This one-of-a-kind property in Royal Oak has it all-145 acres of peace and privacy with a long view of Fox Hole Creek leading to the Tred Avon River. The paved driveway first passes through a verdant landscape with broad vistas to ponds, fields and pastures defined by white fences, then disappears under a  canopy of mature sawtooth oaks, to finally curve around the Colonial style main house.  Opposite the house, a low stone wall encloses a water feature and landscaping on axis with the front door and mature trees focus one’s view on the front façade.  

Before going in for my tour of the house, I walked around the grounds and admired how the rear elevation of the house has unobstructed views of the water from both the main floor’s elevated brick terrace that spans the full length of the house and the deck at the second floor. Brick steps cascade down from the terrace to the lawn, the small boathouse and pier opposite the pool area.  Next to the pool area is a two-bedroom guest house for extended stays.

 

From the main two-and-a-half-story wing, the house telescopes down to one-and-a-half-story wings with an additional one-story wing. The covered walkway steps down to connect the house to the three-car garage with an apartment above. Single dormer windows, with triple windows at the roof line and the deep shed roof over part of the terrace, enliven the very appealing massing. 

The pool area contains a sitting area shaded by a pergola and a pool house with a sauna, bath, kitchenette and porch for respite from the sun.  

I continued my exploration of the site by passing under the covered walkway and walking down the separate drive to the farm area over to the section containing paddocks and barns. I discovered a delightful space between the two barns that contains a charming sitting room between glass enclosures of a greenhouse on one side and a potting shed on the other.  A walkway leads from this building  to a cozy gazebo, perched on the edge of a large pond. 

One of the barns has been transformed into a “showroom” for vintage cars, completer with a hamburger joint and workshop. I was delighted to see a 1950’s station wagon with wood exterior panels just like the one my family had when I was young. Whatever your collection may be, this huge area offers myriad possibilities!

I did not see any horses in the paddocks but the horse stables and tack room have been kept intact for the next equestrian owner. The other barn part has been cleverly modified to contain a billiards room and a vintage convenience store.  

Opposite the barns are paddocks outlined by white fencing with small run-in sheds with red roofs and cupolas. One of the roof’s cupola is capped by the horse-shaped weathervane.  Along the side of one paddock is the entry drive with the portion lined by sawtooth oaks. 

On my way back to the main house, I toured the charming guest house. Who wouldn’t want to be a guest in this cozy two bedroom house with an open plan kitchen-dining-living space, a fireplace and a full porch with water views? 

Before I went into the main house, I paused to savor the exquisite five-bay main wing’s symmetry with the center door, fanlight transom and half glass, half paneled sidelights, 6/6 windows and the classic color palette of white siding, green shutters and red brick exposed foundation. The three bay porch with decorative railing above has a wider center bay, to accentuate the front door and to provide clear views of the landscape from the rockers. The accent of slate treads at the brick steps that lead down to the driveway visually separates the treads from the brick risers for safety. 

The front door opens into a gracious foyer with a side stair to the upper floors and offers a vista through the house to the rear wall of the waterside living room. The beautiful hardwood floors, wide wall openings, soft wall colors, trimwork and moldings introduce these design elements found throughout the house, 

The very large living room easily accommodates more than one seating area, with one area grouped around the fireplace and another near the adjacent sunroom and breakfast room. The transparency of the rear wall with glass doors, transoms, and full height windows that wrap around each corner of the room offers panoramic views of the landscape and water.

The partially covered brick terrace is accessed by the living room, sunroom, family room and primary bedroom for great indoor-outdoor flow and serene views of the lawn and water. 

The glimpse of a corner fireplace beckoned me to the breakfast area. The placement of the table and chairs under a wide window with a center picture plane between two operable units maximizes views of the landscape and water. I admired how the fireplace is elevated so it can also be seen from the adjacent kitchen.

A pair of French doors lead from the breakfast area to the sunroom with wrap-around windows, doors and transoms. I admired the pitched ceiling above the gable end wall, infilled with glass and the stained wood beams and decking that float above the perimeter soffit. Built-in millwork, with a center recess for a large screen TV, holds books, family photos and memorabilia and the sage green and rose upholstered pieces create a wonderful space for relaxation.

The large gourmet kitchen has a mix of cabinet finishes from stained to white to the light green of the island’s cabinetry that compliments the wall color. The stainless steel appliances complete the look. Sunlight from the front windows and the breakfast room’s wide window keep this room sunny throughout the day. Next to the full wall of cabinetry is a hall with the laundry and powder room opposite stairs to the partial basement.  When I went down the stairs, I discovered a wine cellar with a tasting area!

I circled back to the dining room with its wide wall openings to both the foyer and one corner of the living room. The wallpaper, white wainscot and paneling around the firebox, wood furnishings, Oriental rug and upholstered chairs that complement the rug colors combine to create an elegant room for memorable meals. I noted the sly fox resting on the safe harbor of the fireplace’s hearth!

After crossing the foyer, I entered a hall along the front of the house that passes a storage closet, powder room and den, that ends at the primary suite. A pair of doors lead to the den with another  pair of French doors to the living room for great flow. The stone fireplace sets the tone for a rustic look and encourages one to sit back and enjoy the wide screen TV by the fire. At the rear of the room is built-in millwork and two chairs for reading and enjoying the view of the landscape and the water beyond. 

The sumptuous primary suite’s is located at the waterside corner of this wing. The large bedroom with a sitting area by a fireplace has a tray ceiling for added height and two pairs of glass doors lead to the waterside brick terrace.

The large primary bath is arranged very well with the focal point being the bow window above the tub between the compartments for the shower and toilet. The opposite wall has a long row of cabinetry and dual lavatories next to a linen closet and a large walk-in closet completes the primary suite. 

The second floor contains two bedroom ensuites and French doors from the stair hall open onto the deck for bird’s eye views of the water. The two ensuites are located on either side of the stair hall for privacy and one of the ensuites has extra space for two small offices or a large walk-in closet. 

The third floor is the domain of one bedroom ensuite with its own private stair,  tucked under the roof rafters that creates delightful interior architecture. The  two single dormers at the front wall overlook the landscape and the wide triangular dormer with a triple window overlooks the water for panoramic bird’s eye views -this would be the bedroom I would choose as a guest. 

Although I was not on site at twilight, I thought this photo would be a perfect coda to this property’s story. The nocturnal shot with the interiors lit up highlights the amount of transparency in the number of windows and glass doors and the angled positions of the various buildings creates an irresistible composition of this remarkable property!

This one of a kind, immaculately maintained property, does have it all -a location in sought after Royal Oak with a long view of Fox Hole Creek leading to the Tred Avon River, the verdant landscape of broad vistas to ponds, fields and pastures defined by white fences, Colonial style architecture with the main house’s great indoor-outdoor flow, outdoor rooms of the brick terrace and upper deck, main floor primary suite and  guest rooms on the two upper floors. Outdoor amenities include the pool area, tennis court, small boat house and pier and the greenhouse. For the equestrian enthusiast, there is a five stall barn with tack room and washroom with fenced paddocks. This peaceful and very private waterfront haven is close to the Belleview Ferry to Oxford and is also equidistant to the amenities of Easton and St. Michaels.

