Yahoo Finance This Converted Tavern for Sale Is the Coziest Place on Earth
If you're the type who falls easily and deeply for the charms of older things, heed this advice: When a home that boasts over 250 years of history pops up on the market, don't ask questions. Just follow your heart straight to the bank.
This was, at least, the guiding rule for the current owner of this striking property for sale in Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley, whose love affair with the home began as soon as he saw the view of it from across the pond. One step inside, and there was no turning back. "The living room with exposed structural timbers and stone fireplace sealed the deal," he says. And the rest is, well, history.
History, indeed. Built circa 1770, this is one of the oldest homes in the area (it's just five miles outside the delightful city of Lexington) and carries with it a storied past. Historians suspect that it began its life as a small log cabin that was later expanded using native limestone. It is said to have operated as an inn by the Mackey family until after the Civil War-earning it the moniker "Mackey's Tavern."
A significant stylistic overhaul took place in 1883, when the home received its clapboard addition, though many of these Victorian-era changes have since been erased. Thanks to a restoration by a prior owner in the 1960s-who, among other things, exposed the early stone walls and removed the plaster covering the original ceiling beams-much of the home has been brought back to its earlier appearance.
An architect by trade, the current owner has filled the home with a glorious assortment of mid-century furnishings that would be the envy of anyone with an interest in Danish modern antiques. A non-traditional approach to decor in a home of this age, it nonetheless works beautifully-the simplicity of the furnishings allows the architectural details to shine. In the living room, the ceiling beams take center stage while the handcrafted millwork-dressed in a verdant green-speaks to the quality of home's construction.
"It's a place where I come for a feeling of peace and tranquility," the current owner says, adding that the snowy months offer a special sort of magic that must be experienced to truly be understood. "The stone fireplace and deep-set windows create a timeless ambiance in the winter." It makes sense-back then, they knew how to build homes that worked with the natural environment. The sun warms the rooms when it hangs low in the winter, but is blocked in the summer by the roof overhang.
Like the best old houses, this one wears its history on its sleeve. One can still find Roman numerals on the roof rafters that where used in the home's original construction. There are at least a couple hidden compartments, too. (Shhh… their location is a secret!)
Elsewhere on the 5-acre property, there's a spring house and a second stone outbuilding whose original purpose is anyone's guess. Local lore holds that it was used as a fort during clashes with Native Americans in the late 1700s. Of course, it may have only ever been a smokehouse-but, the current owner says with a laugh, "that is not quite as exciting as the fort story."
Asking Price: $625,000
For more information, contact Will Moore, James Wm. Moore Real Estate Co. at (540) 460-4602
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