News | advice | area guide

Yankee Doodle! We Salute 9 Homes From America’s Revolutionary Era

American history is alive in the buildings that our forefathers—and mothers—left behind. To honor Presidents Day, we’re highlighting nine homes built before and during the Revolutionary War.

Neoclassical, Georgian, and European inspiration was evident in the architectural preferences of the period. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the homes of well-heeled revolutionaries were ornate and generously adorned with symbols of patriotism and pride in their newly established country. The Colonial style matured and developed as the influences from Europe were reinterpreted and translated into a distinctly American style.

So as we ponder our past, peruse these historic homes from the Revolutionary War era that are available for sale right now, offering an opportunity to live in a piece of American history that even George Washington himself would approve of.

287 King St, Hiram ME 

Price: $399,000
John Watson House: This historic property, also known as the Intervale Farm, is the oldest in this town in southern Maine. The three-bedroom home sits on more than 27 acres, on land that includes a stretch of Saco River waterfront. Built just after the Revolutionary War ended, its Georgian style is pristine. There are symmetrical wings jutting out from the main structure and 18 prominent Palladian windows. The home has been carefully updated to provide modern conveniences, without sacrificing any of its historic charm.

———

131 S. Benson Rd, Fairfield, CT 

Price: $749,900

Benson House: According to the listing details, the original home built on this property had the dubious distinction of being the second to be burned down by the British during the war. It was rebuilt in 1779, and has since served as a tavern and as the home of Captain Abraham Benson. The four-bedroom house has been in the same family since the 1800s, and sits on just under half an acre, festooned with lilacs, wisteria, a rock garden, and a pergola with stone columns. Indoors, the home features high ceilings, wide plank floors, and many ornate built-ins.

———

697 Middle Rd, Portsmouth, RI

Price: $679,900
Portsmouth Colonial: Built in 1750, this three-bedroom home has many modern amenities spread over its more than 2,800 square feet. Indoors, the home has wide pumpkin pine floors, four fireplaces, and the home’s original wainscoting and chair rails. Outside, the mature landscaping includes specimen trees, lawns, gardens, and a stone terrace. The price also includes a half-acre lot zoned for new construction.

———

212 Bellvale Lakes Rd., Warwick, NY

Price: $595,000
New England Antique: This home has oodles of historic character, as well as updates that make it desirable to today’s buyers. Located just 50 miles outside New York City, it’s set on 5 acres of rolling grass and forest. The home consists of two separate structures joined together to create one large six-bedroom residence. Features from the part of the residence built in 1766 include huge fireplaces for cooking, hand-hewn stone mantels, wood beams, and irregular plank floors.

———

1650 Lake Rd, Panton, VT

Price: $319,000
Lakeside Cape: Described as a “diamond in the rough,” this three-bedroom Cape Cod has its own dairy barn. It was built in the late 1700s, overlooks Lake Champlain, and sits on 7.5 pristine acres in the Adirondacks. Wood floors with hand-forged nails, exposed beams, and hand-planed paneling make this home, which is registered with the Preservation Trust of Vermont, an authentic blast from the past.

———

525 Lewis Ln, Ambler, PA

Price: $7,999,000
George Washington’s HQ: Dawesfield is a 22-acre estate dating back to 1736. The property includes a couple of three-story stone Colonial homes, three barns, several detached garages and sheds, a greenhouse, guesthouse, a three-hole golf course, and pool. The property’s two homes were used by George Washington as his headquarters during the Revolutionary War. One seven-bedroom house has more than 5,800 square feet and the other five-bedroom home offers over 5,000 square feet. Included in the sale are historical documents and the bed George Washington slept in during his time there.

———

201 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 

Price: $2,250,000
The Big House: Built in 1738, “The Big House” is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the oldest in the area. The English Manor-style home was the location of a meeting between George Washington and General Lafayette during the Revolutionary War. On another occasion, Martha Washington visited the home. The four-bedroom home includes such period features as white pine paneling, period cabinetry, wide board floors, and a kitchen wing that is billed as potentially dating back to 1685.

———

215 Orange St, Lancaster, PA 

Price: $1,100,000
James Buchanan Home: Built in 1709 by James Buchanan, who was to become the 15th president of the United States, this property later became the home of the Revolutionary War-era writer Christopher Marshall. These days, it’s an upscale, modern residence with such upgrades as the custom red rose cabinets in the kitchen, a soaking tub in the main bathroom, and a professionally designed and landscaped courtyard with slate patio. The home’s other high-tech upgrades include a sensor snowmelt system installed in the driveway and sidewalks, a security gate with camera, surround sound on the first floor, keyless locking, and more. Pretty presidential, if you ask us!

———

28 Colonial Rd, White Plains, NY 

Price: $1,435,000
Notable Colonial: Notable for its past and present, this home from 1710 is a fully renovated love letter to centuries past. Featured in the December 2018 edition of House Beautiful, it was once the home of the Revolutionary War hero Benjamin Lyon, who cast a vote for the Declaration of Independence. Original features of the home have been carefully preserved, like the wide king’s board wood floors, exposed wood beams, period moldings, and bricks from the 18th century. Infrastructure updates have brought this beautiful property into the 21st century and make it a cozy, stylish space for modern living.

The post Yankee Doodle! We Salute 9 Homes From America’s Revolutionary Era appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Source: Real Estate News and Advice – realtor.com » Real Estate News