---

For more information about this property, contact Cornelia Heckenbach at Long and Foster Real Estate Inc., 410-770-3600 (o), 410-310-1229 (c) or [email protected] , “Equal Housing Opportunity”. For more photographs and pricing visit www.stmichaelsmdwaterfront.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by HomeVisit, http://www.homevisit.com/, 703-953-3866

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The Wampanoag Nation, People of the First Light, comprised as many as sixty-seven villages populated by approximately 40,000 Indians. The Wampanoag joined with the Pilgrims for a three-day celebration sometime between September 21 and November 9 in the year1621. About 90 warriors attended the feast, including the great chief Massasoit. He sent warriors to hunt deer for the feast, including five deer and other game, geese, ducks, and other fowl along with shellfish, nuts, and berries to add to the Pilgrims’ store. There might have been turkeys, but they were not a major part of the meal. 

 

“The American Wild Turkey, Male” (1863) (26’’x40’’) (print) was plate #1 of the series Birds of America created by James Audubon (1785-1851). The series consisted of 435 plates. He wrote about his choice of the turkey as his first plate in the series in his Ornithological Biography (1831): “The great size and beauty of the Wild Turkey, its value as a delicate and highly prized article of food, and the circumstance of its being the origin of the domestic race now generally dispersed over both continents, render it one of the most interesting of the birds indigenous to the United States of America.” Audubon rendered images in great detail. In order to achieve a precise image, he prepared the birds, carefully stuffing and placing them. Audubon gave the turkey a proud stance and rich coloring. The plant behind the turkey is a cane plant.

 

“Home to Thanksgiving” (1867) (15’’x25’’) (hand colored lithograph) is from the Currier and Ives company. The original painting was by George H Durrie (1820-1863) of New Haven Connecticut. Currier and Ives promoted Durrie’s paintings in several prints. The last Durrie print was “Home for Thanksgiving,” and it continues to be popular today. The scene is a winter day with snow on the ground. In the middle ground, a young man has just arrived home in a horse-drawn sleigh and greets his family gathered on the front porch of the house. In the foreground is a dog and a skid of logs pulled by oxen. The young man with the skid raises a stick in greeting. A barn full of hay, cows, and chickens, and a silo complete the winter scene. The modest farm is well-kept. The celebration of Thanksgiving is about to begin. 

“A Pilgrims Grace” (1897) (16’’x20’’) was painted by Henry Mosler (1841-1920). He was born into a Jewish family in Prussia. When Henry was eight years old, his family immigrated to America and settled in Cincinnati. He was trained as an artist in Paris and Dusseldorf. Exhibitions of his work in the Paris Salon were successful. As popular as Thanksgiving is as an American celebration, few painters attempted to depict the original Thanksgiving. When they did so, the colonists out-numbered the native Americans, and appeared to be the hosts.

Mosler, popular for his American genre paintings, chose to depict a family at prayer over a meager meal. Dressed in Pilgrim black and white, the family is safe inside the log cabin. A fire burns in the fireplace, and the black and white cat curls up on the steps.  

At the conclusion of the American Revolution, President Washington called for “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” for the successful conclusion of the war. As President, Abraham Lincoln designated the last Thursday of November as “a day of Thanksgiving.” On October 17, 1863, Harper’s Weekly published Lincoln’s proclamation.

“Giving Thanks” (1942) (11’’x14’’) was painted by Horace Pippin (1888-1946). He was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania. While he was in school, he entered a contest and won his first art supplies, a box of watercolors and a set of crayons. Famous for his American genre scenes, Pippin also painted landscapes, scenes from American history, including scenes of slavery. “Giving Thanks” is not a specific reference to Thanksgiving; however, it depicts the family seated at a simple wood table in a log cabin and offering thanks for a meal they will share together. The setting is simple. The sentiment is sincere.

Pippin enlisted in the first World War and became a member of K Company, a largely black regiments known as the Harlem Hellfighters. They were awarded the French Crois de Guerre. He began making art in his 20s, and throughout his career he returned to images of his time at the front. Pippin was discovered in 1941 by the art dealer Edith Halpern, and his career bloomed. His work is in the collections of America’s prestigious museums. Writing about a memorial exhibition of Pippin’s work, art critic Alain Locke described Pippin as “a real and rare genius, combining folk quality with artistic maturity so uniquely as almost to defy classification.”

Grandma Moses began painting in her 60s. Her paintings of rural life in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries became extremely popular after 1939. One of her favorite subjects was the farm family preparing for Thanksgiving. “Catching the Turkey’’ (1943) depicts the annual event. In this winter scene, a large farm house sits by a road leading into town. A school house, church, and other town building can be seen at both ends of the road. In the yard, a man is busy chopping firewood.  The real action is at the front of the painting. One boy wields a hatchet, another throws a snowball, and a third boy vigorously grabs a turkey’s feathers. There will be no lack of turkey for dinner this year.

The turkey was described by Benjamin Franklin as “a much more respectable bird…a true original native of America.” He considered the eagle “a rank coward.” Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson were among those assigned to pick the American emblem, but Franklin did not make his thoughts about turkeys and eagles public. In a letter to his daughter, Sarah, on January 26, 1784, Franklin wrote about the virtues of the turkey. The story began to be circulated in the newspapers. Franklin never proposed the turkey as the national symbol.

---

Beverly Hall Smith was a professor of art history for 40 years. Since retiring to Chestertown with her husband Kurt in 2014, she has taught art history classes at WC-ALL and the Institute of Adult Learning, Centreville. An artist, she sometimes exhibits work at River Arts. She also paints sets for the Garfield Theater in Chestertown.

I moved to the Eastern Shore twenty years ago, and as an architect and a history buff, I can’t resist pulling over to read a historic marker as part of my continuing education about my new home. As a Catholic, I knew Maryland was founded to offer refuge for Catholics during the European religious wars, and the colony was an early proponent of religious toleration, including The Religious Society of Friends. 

In my research, I learned that George Fox founded Quakerism in England during a time of great upheaval in both politics and religion. He rebelled against the established church’s ceremonial traditions, ritual and politics, and in 1647, he began preaching a powerful message of a more personal approach and direct communication with God, His message resonated with many other dissidents who became known as the Religious Society of Friends. After George Fox told a judge to “quake before the authority of God”, the movement became better known as  “Quakers”.

On the day of my visit, I drove along a gravel drive and reached this peaceful haven surrounded by Easton’s residential district. I learned that the focal point of the property is the original white clapboard building that was built on three acres of land purchased from John Edmondson in 1682. Soon thereafter, construction began on a Meeting House that was completed two years later, since the land had to cleared and timbers for its framing had to be done by hand with broadaxes. One of the builders was William Southeby, a Native American whose wrote against slavery. The complex today contains the Old Meeting House, the Brick Meeting House, the Brick Common Room and the Burial Grounds. 

The focal point of the property is the Old Meeting House that is the oldest documented wooden frame place of worship in Maryland. The building has been in continuous use since the first meeting in the fall of 1684 and over the years, many notable Quakers have worshipped in this building, including William Penn.  Access to the property was originally by water from a creek that originally fed into the Tred Avon River but only the gully for the creek now exists. The entry lane from S. Washington St. was not purchased until 1789 and the final four acres of the property were not acquired until the 1940’s.

The meeting house was built to better accommodate the growing number of Quakers attending Quarterly and Half Yearly meetings of the numerous preparative meetings. Friends came from the surrounding counties as well as from across the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. The Old Meeting house was built in the form of a “T”. The facing benches, where Clerks of the Meeting sat, were most likely at the north and south ends of the first floor. In 1797, the building was enlarged to the west by removing the bottom of the “T” for a 12 foot addition that spanned the length of the building. This greatly enlarged the space for worship and the facing benches were then moved to the eastern wall.  The main entrance was also moved to the south end of the building and was enhanced by brick steps up to a stoop protected by a gabled roof supported by simple columns.

