelers. “The furniture, books, and art we’ve gathered over time are what give us a sense that this is now our space,” said Hart. He described the couple’s aesthetic as being Asian influenced, heightened by their four years of living in Indonesia, but added that they also have some classic American pieces which blend well with the colors and objects from abroad. “We have some colorful and exuberant paintings (by friends) that are all the more meaningful for the connections they represent.”

Tourgoers will also enjoy seeing the custom kitchen rebuild, still underway, and the new, large sunroom which welcomes the morning sun and gives homage to views of the river! 

Tickets for Wiscasset Homes on Tour are $30 each. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance of the tour on www.WiscassetCreativeAlliance.org

Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour from 10:30 a.n. to 2:30p.m., at the parking lot at 36 Water St., Wiscasset, with parking and bathrooms nearby. All tickets will be picked up at this location. Cash, checks and plastic accepted.

Homes on Tour is a fundraiser for Wiscasset Creative Alliance to support the Alliance’s community programs. Sponsors-to-date are Sherri Dunbar/Tim Dunham Realty, Hawkins Building Group, Bobbie Newberg/Engel & Volkers, Bradbury Art & Antiques, and Carriage House Gardens.