Small Town Stone House with a Long History

As a native Midwesterner, the first thing I noticed when moving to the Delaware Valley was the enormous number of fieldstone houses. Frankly, I'd never seen such a thing. What people in the East take for granted is a matter of wonder for the rest of us who grew up in much younger cities.

This house is currently offered for sale, and it's a delight to visit a residence that has been restored with every attention to detail. But the transformation didn't come easy! The depth of knowledge (and pockets) to pull off such a project can be daunting. However, this magnificent stone house in the small town of Sergeantsville, NJ proves that such a renovation can have tremendous rewards, and it is waiting for a new owner who will carry on the tradition.

The current owner, Charles Frischmann, was just the man to take on the project. Organist, music professor, historian, antique collector, Charles had already restored two stone houses and was ready to take on the third. He had learned much from the previous undertaking, and this one didn't even give him pause.

The previous owner had already begun some of the restoration. The 10-foot wide stone fireplace had been turned into a closet; the panels needed to be removed, and the wood stove was installed. An expansive kitchen/dining area was added on to the rear of the house, using antique barnwood beams in the ceiling and exposing the stone on the interior wall. Because the only entrance to the basement was originally an exterior entrance, it has now become a trap door in the kitchen floor.

But that was only a first step. All the old doorways and window frames needed replacement. "The new windows are all hand-built in the 18th-century style, and have early glass in them," Charles explained. He found period hardware for the doors and windows, and added working shutters that are so tight they practically create a vacuum seal when closed. He also fitted removable custom storm windows to the inside of the frames, to make this period house more energy-efficient.

Although probably original, the front doors had been cut and fitted with windows, which didn't really work for the house. To improve this look, Charles commissioned new doors and period-style paneled doorways to take the place of the weathered jambs.

When removing the old door frames, they discovered that early on - probably in the 1830's - someone had done a significant renovation to the house. The floor had been raised about nine inches, apparently to make more headroom in the cellar. Although the owner has not been able to trace the house sales back farther than 1857, this renovation dates the house closer to the turn of the century, making it one of the oldest surviving structures in Sergeantsville.

Then, on to the stone walls. It is commonly thought that the raw stone exteriors were exposed, but in reality, unless the builder was using "dressed stone" these walls were considered unsightly rubble, and only the poorest homeowner would refrain from covering them with plaster. Charles decided to at least stucco the front wall to make the house look more appropriate to the period. But in order to please the modern eye, he left the sides of the house exposed.

As one might expect from a 200 year-old roof, the rafters needed to be shored up. Indeed, they were actually splayed from the weight, and Charles decided to remove the roof altogether. Once the old roof was off, the carpenters actually winched the rafters back into place, then added additional rafters that cannot be seen when coming up the steps. He also decided to add a new pent roof to replace the small porch that formerly shaded the two front doors; all that was left of this porch was an oddly-placed cornice above the doors. Both the pent roof and house roof were shingled with cedar shakes, cut thicker than is usually done with today's materials. A molded cornice has been added to the eaves, matching the details of the doorways.

As with many houses from the 19th century, this house has two front doors. There's a very logical reason for this. One door leads into the "keeping room", where the family keeps house. The keeping room contains the large fireplace for cooking, and of course a table and chairs for the family to relax. This is not the room you want to introduce your guests into! So a second door would lead into the living room, which was probably only used for special occasions.

Jersey Winder - or pie-shaped - stairs lead up to the two second-story bedrooms. These stairs are stenciled, as are the floors in the master bedroom and bath. The upstairs hallway still shows the exposed stone wall. The upstairs closet and bathroom doors are finished with faux graining, and you have to touch them to know the difference.

Sergeantsville is located just down the road from Green Sergeant's Bridge, the last surviving covered bridge in New Jersey. The bridge was built around 1750, and it is thought the town was established around 1830. Route 523, which passes through Sergeantsville, was the original Old York Road which linked Trenton to Flemington, then on to New York. This village is located in Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, not far from New Hope PA and just a few miles east of the river.

Mercedes Hayes is a Realtor licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I specialize in Log Homes and Specialty Homes. This house is offered by Weidel Realtors. You can see more information about this charming property at http://www.HunterdonRealtor.com

---

What Makes Fractional Shares Different from Owning Other Kinds of Vacation Properties?

Fractional shares ("fractionals") are sometimes confused with other vacation property... Read More

Estate Planning

Estate planning can enable you to control your property while... Read More

First-time Home Buyers - 100% Home Loans

There is an increasing trend in South Africa that is... Read More

Vegas: The New Frontier

Unless you have been living in Siberia, you know that... Read More

Avoid The Traps Of Finance

Most consumers are told where to get their mortgage because... Read More

Many Ways To Make Money In Real Estate!

Real Estate is a multi-faceted investment arena - there are... Read More

The Value of Foreclosed Property

The discount on a foreclosed property is not as great... Read More

Are You Profiting From O.P.P.?

Are you profiting from O.P.P.? If not, why not? We... Read More

What Should I Do If My Home Isnt Selling?

Suppose you've been trying to sell your home for months.... Read More

Cant Rent a Work Zone

So you've picked up your first (or third, or tenth)... Read More

Strata Title Hotel Investments

Want to know why Strata Title Hotel Investments can be... Read More

Greed Can Cost You Your Shirt!

The proper action when things are going well is to... Read More

Property Investing Secrets 5

Property Investing Secrets:How To Work With Agents And Get What... Read More

An Estate Planning Primer

An estate plan can be designed by clients and their... Read More

Finding, Fixing, Financing, and Flipping - The Short Course

Most people get involved in Real Estate investing to make... Read More

A Simple Step by Step Aproach to Fail Your Way to a Million Dollars

If You want to be Financially Successful you need to... Read More

How to Buy a Home When Your in Your Twenties

A Single's Game of Real Estate (Getting started in your... Read More

How Much is that House in the Window?

With the recent release from the UK's biggest mortgage lender,... Read More

Atlanta Georgia Real Estate - Marietta - East Cobb, Roswell, and Alpharetta

Whether you're a "move up" home buyer, downsizing, or relocating... Read More

Writing on the Wall - Are REITs a Better Investment for You?

When I was a young child I had many annoying... Read More

Timing Clauses Stop Sellers From Inciting Bidding War

It is no secret that the current real estate market... Read More

Invest In Real Estate - But Where?

Where should you invest in real estate? If you know... Read More

Flipping Houses for Gold: Three Tips to Help You Find the Perfect Fixer

Many real estate investors enjoy "flipping houses," or buying and... Read More

Where is Florida Investment Property

Florida Investment Property ? Why Investing is a Wise Decision... Read More

Internet Battleground for Future of Residential Real Estate

Real estate agents are gearing up to face the biggest... Read More

Finding the Right Real Estate Agent:: A Guide for Seniors

When considering buying or selling a home, seniors have a... Read More

Utah Real Estate

Looking to buy real estate in Utah? The market has... Read More

Home Equity Loans ? Beware of Appraisal Fraud

A new report by the independent Demos group has revealed... Read More

Understanding Real Estate Terminology

Purchasing a home can be a complicated and confusing process,... Read More

How to Sell Your House by Lease Options

Many people buy a house then have to move within... Read More

3 Mistakes to Absolutely Avoid in a 1031/TIC Exchange

We've all made bad decisions in the past. Don't you... Read More

So, You Wanna Buy Pre-Foreclosures?

So you wanna buy pre-foreclosures? or at the courthouse steps?... Read More

Property Investing Secrets 4

Property Investing Secrets:How to Sell to 100% of the Market... Read More