The Holloway House Above Seacliff Point

The Holloway family established their house above Seacliff Point in 1868 after Samuel Holloway built the Carpenter Gothic residence following his work as a coastal fishing supplier. Three generations lived there, including Samuel, his wife Margaret, their children, and later grandchildren who helped manage fishing accounts and shoreline trade. Their income came from fishing operations, boat repairs, and seasonal supply contracts.

Local records describe the tall clapboard house as a distinctive family residence with active bedrooms, a small office, and regular upkeep. The pointed gables and decorative woodwork remained carefully preserved during the family’s strongest years.

The first warning sign appeared in 1927 when Holloway Coastal Supply lost several contracts after larger companies began controlling regional shipping routes. During the economic downturn of the early 1930s, the family reduced expenses by dismissing household help and closing the third-floor bedrooms beneath the steep roof. Repairs to the clapboard siding, roof peaks, and windows were postponed as debts increased. After Samuel’s son died in 1932, disagreements among heirs delayed decisions about selling the property. By 1934, unpaid loans and accumulated taxes forced Margaret and the remaining relatives to leave Seacliff Point.

The Holloway House was abandoned in 1935 after foreclosure followed years of declining coastal trade, unpaid debts, and unresolved family decisions. No restoration occurred, and no Holloway descendants returned after leaving Seacliff Point. Historical records documented ownership complications and continued deterioration of the vacant Carpenter Gothic residence. The interior rooms remained closed, with household papers and personal belongings left behind. Over the decades, salt air, moisture damage, and neglect affected the wooden structure. The coastal Victorian house remains empty above the cliffs, deteriorating without restoration or confirmed future ownership.