Friday Front Porch Feature: Historic Craftmanship on Park Avenue
DALTON, Mass. — Are you looking for a unique estate with historic craftsmanship? Then this is the home for you.
Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 1 Park Ave.
This four-bedroom, 4 1/2-bath house was built in 1913 and is 6,755 square feet (which includes a finished third floor) with more than five acres.
The home is rich in character with wood flooring, a sweeping staircase, and original architectural details that are a rare find.
The main level includes a kitchen with a butler's pantry and a walk-in pantry. There is also a living room with fireplace, a den, drawing room, and multiple porches to enjoy the outdoors.
Upstairs you'll find the primary suite that includes a sitting room and a sun porch. It also has a bathroom with a jetted soaking tub, steam shower, and bidet.
The home also has a four-car garage and its finished third floor is perfect to use as another living space or a recreational room.
The house is on the market for $1,275,000.
We spoke with Sheila Thunfors with Stone House Properties who is listing the home.
What do you think makes this house stand out in the current market?
It is so rare to find a house of this vintage with such exceptional craftsmanship and in such outstanding condition. To replicate would be near impossible and beyond exorbitant in cost. There is a remarkable balance of elegance with comfortable everyday living.
What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?
You will enjoy and appreciate the graceful sophistication this house offer and be pleased with the many current day conveniences such as the covered patio walk from the deep two-bay tandem four-car garage into a mudroom adjoining the light bright eat-in kitchen with food pantry; the primary suite with a sitting room, a summer sleeping porch and a bathroom complete with whirlpool tub, steam shower and bidet; the covered patios and porches for quiet relaxation, morning coffee, afternoon tea or evening cocktails.
Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?
The house was built circa 1913 by Dr. Paddock and his wife, Elisabeth Crane Paddock on land once known as the Daverin Farm. It is believed that Nessacus School was built on land originally belonging to the Paddock property. Although we can’t say, "Washington slept here," Sen. Ted Kennedy is reported to have been a guest during the 1980s.
What do you love most about this home?
I love that the work of the original talented artisans and craftsmen has been so well preserved. Everywhere I turn, there is something wonderful to look at and appreciate. I, also, love the way this grand house is able to make me feel relaxed and at home.
Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?
The house has been carefully restored over the years by the current owners, maintaining the quality and integrity of the original details and floor plans, while bringing both the expectations of current lifestyles and the mechanicals up to date. The condition is remarkable.
How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?
There is a great feel to this home and property including one of privacy, but not isolation; sophistication and elegance yet with easy comfort; graceful flow of spaces with intimate settings; and ease of transitioning from indoor rooms to outdoor porches and patios.
What is the neighborhood like?
It is a great neighborhood. Within walking distance is the Dalton Community Center with a fitness center, indoor pool, indoor batting cage, and pickleball courts. And just a bit farther, you will find the Dalton Library, a coffee shop, restaurants and the Crane Museum for Paper Arts.
You can find out more about this house on its listing here.
*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.
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