 In 1990, recognizing the amount of wood decay, termite damage and other issues, the Board sought guidance from the Maryland Historical Trust with the result that the building underwent a major renovation, beginning with raising the building off the ground and installing a new continuous brick foundation. 

The ongoing restoration of the large wooden multi-paned windows by volunteer James “Gramps” Mosner continues.  I was amazed to learn that his labor time for each window takes approximately 100 hours!  He has to first carefully remove the original glass, repair or replace the wood frames and muntins, re-prime the exterior wood, clean the natural finish on the inside wood, reinstall the original glass, remove broken panes and replace with mouth-blown glass from Germany that is the closest match to the original distorted glass, paint the exterior and reinstall the sash. This is  a true labor of love from a dedicated preservationist, so the current Quaker members can gaze out of the same windows their ancestors did over 275 years ago. 

When I stepped inside the building, I immediately inhaled the welcoming fragrance of old pine.  I admired the hand-hewn framing members, made of local hardwoods felled on site; the wide pine flooring, exterior walls partially clad in plaster and  the wide and long windows that reflected the sunlight. The wooden dividers date from 1797, and would  be open during time of worship but closed for business meetings; the men would be on one side with the women on the other side. This practice was discontinued in the mid -19th century.

Being accustomed to churches with a center aisle and rows of benches, I was intrigued by the interior layout of the wood benches. “Facing benches,” where the Clerks of the Meeting sit, were most likely originally located at the north and south walls. The 1797 addition greatly increased the worship space and the facing benches were relocated to the eastern side wall. This vista is from the northeast corner, where the stairs to the attic were relocated. One of the two pairs of doors added to the west side is shown.  

The stairs to the second floor open up to a wonderful attic room that spans the length of the building with windows at each gable end wall. The attic floor’s layout was probably two spaces  to accommodate Friends who traveled great distances to attend Quarterly or Half-Yearly meetings. Originally plastered over wood lath, some plaster remains with signatures of Quakers like postcards from the past. 

After my tour of the Old Meeting House, I walked over to the Brick Meeting House that was built in 1880 designed in a simple rendition of the late Greek Revival of that period.  I admired the three bay front elevation with brick pilasters below layers of molding, the arched brick headers and arched topped 12/12 windows with operable shutters. At the loft level, 6/6 windows with operable shutters complete the simple and elegant composition. This building has electricity, heat and plumbing so it is used in the cooler months of the year.  First Day School classrooms are on the spacious second floor.

The side elevations of the Brick Meeting House are identical to each other with  a center dormer window, three long windows on the main floor and a door. The wood panel above the door was probably a transom window at one time. I carefully set up this shot to show the vista from this elevation’s windows through the windows on the other side of the building. 

After entering the vestibule, I opened the pair of doors to this beautiful vista of the white walls and ceiling as a counterpoint to the warmth of the wood floors and the rich darker wood tones of the benches. Sunlight streams in through the large windows for natural lighting. This building has electricity, heat and plumbing so it is used in the cooler months of the year.  The spacious second floor houses First Day School classrooms. 

The Quaker service, called Meeting for Worship, is meditation based. One arrives and chooses a place on a bench and settles in silence, waiting expectantly for leadings of the Spirit. Individuals are sometimes led to offer spiritual messages as vocal ministry.  Topics often revolve around Quaker values, or Testimonies, which include Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. They may also pray, read from the Bible or another book.

 

At the front interior wall of the Meeting Room is built-in millwork with books about the Quaker faith. Founder George Fox visited Talbot County in 1673 and upon his return to England, he sent a number of books to this Meeting Room. His contribution was the beginning of the Meeting Room’s library, often considered to be Talbot County’s earliest Public Library, if not the Colony’s.

The Common Room was built in 1982 behind the Brick Meeting House to accommodate the members’ many secular activities, including reaching out to the wider community. Complete with kitchen facilities, its uses include committee meetings, receptions, social events, or other community events that involve members.

In continuous use since the late 17th century, the burial grounds are enclosed by high brick walls next to adjoining residential neighboring properties and open to the peaceful vistas of the grounds on the other sides of the property with mature trees for shade.  In the 18th century, markers were added that were small, similar in shape, with limited information, but maps are available for genealogical research. For those who are seeking more extensive research, the Friends have donated copies of the Meeting Minutes to the Maryland Hall of Records in Annapolis.  

The earliest grave dates is 1790, and now over 177 graves have been identified. The brick wall along the western property line contains a growing number of memorial plaques placed upon  the brick surface in memory of Friends who chose cremation.

The grounds are also used as part of the Sunday program for children to explore this wonderful site through nature walks, art projects. 

The Society of Friends sincerely invites you to attend a Meeting for Worship with them any Sunday morning at 10:00 AM or Wednesday evening at 5:30 PM (Childcare is available on Sundays.)

The Author is indebted to Bill Lane, Joan Wetmore and James “Gramps” Mosner for their help in assisting me with materials and insights about this historical treasure in Talbot County.

---

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

“The Point at Broadview” is aptly named for its stunning 2.37 acre site located at a point of a peninsula that offers sweeping 270-degree “broad views” of Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River. On the day of my visit, I drove down to the end of a road and then turned onto the curved, tree-lined private drive. Past the trees, the driveway straightens out to reveal the front elevation and I slowed down to savor the exquisitely detailed façade. The Shingle Style is one of my fave architectural styles and this house reminded me of many shingle style houses built among Long Island’s dunes that I admired on trips to my late sister’s East Hampton house.   

This aerial accentuates the low slope of the site with 1,145 linear feet of bulk headed shoreline along Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River.  The cleared area offers both unobstructed panoramic water views from the house and also a blank slate for the next Owners to add landscaping to suite their own tastes.  At one side of the house is an in-ground pool and on the other side is a large garage to shelter boats, near the private boat ramp and deep water dock with 5 feet MLW and a 10,000 lb. boat lift.   

 

The house was built high above the flood plain and to lessen the height of the house’s foundation, a low retaining wall constructed of New England fieldstone separates the parking area from the landscaping beds that slope up to the partially exposed foundation, also of New England fieldstone. I loved the symmetry of the front gable wings at each corner of the house that project slightly from the center wing and their steep roofs that slope from the second floor’s ridge to the first floor’s eaves. The earth tones, texture of the shake siding, artful sizes and arrangement of windows, window boxes for seasonal color, blue operable shutters, copper lanterns and white trim evoke the timeless appeal of classic New England design. 

 

At each corner of the house’s rear elevation, bay-shaped wall projections infilled  with large windows maximize the panoramic views of the water. I especially liked how the architect specified the “cottage” type window that has a row of muntins above the picture plane for unobstructed views of the water. A variety of outdoor rooms for bird’s eye views of the water include the spacious stone terrace at the main level below a deck at the second floor and two private balconies at each end of the house.

The listing agent met me at the wide front door as I was admiring the custom wood door’s cottage style design of multipaned glass above a wood panel.  When I stepped into the wide foyer that extends to the rear wall of the house, the high ceilings, expanse of wood flooring, and multi-layered trim around doors,  doorways and windows were an introduction to the highest level of finishes I soon discovered throughout the house.  The vista from the foyer ends at a pair of French doors to the stone terrace but I especially admired the perspective of the mini-enfilade that began at the foyer and continues to the window in the last room. 

