The restored Victorian is the pride of the Easton, Maryland, Historic District.
Long & Foster Real Estate
The Chaffinch House occupies a grand spot in the history of Easton, Maryland. The restored Queen Anne Victorian is one of some half-dozen to still exist in the downtown historic core and a crowning example of the fanciful style that was popular in the late 1800s.
Listed as a contributing structure to the Easton Historic District by Maryland’s National Register Properties, the elaborate house was built by William P. Chaffinch sometime after 1894 and is a showplace of architectural creativity.
A portion of the wraparound front porch has been screened in for outdoor dining.
Long & Foster Real Estate
When the current owners bought the place, says Martha Suss of Long & Foster Real Estate, “the house was in a very rough shape.” Over the years, it had been converted to apartments, a bed-and-breakfast and back to a single-family residence before eventually going into foreclosure.
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There were five layers of roofing, no functioning air-conditioning, a gutted kitchen and gaping holes in the plaster walls, she says. “Squirrels were running through the house.”
The foyer opens to an oak staircase and the liviing room.
Long & Foster Real Estate
Working with approval from the Easton Historic District Commission and in partnership with Maryland Historical Trust, the couple restored the house to its original purpose as a grand family home. Today, it displays preserved period features while functioning for contemporary living.
The Queen of Easton, as it is often called, sits on a corner lot and is topped by a tower with a steep witch’s hat roof. Irregularly placed gables are adorned with scalloped siding. A deep porch fronts the intersecting streets.
Front and back porches expand the living space outdoors.
Long & Foster Real Estate
The turnkey house takes full advantage of outdoor living space with a corner lounge and screened-in dining porch. Another porch sits off the back of the house, where antique brick paths lead through gardens and deodar cedars to a Williamsburg fountain and the detached garage.
Inside, rich woodwork fills the foyer, which opens to a formal living room with a gas fireplace. The dining room, which can seat 12, connects to the modernized kitchen with a marble-topped island, bar and breakfast nook. The nearby laundry room doubles as a butler’s pantry.
The modern kitchen integrates light and dark cabinetry with stainless-steel appliances.
Long & Foster Real Estate
A carved oak staircase leads to the second-floor bedrooms, one of which features a Victorian-era keyhole window. There are three bedrooms on this floor, including a primary suite with a sitting room, sleeping porch, wood-burning fireplace and second porch with a sauna. The third floor has two more bedrooms.
Throughout the nearly 4,000 square feet of living space are five full bathrooms and a powder room. The asking price for 132 South Harrison Street is $2.25 million.
Rich woodwork creates an elegant introduction to the interiors.
Long & Foster Real Estate
Suss sees the home as appealing to a wide range of potential buyers. The current owners work from home and have used the residence for hosting events and overnight guests.
“This home is an ideal setup for a family of four, with parents who telework,” she says. “Elementary, middle and high schools are all walkable.”
A second-story sleeping porch is off the primary suites.
Long & Foster Real Estate