131 South Street

Few homes possess the soul, story, and architectural pedigree of this Tudor Revival estate on Auburn's legendary South Street. This distinguished, Tudor Revival residence is surrounded by one of Central New York’s most beautiful collections of Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Romanesque, Tudor, and Colonial Revival architecture. Many neighboring homes were built by Auburn’s most prominent industrialists and civic leaders, making this one of the most desirable and historically significant streets in the region. Believed to be designed by the renowned Boston architectural firm Coolidge, Shepley, Bullfinch & Abbott, whose portfolio includes the Case Mansion at 108 South Street, this Tudor Revival masterpiece stands as a testament to early 20th-century craftsmanship and design excellence. Commissioned circa 1917–1920 by Dr. Shefton as a wedding gift for his son, Wildred Shefton, and his bride, this 4,960-square-foot mansion with Normandy influence is a rare architectural treasure. Its three stories of brick and half-timbered elegance are gracefully framed by just under an acre of meticulously landscaped gardens, echoing the refined grandeur of the period. Inside, elegance and distinction abound. The reception hall, an inviting inner foyer with a charming window seat, connects to the stately living and dining rooms. Each principal room reveals exquisite details including leaded glass windows, original woodwork, and French doors that open to a stone terrace overlooking the private grounds. Six wood-burning fireplaces, three on the main level and three in the bedrooms, enhance the home’s warmth and character. With six bedrooms, three full baths, and two half baths, the residence provides both grandeur and livability. Homes of this caliber were built without regard to cost, designed instead as enduring expressions of artistry and permanence. As with a fine painting, the architect, period, and provenance lend historic homes their value, blending beauty with legacy. To own such a residence is not merely to inhabit beauty but to become a steward of history, a custodian of artistry that cannot be replicated.