Next to the foyer is an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. The living area’s interior wall has a gas fireplace flanked by built- in millwork in a mix of cabinets below open shelves with accent lighting for display. The rear wall of the living area is filled with a quadruple window/door unit with two center panels that slide to each side to create a wide opening for easy indoor-outdoor flow. On either side of the quadruple unit are sconces for soft nocturnal lighting. At the front of the living area is another mini-enfilade through the foyer, the hall past the powder room and ending at the mudroom/laundry.

The spacious living area offers a variety of seating arrangements to enjoy both focal points of the fireplace and the water views. I especially liked the diagonal vista to the bay-shaped wall with a built-in ledge with great panoramic views of the water.

I could easily imagine my wide, round dining table in the marvelous space that reaches out to the water. Since there is also a waterside dining room, another option would be to extend the ledge below the windows to create wrap-around seating with cushions and pillows and small round tables for relaxing with family or friends. 

This cook was quite envious of the kitchen area with its custom cabinetry, large center island and its accent of the beautiful mahogany countertop, top-of -the-line European appliances, handcrafted farmhouse style fireclay sinks, Waterworks faucets, gas range and combination convection oven/microwave. I appreciated the sleek lines of the craftsman style cabinet doors that blend into the walls and the upper doors that rise to the ceiling. The exterior door leads to a deck with steps down to the pool area. 

I love butler pantries and this compact one is perfect with its delicate English garden wall paneling, handcrafted fireclay sink, freezer, custom cabinets and brass hardware. I could easily imagine displaying my collection of colorful Italian ceramics from Simpatico and the crystal and serving pieces from my mother’s side of the family in the glass fronted upper cabinets. Sunlight streams fully into the space from the windows that makes this efficient space seem wider than it is. 

To explore the rest of the main floor, I  retraced my steps to the foyer and discovered the adjacent dining room with its focal point of triple windows overlooking the stone terrace and the water. The room’s length of eighteen linear feet could easily accommodate a large table for family celebrations. At the front of the room, a wide wall opening leads to the hall off the foyer for continuous  flow between the dining and living room.

Being a bibliophile, the library at the end of the mini-enfilade is a book lover’s dream with floor to ceiling built-in millwork and Nautical brass lighting of sconces mounted on the trim between the bookshelves. The wrap-around bay wall infilled with windows for water views defines a very appealing space for settling in on a comfortable upholstered chair and ottoman and getting lost in a new book. 

Before I went upstairs, I went back to the foyer to explore the English style service areas of the powder room, laundry and mud room. Since my laundry is a stack W/D in an alcove, I coveted this laundry with its checkerboard marble flooring set onto the diagonal to expand the space, front-loading washer and dryer, custom cabinetry, natural stone countertops and large sink. The storage in the mud room awaits a family with bench seating, built-in storage including a peg wall and boot rack.  The triple-unit window bringing sunlight into the space and the exterior door opens onto a small deck that leads to the rear yard for easy clean-up after an afternoon in the pool.

The stairs to the second floor lead to a landing opposite a pair of French doors leading to the waterside deck. The landing blends into a hall that leads to the primary suite at one corner of the floor and into another hall that leads to the other bedroom ensuites at the opposite corners of the house. This floor also includes an exercise room whose door is shown in the wall next to the stairs. I might be tempted to exercise in this waterside room with its mirrored wall and sliding glass doors to the deck!

The spacious deck extends beyond the rear wall of the two bay-shaped wall projections at each corner of the house. I was mesmerized by the view of the thin line of the opposite shoreline and the distant horizon line of the water meeting the sky. It was difficult not to linger in this fabulous outdoor room but I went back inside to tour the primary suite. 

A pair of doors leads from the stair hall to the primary suite. The  primary bedroom’s ceiling of triangular segments below the roof rafters that frame the bay-shaped walls creates delightful interior architecture. The right side of the bay has an extra window segment to maximize panoramic views of the water and the French door leads to a private balcony for star gazing at night. 

The stunning primary bath is a confection of soft colors and textures and the oversized tub floating on the marble flooring is the focal point of the spacious room. Sunlight filters deep into the space from the wide picture window and the side window that also offer water views.  Opposite the vanities is an alcove that separates the toilet compartment and the shower with all three spaces having windows for daylight.  

The hall from the stair landing leads to the other bedrooms and baths and to this bonus room in the other bay-shaped space at the corner of the house. Its distinctive shape and panoramic water views offer myriad uses such as a sitting room, playroom, office, etc. 

If I were lucky to be a guest, I would choose this bedroom ensuite behind the bonus room for its wrap-around window that casts sunlight deep into the room and the French door to a private balcony. 

I don’t usually feature a house that is unfurnished since interior design is one of the four criteria I use in selecting a House of the Week. This house is an exception for its exceptional architecture in one of my fave styles and for its exceptional site, high above the flood plain. It doesn’t get much better than an exquisite Shingle style house, designed by an architect, sited on a point of a peninsula with sweeping 270-degree views of both Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River. The bonus- this newly finished house’s final inspection was issued in July of this year!

The lack of furnishings allowed me to focus on the beauty of the interior architecture’s ten foot ceilings, hardwood flooring that flows from room to room, large windows detailed with a row of muntins above large picture planes and glass sliding or paired doors leading to the waterside outdoor rooms of the main floor’s stone terrace and the second floor deck.  Natural materials of stone, marble and wood enhance the house’s exteriors and interiors, built to the highest level of construction. Brava to the Architect and her team!

---

For more information about this property, contact Debbie McQuaid with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-673-3344 (o), 410-924-4482 (c) or [email protected] .For more photographs and pricing, visit  www.sothebysrealty.com/ttrsir/eng/office/766-b-85898-4000107/ttr-sothebys-international-realty. “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens, 410-310-6838, [email protected].       

Architecture by  Purple Cherry Architects, www.purplecherry.com , 410-990-1700

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

One of my criteria for selecting properties to be featured is the site. When  I saw this aerial of today’s feature with shades of blue from the rippling water of the Chesapeake Bay to the thin blue far distant horizon line below the sky’s gradation from white to blue, I was hooked. How could one resist having the Chesapeake Bay as an extension of your back yard?

Another aerial shows how the house is tucked into a clearing of trees that offer shade. The gently sloping lawn ends at a 150 linear feet rip rapped shoreline for unobstructed views of the sun as it slowly descends below the horizon for amazing sunsets.  

 

Unless the house is a townhome, one of my architectural pet peeves is a front-loading attached garage. This house gets high marks for its one garage at the side elevation at the end of a curved gravel driveway. On the other side of the house is a detached garage, set back to allow clear views of the landscape from the bedroom wing of the house.

Having grown up in a rectangular shaped basement rancher, I am always intrigued by a house that breaks out of the box as this one does. The  Owners changed the house’s massing by adding a new waterside gable roofed addition. The higher ridge of the addition’s roof above the house’s existing roof ridge created space for pairs of fixed glass transoms under each gable end.  Another smaller gable roof provides protection for the entry door. The high windows at this elevation provide privacy for the bedrooms and daylight for the single car garage.

The gable addition extends beyond the original rear wall of the house and its grid of wood and glass and long windows at each side wall offer panoramic views of the Chesapeake Bay. The steps that span the full length of the addition become grandstands to watch the Bay’s daily parade from merchant ships to pleasure craft.

