“People who came by were absolutely fascinated,” said Cotten Alston, the Pounds’ real estate agent, “but they could never magine themselves living in it. Or they just saw it as a teardown site for a starter mansion.”

The Pounds, though, were smitten by its style, forest view and skylighted atrium. They signed a contract within three months, paying $1.15 million for the four-bedroom, 5,500-square-foot house and nearly four acres of land, knowing they’d be spending plenty more in the months to come.

Then, a few days later, they received a three-page handwritten letter from a stranger: Cecil Alexander, the house’s original architect and occupant. He was writing to express his delight that they were not going to tear the house down and to offer his help with the restoration, including the loan of original blueprints. The Pounds invited him over, and throughout the restoration — which was completed in May of 2006 and cost nearly as much as the house — Mr. Alexander regaled them with tales of the house’s engineering quirks, famous visitors and midcentury celebrity.