By Lisa A. Lewis
The Eastern Shore is a popular location for primary residences as well as second homes and retirement homes. These homes often represent status symbols—indicating the homeowner’s desire to live the good life we all seek. In this issue of What’s Up? with Eastern Shore Real Estate, we profile a property that is the epitome of luxury—a status symbol that offers all the upscale amenities we expect.
Old Doncaster
Easton, Talbot County
- Primary Structure Built: 1870
- Sold For: $2,000,000
- Original List Price: $2,495,000
- Last Sold/Price: $1,750,000 (2004)
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
- Living Space: 5,500 sq. ft.
- Lot Size: 6.45 acres
This stunning three-level colonial home was renovated in 2006 with the overriding goal of preserving its rich history while combining its old charm with modern upscale amenities. Located in a park-like setting, the grounds are absolutely lovely and include not only a variety of beautiful trees, plants, and flowers but also a greenhouse, a dock with an enchanting gazebo, and porches and patios that offer magnificent views of the water. The property, which was listed on June 22nd, 2014, closed on November 23rd, 2015.
“The sellers bought the home when it was basically still in its original condition,” says Cornelia C. Heckenbach of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., the listing and selling agent for the property. “One of the sellers grew up in a home with the same vintage, and she fell in love with it immediately. They hired Charles Goebel [architect] and Victor MacSorley [builder] to renovate the home and design an addition.”
Every effort was made to restore the home in a way that preserved its original condition. (Even the existing millwork was restored.) A family room, kitchen, and screened-in porch were added. The carriage house, which was previously used mainly for storage, was also transformed into a two-bedroom guest house.
The sellers also restored the shoreline by creating a living shoreline, a method of controlling erosion and improving water quality by using native plants. The project was installed by Environmental Concern, Inc., a not-for-profit organization located in St. Michaels that has been dedicated to restoring shorelines since its founding in 1972.
By renovating the home and designing a new addition more than 100 years after the house was originally built, the sellers preserved an important part of the Eastern Shore’s history. Blending elements of old and new really ought the house back to life. And, hopefully, the new homeowners will cherish the house as much as the sellers did when they lived there.
Source: Cornelia C. Heckenbach (listing and selling agent), Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 410-310-1229 (direct), 410-745-0283 (office), www.StMichaelsMdWaterfront.com, www.longandfostereasternshore.com.