The front door opens into a short hall that soon reveals the dramatic pitched ceiling created by the gable roof that spans from the rear wall of the family room to the front wall of the hall. The kitchen’s former flat ceiling now explodes into a spatial volume that drops down again to areas with flat ceilings framed by wide wall openings with stained beams.  One of the flat ceiling areas of the kitchen leads to the dining room. 

I admired the dining room’s wood furnishings and the front wall’s mix of closed cabinets, upper glass-fronted cabinets and open shelves that provide a variety of storage options. The long double unit window offers views of the landscaping and the high window minimizes the view of the neighboring house’s side wall.  

The spacious open plan dining-living area includes a free-standing wood stove  and French doors that lead to the adjacent family room. With plenty of room for relaxing with family or entertaining friends and multiple windows for views of the Bay, this is a great space for holiday celebrations.

The wide and tall side windows and rear sliding doors that wrap around the corner of the living room gives this delightful space the feeling of a sunroom with views of the Bay.

The giant stained wood trusses that support the family room’s pitched ceiling float above the beautiful wood flooring that flows through the main rooms of the house. The end gable wall is infilled with sliding doors, transoms and fixed windows that rise to the peak of the roof. Sliding doors lead to the waterside deck for easy indoor-outdoor flow. I loved the patterns on the floor from the sunlight that filters through the rear wall of glass and the trusses to the rear wall of the family room.

The vista of this truly great room with its spatial geometry from the trusses, wrap-around windows and the stepped wall of the kitchen at the interior wall illustrate what can happen when you creatively liberate the box!

I especially liked the vista of this portion of the rear wall of the family room for the design elements of the wide wall opening with the kitchen’s countertop extension to accommodate bar stools; notched white walls that meet the higher ceiling of the kitchen beyond and the end gable wall with the four transoms tucked under the ridge of the gable roof.  

From the family room, another pair of French doors on axis with the French doors to the dining room lead to the “corner” office with views of the landscape and the Bay. Even though there is a slightly larger bedroom at the front of the house, I would prefer this waterside room as a bedroom since the door to the adjacent bath is accessed from the office instead of the hall to the other bedrooms.

The front corner large bedroom has a full wall of closets and another closet for ample storage.  The high window could accommodate a tall headboard and another window overlooks the landscape .

The larger of the two bathrooms is accessed from the hall and has a long lavatory counter opposite the tub shower and toilet. The high window provides both privacy and views of the treetops. The remainder of the floor plan contains another bedroom and a laundry closet. 

Stellar location in popular Rock Hall with 150 linear feet of riprapped shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay; one-level living for aging in place; stunning spatial geometry of the family-kitchen area created by the gable wall of the family room infilled with glass and long windows at each side exterior wall for panoramic views of the water and awesome sunsets; easy flow among the rooms of the open plan main areas and the deck that spans across the waterside family room; attached garage and a separate garage that could become an office-Bravo for a great transformation!

---

For more information about this property, Courtney Chipouras with Benson and Mangold Real Estate at 410-443-822-6665 (o), 410-200-1224 (c) or [email protected] .For more photographs and pricing, visit www.mychesapeakehome.com . Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by Steve Buchanan Photography, 301-996-7295,

http://www.buchananphotography.com .

---

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

This three -bay, cross gabled building with a full front porch is a great example of an architectural style that became popular throughout St. Michaels in the late 19th century . Sited close to the busy intersection of Talbot Street and Railroad Ave., with links to the Community Center and the pedestrian bridge to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, this building’s current commercial use continues with its stunning transformation by Realtor Cornelia Heckenbach of Long and Foster Real Estate- Forbes Global Network. 

When Long and Foster consolidated their offices into their Easton location, Cornelia saw a unique opportunity to maintain Long and Foster’s presence in St. Michaels by purchasing this building to create a boutique office. Her mix of commercial and residential uses includes two offices for her and her client/tenant, Tremezzo Stay, on the first floor and a two bedroom, one bath Airbnb, “Coco’s Nest” on the entire second floor, managed by Cornelia and Flaneur. 

On the day of my visit, I walked up new steps of stone and bluestone steps to the deep front porch between the two bay front wings with glass walls for total transparency. With the serene exterior color palette of pale gray walls and crisp white trim, this building proudly proclaims its place as the star of the block.   

 

Among the many accolades Cornelia has earned throughout her real estate career is her ranking among the top one percent of real estate professionals nationwide; due to her attention to detail and laser focus on her customers, whether they are first time home buyers or buyers of multi-million dollar properties. She brought those same traits to her role as a developer for this building’s transformation with her architect husband as a consultant. 

As I walked around the building, every surface has been considered as part of a unified composition. New roofing, siding and replacement windows updated the architecture. New hardscape of bricks and pavers replaced the expanse of the previous gravel surfaces. New native plantings enhance the building’s massing and new fencing provides privacy for the outdoor spaces.  The dilapidated storage shed was restored and behind the building are four assigned parking spaces.

 

The deep front entry with its original door, doorbell, new lever hardware, sidelights and full transom offers a shady spot on a warm day. Both residents and tourists enjoy viewing the pictures of Long and Foster’s properties for sale that float behind the glass.

 

The building’s interior was a challenge since there had been no HVAC, only space heaters, for many years. Cornelia’s contractor restored the beautiful staircase to its former glory and added another slim iron handrail at the wall opposite the balustrade.  I was especially pleased that the wood floors were not fully sanded and covered with polyurethane. Instead, the crew left some of the old paint that highlights the pine floors’ wonderful aged patina. The white interior walls reflect the sunlight from the front bay windows walls of glass. 

The door at the end of the hall by the stairs opens into the powder room with a wallpaper of colorful sea creatures cavorting amongst the coral in the sea. The tile backsplash picks up the orange of the wallpaper to create a backdrop for the white cabinetry and plumbing fixtures. The slats of the window’s blinds are angled to allow both sunlight and privacy to this delightful space.  

 

Doors on either side of the stair hall lead to the two office suites that span the depth of the building. The south suite is Cornelia’s office and the entry door opens into this reception area enclosed by the front bay window and side windows of glass overlooking the streetscape. I loved the Scandinavian design of the pendant light fixture and the sleek wood chairs with upholstered seats and pillows that continue the marine theme. This welcoming reception area was once part of the original front porch so the flooring in this area could not be restored and new wood flooring was installed.

 

Cornelia’s reception area and the two-person open plan work area open plan is flooded with sunlight from the front glass walls and the side window overlooking a courtyard. The white of the space’s enclosure, the sleek office furnishings with wood accents of the credenza and side chairs and the muted tones of the large rug create a soothing environment for work. The wide wall opening leads to the meeting room at the rear wall of the building.

 

The sunny meeting room has daylight from the side single window and the rear double unit window. I admired the telescoping pendant light fixture, wood chairs with rattan backs and cushioned seats paired with the round contemporary white table. The low storage unit below the side window with sliding panels infilled with rattan displays some of Cornelia’s many awards and publicity.  

 

The Tremezzo Stay tenant space is identical in size to Cornelia’s and its reception space’s front glass is inscribed with their logo and pictures of their portfolio of luxury rental properties. I admired the space’s Zen feel with the one round table, urn and pendant fixture suspended from the deep brown ceiling above the new wood floors of the former porch.

