JEFF JACKSON
Spa Creek is a long and narrow waterway that stretches from the Eastport Bridge in downtown Annapolis to its terminus near Hilltop Avenue. Gracious homes line the many coves of the creek, including historic structures built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This place is one such house. Built at the turn of the 20th century when the western side of Spa Creek was valued for its proximity to downtown Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay, the house occupies a tidy 15-acre sloped lot. The house was built to take advantage of the natural grade of the land, thus placing it above the floodplain. This purposeful construction allowed early occupants to enjoy fresh breezes off the water and easy access to the Bay without the constant worry about rising tides or storm surges.
History
The home was constructed in 1908, and became only the second structure to be built on the western side of the street between Revell and Spa Creek. The building housed the Annapolis Boat Club first, then Claude and Company’s Chesapeake Bay Oyster House. Between 1930 and 1954, the house was divided into six apartments. In 1977, the owners converted the apartments into a single-family home and added a spacious addition along the entire length of the waterfront side of the house. Currently, the home is a two-and-a-half story frame set on a raised basement. Due to the sharp slope of the ground toward Spa Creek, the basement is exposed on all sides except the façade. The rear of the home is characterized by a balcony that extends over the 1977 addition as well as by an original balustrade accessed via the master bedroom. Original architectural designs called for three large and distinctive doors. Over time, one door has remained operational while the other two were sealed shut. These doors give entry to a home that is both historical and modern, suited for elegant entertaining and casual family living.
The origins of the home may provide some explanation for the design of the façade and porch overhang. Without a doubt, the porch provided a shady spot for conversation and commerce to many Annapolitans over five decades. The design might also provide insight into the home’s interior. The primary entry, a right-side passage, leads to a gracious foyer and oak stairs that wind up to the second and third floors. At the rear of the home are stairs to the lower level, where the kitchen and family room are located.
It might seem unusual that common living areas are housed in what is technically the basement of the home. However, this situation makes sense given the unique waterfront access available on the lower level. Just outside the doors are a patio, garden, and two piers. Certainly, this floor plan is advantageous if you are a boat club or oyster house. Today, it’s just as convenient if you are a family with young children who like to play in the water, or if you want to entertain outside, as the new owners do. “This design must have been a deterrent for a lot of people,” says the buyer’s agent Denise Hadden of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “This isn’t what most folks are accustomed to; however, my client was absolutely charmed by it. It makes sense because you want to have access to the kitchen and bathroom while using the outdoor spaces.”
The Home
Reid Buckley of The Waterfront Team was the seller’s agent. She says the listing price of $2,650,000 reflected the home’s notable origins and the special cache of its location in historic downtown Annapolis. “This property is well out of the floodplain, offers a unique waterfront view, beautiful bones, and two deep-water piers,” she explains. “These factors are very unusual and special for a historic home in this specific area.”
The most visual features of the home are indeed lovely. Stepping out of the foyer and into the gracious living room is like opening a jewel box. Hardwood floors and the two original doors anchor the sitting room, which looks out to the front porch and Shipwright Street. A pass-through fireplace is trimmed in marble and finished with a traditional solid wood mantel painted a creamy shade of bone porcelain. Elegant arches on either side of the fireplace lead to the formal dining room, characterized by a view of the creek on one side and the fireplace on the other. This room features one huge picture window and two glass doors that open to a large balcony overlooking the garden and creek with views toward Eastport.
Venturing downstairs reveals a more contemporary feel compared to the historic design elements above. The kitchen is efficient but bears every modern convenience including wood custom cabinetry, a four-burner and grill range, and stainless-steel refrigerator. The center island, topped by a thick butcher block, provides additional storage and shelves for cookbooks. Connected to the kitchen is a dining area, living room with a gas fireplace, a beautifully renovated full bath, solarium, and laundry. Access to the stone patio outside is via four brick steps. Stepping down these stairs is evocative of stepping through Annapolis history.
Buckley says that walking upstairs to the bedrooms is like finding a delightful origami that unfolds as you go. The master bedroom has a fireplace and balcony. Three smaller street side bedrooms share the full bath on that level. The fourth floor has an attic loft with another full bath. Wood floors and exposed beams in the master bedroom contribute to the historic feel of the home.
The Search
The new owners of the home, who are from Montgomery County, worked with Hadden for almost a year before they found this property, which they will use as a second home. Their search priorities included a pool, water access, walking distance to Main Street, and the ability to explore downtown Annapolis and the Bay, as have generations of locals. The owners initially budgeted for a more modest home, but realized they would have to be flexible if they wanted these elements. “We looked at condos, we looked at townhomes, we looked at all the waterfront properties in historic Annapolis,” Hadden says. “This was the only single-family home we visited, and it was absolutely charming.” Through Hadden, the family made an offer when the home first went on the market. While the parties couldn’t agree on a price, the family continued to let The Waterfront Team know that they were interested. Eventually, the home settled at $2.1 million after being on the market for 124 days. “My buyers have a strong vision of all this home can be,” she says. “They have two sets of school-aged twins who are looking forward to paddle-boarding, kayaking, and sailing and they are excited about making the most of a home on the water.
