Pictured below is the Barrett House, 5601 Huntington Avenue. It is owned by Mr. & Mrs. William Zattiero.

 

The Barrett House was built in 1923 by William Edwards Barrett. who began practicing law in Newport News around 1900. He married Emily Smith, niece of George Ben West, who was the wealthiest citizen in Newport News at that time. Mr. Barrett served in the General Assembly, founded Newport News Academy, and helped organize First Baptist Church. He was the great uncle of columnist Parke Rouse.

The home retains its original Italian Revival architectural style, reflecting the Barrett's travels throughout Europe. The façades of both the home and the garage also exhibit distinctly Mission Style design elements. The Barrett House features Roman columns at both porticoes, fireplaces surrounded by Italian marble and tile, ornate crown molding and chair railings, and rooms laid out in a four-square plan.

The second owners, Mary and Ben Jacobs, modified the structure by adding central air conditioning and enlarged the porte cochere. Current owners, Betty and Tony Zattiero, purchased the home from the Jacobs family in 1988.

Specific exterior features include an entry accentuated by small Roman columns. Additional columns support the porte cochere - the large covered entrance porch through which vehicles can drive. The house has a hipped roof with low pitch, with the original tile roof covering have been recently replaced with asphalt tile shingles. The Barrett House is the only home in the Historic District to feature gables with distinctly "mission-style" design.

 

Looking south along Huntington Avenue, you get an idea of the size of the unusually large lot. In the distance is Noland Memorial Methodist Church.