The open plan space is enhanced by a shiplap accent wall, light wood furnishings and a soothing neutral palette. The dropped beam defines the space into the working and seating areas. 

 

After touring the office suites, I was eager to explore the Airbnb that encompasses the entire second floor. The stairs end at a door that opens into a hall with a vista to this cozy nook with a window overlooking the streetscape below. I loved the octopus fabric and how even though the pillows are identical in design, tilting one pillow creates a fun dynamic between the two chairs.  

The cozy seating nook is between the two bedrooms that are located at opposite corners of the building with windows on two exterior walls for daylight throughout the day. Carpeting in a subtle, tight weave adds sound privacy from the office suites below. This bedroom’s white walls and bed linens are enlivened by a coverlet and pillows portraying more delightful sea creatures.  

The other bedroom can accommodate a king-size bed and a dual dresser with its splash of deep lime green is a great accent piece. When I admired the colorful floral pattern of the accent pillows and coverlet, I was surprised when Cornelia told me she ordered them from Target Online!

 

The stylish bath is conveniently located off the stair hall. The lavatory’s countertop has space for guests’ daily toiletries and the tile used here as a wainscot is a design I have also specified for several architectural clients for the texture it adds to the wall. The tiled shower’s sliding door spans the width of the space to expand the room’s transparency and the window’s layer of patterned glass provides both daylight and privacy.

At the rear of the second floor is a sitting area with earth toned carpeting and neutral colored upholstery that creates an inviting space for unwinding at the end of a busy day spent exploring St. Michaels’ shops and attractions before making dinner reservations at one of the many restaurants.  

During my tour of the rear hardscaped area, I had noticed a bay window projection at the second floor. When I reached the last room of the Airbnb suite, I realized how the bay window had become a clever window seat at the dining area opposite the wall of the mini-kitchen’s cabinets, under counter fridge and bar sink. The bamboo styled cupboard with both drawers and drawers contains all one needs to set the table for a meal. The artwork of an oversized crab adds a touch of whimsy to this delightful space with a partial sloped ceiling for spatial volume.

The icing on the cake of this exquisite Airbnb is this covered porch that is a delightful outdoor room, accessed by a door in the sitting room. Part of the roof follows the underside of the rafters above to add height to this cozy space. What a perfect spot for a cocktail before dinner or a night cap while enjoying the bird’s eye view of St. Michaels’ Historic District. 

Numerous locals who watched the transformation of this property have sought out Cornelia to compliment her on this exquisite property and grounds. They also appreciate Cornelia’s adding a bench to her landscaped side yard where one can relax in the shady space from the shadow cast by her building.  Brava to this great example of urban rejuvenation that has set the bar very high for future projects!   

---

In addition to Cornelia’s ranking among the top one percent of real estate professionals nationwide, she is also ranked in the  Top 100 Long and Foster agents within Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., and has earned several prestigious awards. If you are a seller or buyer, contact Cornelia C. Heckenbach, Associate Broker at Long and Foster Real Estate, 410-310-1229 (c) or [email protected]  or visit www.stmichaelsmdwaterfront.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Vincent Ferrari Photography, (301) 395-3245

Tremezzo Stay, www.tremezzostay.com.   Tremezzo Stay’s current portfolio of four unique properties are personally owned, managed and hosted by Brandon and Marissa Lytle. Each home has been handpicked by them and extensively outfitted to their highest standards for the comfort of their guests. Visit their website for a tour of each unique property for a memorable vacation on the Eastern Shore.

Flaneur, www.flaneurvacations.com, (410) 745-8022

 “Historic St. Michaels, An Architectural History” by Elizabeth Hughes, Historic St. Michaels-Bay Hundred, Inc., Publisher, 1996

---

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

When I saw pictures of today’s featured house, I recognized the work of the Jack Arnold AIA, one of America’s leading architects of the French Country style. This house’s front elevation features elements of this style, from the brick exposed foundation that corbels into natural stone walls, slate roof with flared eaves, accents of wood beams set into stone facades, multi-paned windows, multiple gables of different heights and arched tops for windows and shutters that creates unique curb appeal.

The house’s site has a rich history. It is part of “Ratcliffe Farm”, named for “The Mannour of Ratcliff”, one of Talbot County’s great mid-century houses, patented in 1659, that was built on 800 acres along the Tred Avon River.  Part of the property was sold for development in the early 2000s to create Ratcliffe Manor Farm’s fifteen single-family lots as well as the Easton Village neighborhood. 

I began my tour by turning onto a tree lined boulevard that leads to the turnoff for this house’s street, named for “Fort Stoakes”, a fortress built during the War of 1812. When I reached the point where the two streets to access Ratcliffe Manor Farm’s lots intersect the boulevard, I was impressed how well the new streets were laid out to maintain the Manor House’s privacy in its surrounding woods. As I turned down the driveway to this house, I appreciated the gentle slope of the lawn with a low stone retaining wall at the front of the house, how the driveway was accented by bands of color to define zones and the beautiful earth tones of the exterior color palette. 

All of the elevations are exquisitely detailed, with this elevation’s arched brick headers above the garage doors and the triple window; the garage doors’ crisscross trim and wood accents around the recessed porch and the header over the triple window, and the variety of window shapes. The gable wing of the house juxtaposed with the façade of the garage creates a very pleasing massing.

The house reaches out to the water with the varied depths of its wings. I especially liked how the three-bay recessed porch echoed the three bays of the garage, the detailing of the chimneys with the stone changing to brick with chimney caps and the outdoor rooms of the main floor’s covered terrace, the pool’s hardscape and the second floor deck.  

The spacious elevated brick terrace blends into the hardscape of the pool surround for views of the lawn and water beyond. The thin black fencing around the pool area offers serene, unobstructed views of the landscape and the river. 

One of the Owners greeted me for my tour as I was admiring the custom design of the wide front door that  is recessed into the front façade. As I walked into the spacious foyer, I was immediately drawn to the view through the wide arched doors to the covered terrace. The foyer’s interior architecture is detailed with stone flooring, faux-finish walls that simulate stone and graceful elliptical arches for the doors and the wide wall openings on either side of the foyer to both the living and dining rooms.

The living room’s high tray ceiling is accented with stained beams, and the chimney wall that projects slightly into the room creates delightful interior architecture. I admired the gas fireplace’s cast concrete mantel that simulates stone, the accents of red in the sofa and chairs and the antique posters. The arched top at the side wall’s opening frames the hall past the powder room and the primary suite beyond.

Powder rooms offer great opportunities to accentuate a small space. This beautiful painted wall mural adds perspective to the room and the painted accents of the lavatory and toilet repeat the mural’s motifs.  The bow fronted lavatory cabinet and the round mirror in its “porthole” frame complete this charming look.

The study is located at the corner of the house with arched front doors opening onto the front lawn. Another tray ceiling with wood beams adds height to this space. The writing table, TV and comfortable furnishings creates a perfect spot for work or to unwind at the end of the day.

The sumptuous primary suite begins with the spacious primary bedroom with its tray ceiling and wood beams for greater height. The rear wall of glass from doors and full height sidelights offers views of the landscape and water beyond. The gas fireplace that is set into the room also creates niches for a chair and chest of drawers.

The current Owners undertook extensive renovations, including this transformation of the existing primary bath into a light filled oasis with a white tray ceiling to reflect the light. From the bedroom, a pair of paneled doors open to this vista of the soaking tub. The cut-outs in the wall behind the tub bring light into both the shower area and the toilet compartment. Off the bath is large dressing room with a center storage island whose countertop is convenient for packing/unpacking for travel. The surrounding walls of the dressing room lined with rods and open shelves provide ample storage.

After backtracking to the foyer, I looked forward to exploring the rest of the house, beginning with the dining room. I admired the flat ceiling accented with wood beams, the wood header to the adjacent hall and the full height arched top window that overlooks the front lawn. The round table, upholstered chairs and the etagere with cabinets below create an elegant space for dining with soft lighting from the chandelier and the sconces.  

Between the dining room and the kitchen is a bar area that backs up to a large pantry behind the kitchen. The ceiling of the open plan kitchen-breakfast-family room has spatial variety from the flat plane over the kitchen that changes to the vaulted ceiling of the family room. At the exterior wall of the kitchen are two pairs of doors leading to the covered terrace.

My fave room is the exquisite covered terrace, accessed from both the kitchen and the foyer for easy indoor-outdoor flow from the house to the pool area. How could one resist the rich texture mix of brick, stone and wood and the white tray ceiling accented by stained wood beams, areas for sitting and dining and the gas fireplace?

The dramatic space of the family room also has a bow-shaped area overlooking the pool area for breakfast or informal meals. I especially admired how the very high tray ceiling’s beams are detailed with an extra layer of wood trim underneath the break in the ceiling plane that adds great character to the space. The long windows that wrap around the corner of the room offer panoramic views of the lawn and water. The gas fireplace, millwork with TV and comfortable furnishings make this open plan kitchen-breakfast bay and family room the hub of the house.

The remainder of the first floor has a secondary entry with stairs to the partial second floor, the laundry, a bedroom ensuite and the three car garage with storage space. 

 

The partial second floor has two bedroom ensuites and this clever boat shaped bed’s frame was left by the former Owners. The current Owners continued the nautical theme with the porthole mirror and added the sleek wood dresser and chest that match the color of the boat’s bow. Since the front wall of the bedroom is tucked under the roof, the high knee wall and sloped ceiling with a double window dormer opposite the bed create a cozy space for boaters of all ages.

Between the two second-floor bedrooms is a bonus room furnished as a sitting room for guests. Several single dormer windows bring sunlight into the space, and the high-knee walls offer ample headroom. Built into the knee walls are doors to access storage space under the roof rafters.

No doubt, lucky guests who stay in this charming bedroom with access to the deck with bird’s eye views of the water may well be tempted to extend their stay!

This four acre property convenient to both Easton and St. Michaels offers a unique combination of a historic setting with approximately 300 feet of waterfront and a natural shoreline along the scenic Tred Avon River with a distinctive house design by one of America’s leading architects of the French Country style. Built to the highest level of construction with low maintenance, timeless exterior materials of stone and brick, this four bedroom, 4-1/2 bath French Country is tres’ magnifique! 

From the centrally located foyer, the main floor plan is zoned very well with the living room, study/office and master suite on one wing and the dining room, open plan kitchen-breakfast- family room, laundry, guest ensuite and garage on the other wing. Tray ceilings of various heights trimmed with wood beams offer delightful spatial variety to the indoor rooms. Outdoor rooms of the irresistible covered terrace that flow into the hardscape around the heated salt-water pool and the second floor deck expand your living space and provide peaceful vistas of the current Owners’ extensive landscaping.  Water enthusiasts will appreciate the dock with water, electric, boat and jet ski lifts with approximately 5 ft MLW.  The house’s motto inscribed on the plaque in the kitchen that proclaims “If you’re lucky enough to live on the water you’re lucky enough” says it all! 

---

For more information about this property, contact Cliff Meredith, Broker, with Meredith Fine Properties at 410-822-6272 (o), 410-924-0082 (c), [email protected] ; or Laura Carney, Senior Vice President with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-673-3344 (o), 410-310-3307 (c) or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.MeredithFineProperties.com or www.lauracarney.com ,“Equal Housing Opportunity.” 

Photography by-Townsend Visuals, www.townsendvisuals.com, (443) 279-8309

Architecture by Jack Arnold AIA, www.jackarnold.com, 800-824-3565

Construction by Ilex, www.ilexconstruction.com, (866) 551-4539

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has re-established her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoon.

As I walked down the Town of Rock Hall’s sidewalk to tour today’s featured house, “Mermaid of the Rock-The Lodge on Main”, the house’s eclectic architectural details of an American Four-Square massing, hipped roof and shed dormers with the  Victorian 1/1 windows creates a very pleasing curb appeal. The elevated front porch faces the street but dense shrubbery provides privacy. The house may have originally been a rectory for the church but its current use is a successful Airbnb with a main floor unit and another unit on the second and third floors for a total of four bedrooms and three and a half baths. 

The elevation that faces the side off-street parking area shows the Queen Anne details of the wrap-around porch and the two-story bay wall projection. Combined with the other architectural styles of the front elevation, this building has great architectural character. 

I was charmed by the diminutive scale of the two buildings at the rear of the parking area. Both are currently offices but the larger building could become a cozy honeymoon cottage and the other building could remain an office to generate additional income.  

Next to the office is a small terrace with a table and benches underneath a pergola supported by four columns and covered with dense vines for shade. The perfect spot for a warm weather picnic or for relaxing after a stroll around town.

After touring the grounds, I walked up to the deep and spacious  wrap-around porch with cushioned rattan furnishings for relaxing and a table and chairs for dining. Ceiling fans add cooling during the dog days of summer. With plenty of seating and ample space for circulation, the porch is a delightful outdoor room. 

The front door opens into a large foyer that serves both units. The stair’s upper run is open to the first floor below for convenient storage of bikes, strollers, etc. The building’s renovation carefully maintained the house’s original details, including the beautiful wood floors, high baseboards, paneled doors, fluted window trim and the stair balustrade. 

The main floor living room’s side wall is a full bay wall projection for panoramic views of the townscape. Along with the front window overlooking the porch, the living room has sunlight throughout the day. The armoire covers a pair of pocket doors to the adjoining room that may have been the original dining room.

The eat-in kitchen has a corner wood hutch containing all the basic essentials for setting the table. Four Windsor chairs around the table create a cozy dining spot. The “L” shaped kitchen area has plenty of counter space with one side containing the sink and dishwasher and the other side containing the R/F and range/microwave.

The main floor bedroom has a quiet location in the rear corner of the building. I admired the mix of the contemporary light fixture and rug with the iron bedframe. The blue and cream color scheme creates a serene sleeping space.   

The main floor bath and laundry area has plenty of storage for linens and towels and the exterior door leads to the steps down to the rear yard and parking area.

The second-floor living room is located above the main living room below and enjoys the same side bay wall projection and front window for sunlight throughout the day. The light wall color reflects the sunlight, and the spacious living-dining area can accommodate a large group for watching TV. 

The second floor’s galley kitchen’s windows on the two exterior walls is sunny and bright. The craftsman style cabinets with the upper cabinets reaching to the underside of the ceiling provide plenty of storage and the cabinet on the opposite wall could become a buffet. The four-panel door leads to the stairs to the third floor bedroom.

The second floor’s corner bedroom’s carpet over the original wood floors provides sound control from the unit below. The corner location with windows on each exterior wall is a plus with bird’s eye views of the townscape below.

The second floor bath also has a stack washer/dryer if a buyer wanted to keep the Airbnb on the first floor and live on the second and third floors.

The third floor corner bedroom is my fave room in the house whose shed dormers create delightful interior architecture. Opposite the beds are a large closet and another closet for the HVAC equipment. The adjacent bath is tucked under the windows of another shed dormer.

This is a unique opportunity for acquiring an Airbnb for investment property; or to continue the successful Airbnb designation for the main floor only for extra income; or to revert the four bedroom, 3-1/2 bath house to its original use as a single family residence. Charming architectural style and spacious interior rooms with multiple windows for views and sunlight.  Outdoor rooms of the wrap-around porch that offers front row seats to enjoy local parades and festivals and the terrace in the rear yard, shaded by a pergola and dense vines, expand your living space. All this and a location in the heart of picturesque Rock Hall’s shops, restaurants and the Mainstay live performing arts venue that offers a year-round weekly calendar!

---

For more information about this property, contact Retha Arrabal with Doug Ashley Realtors at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-708-2172 (c) or [email protected], “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Janelle Stroup, Thru the Lens Photography, 410-310-6838, [email protected]

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Locust Grove  is one of the historic properties included in my primary reference book for Talbot County’s architectural heritage , “Where Land and Water Intertwine, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland”. This aerial view shows this house nestled in its “grove” of mature trees with panoramic vistas of the site’s twenty-two acres (including four acres of woodland), farmland, pastures and eight hundred linear feet of shoreline along Island Creek. Since the site is located at the upper reaches of Island Creek, there is no motor boat noise to disturb the peace and quiet of this special place that is completely surrounded by land protected from development. Locust Grove is both an operating farm and a turn-key horse farm in what has become an equine “neigh”borhood and year round habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

 

“Where Land and Water Intertwined” dates the house as early 19th century and the book’s photograph of the house shows a three-bay hipped roof porch that no longer remains. As I walked up to the welcoming red front door, I was relieved that the porch had been removed so I could fully appreciate the charm of the original part of the house. Additions to many Eastern Shore historic houses telescope down, but here the five-bay, story and a half gambrel roofed original part of the house rests next to the later and higher two-story addition. I also learned from my research that the dormers were unusual for the time this part of the house was built. To me, they enhance the elevation and their quirky rhythm, slightly off alignment with the door and windows below, along with the classic color palette, adds to its charm.    

The house was thoroughly renovated in 1987 with updates that preserved with great care the original materials and details, including beautiful pine flooring, exposed beams and the staircase to the second floor. The renovation included the one-story shed roofed space that projects from the rear wall of the house that augments the pleasing massing. 

The house’s delightful outdoor rooms include a deck that spans the length of the two-story addition with an exterior door to the living room. The deck’s elevation above the ground provides a better view of the water and enables one to keep an eye on young children and pets at play on the large expanse of lawn. Steps that lead down both to the lawn and to the hardscaped terrace next to the deck create a continuous flow for entertaining.

The deck blends into a stone terrace and then into a brick terrace at the kitchen wing. The perfect touch would be adding a covered breezeway from the kitchen to a new garage perpendicular to the house. 

Near the deck is one outbuilding and a fenced vegetable garden with raised beds bordering the expanse of lawn leading to the shoreline of Island Creek.  The Owner’s two dogs were my guides on my tour of the grounds and they soon engaged me in a game of toss and fetch with their fave ball as I basked in the midday sunshine. 

It is easy to be charmed by a diminutive scale and this charming small garden shed’s white walls and green accents caught my eye as I strolled the grounds and marveled at the mature trees that dot the property and provide shade. 

This turn-key horse farm includes five pastures, a protected riding ring  and this three-stall barn with a tack room.

 Since I am sports-challenged, I checked with my colleague, Alex, who told me this field is for practicing clearing the jumps spaced at the end of the field.

After my stroll around the grounds, I was eager to explore the house. The Owner opened the front door and greeted me at the foyer. The beautiful wood flooring, original stair with wood treads and railing with white treads and spindles, the lovely antique settee and the Oriental rug create a welcoming space to begin my tour. From the foyer, there is a clear vistas to the dining room and to the living  room beyond.  

The house is one-room wide so windows on both the front and rear walls provide welcome breezes and vistas to the landscape. The elegant dining room with one of the four wood-burning fireplaces is defined by the large Oriental rug and family antiques.

The spacious living room’s bright yellow walls and the vivid colors and pattern of the Oriental rug that covered most of the wood flooring sets up two conversation areas with one area grouped around another wood burning fireplace. A door leads to the deck for easy indoor-outdoor flow. The Owner shared with me that the room’s large size enabled her and her husband to set up three tables of eight for memorable dinner parties.

The family room at the corner of the original part of the house has soft sage green walls and the exposed beams below the family room’s ceiling end at the support beam that creates an open plan family-kitchen space.  With another wood burning fireplace, TV and full bookcases, it would be so easy to linger in this inviting space.  

The “L” and island arrangement is my fave layout for kitchens and the triple window overlooks the landscape. The large island with space for stools on two sides is the perfect spot for breakfast and/or informal meals. 

The “U” shaped stairs to the second floor lead to a short hall opposite a bath next to a bedroom in the original part of the house. The bedroom is tucked under the gambrel roof for delightful interior architecture from the high knee walls and sloped ceiling. Since the chimney becomes a shaft at the second level to the roof, the high windows augment the daylight provided by the two pairs of dormer windows at the front and rear walls. This spacious room easily accommodates either a king or pair of twin beds and the niches created by the dormer windows maximizes the floor space and create spaces for the chest of drawers and a writing desk.

The other rooms on the second floor are located in the two-story addition of the house. From the stair hall, I first passed through a space that could be a nursery or an office to reach the spacious primary bedroom. Pairs of windows at the front and rear walls keep the bedroom sunny throughout the day and the room’s size accommodates both sleeping and sitting areas. I am an avid reader and I wish I had space for bookcases like these, instead of the stack of books on my bedside table!

Between the primary bedroom and this primary bath is a large walk-in closet to complete the primary ensuite. There is ample space between the shower/toilet side and the lavatory/storage tower side for a couple to easily share. 

Locust Grove is a unique property in Trappe between Cambridge and Easton and its appealing blend of historic charm and 1987 updates are an irresistible combination. The bonus of twenty-two acres (including four acres of woodland) surrounded by land protected from development and eight hundred linear feet of shoreline along Island Creek creates a private and peaceful haven. 

The house is set into the site’s gently rolling topography that encourages strolling for daily exercise and the expanse of lawn dotted with mature trees for shade is a perfect play area for children and grandchildren. The outdoor rooms of the deck and terrace expand your living space. This operating and turn-key horse farm is an equestrian’s dream but if one prefers swimming for exercise, there are plans for a pool and a perc test ready to go. Truly a one of a kind property and the opportunity to be the next steward to continue the preservation of this unique part of Talbot County’s history!

---

For details about this property, contact Jim Corson with Benson & Mangold Real Estate at 410-822-1415 (o), 410-310-6275, or [email protected]. For more pictures and  pricing, visit www.jimcorson.bensonandmangold.com ,“Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Aerials and Selected Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens Photography, 410-310-6838, [email protected]

Other Photography by TruPlace, www.truplace.com ,(301) 972-3201

“Where Land and Water Intertwine, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland”, by Christopher Weeks, with Contributions by Michael O. Bourne, John Frazier, Jr., Marsha L. Fritz and Geoffrey Henry

---

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.