The Chaffinch House occupies a grand spot in the history of Easton, Maryland. The restored Queen Anne Victorian is one of some half-dozen to still exist in the downtown historic core and a crowning example of the fanciful style that was popular in the late 1800s.
Listed as a contributing structure to the Easton Historic District by Maryland’s National Register Properties, the elaborate house was built by William P. Chaffinch sometime after 1894 and is a showplace of architectural creativity.
When the current owners bought the place, says Martha Suss of Long & Foster Real Estate, “the house was in a very rough shape.” Over the years, it had been converted to apartments, a bed-and-breakfast and back to a single-family residence before eventually going into foreclosure.
There were five layers of roofing, no functioning air-conditioning, a gutted kitchen and gaping holes in the plaster walls, she says. “Squirrels were running through the house.”
Working with approval from the Easton Historic District Commission and in partnership with Maryland Historical Trust, the couple restored the house to its original purpose as a grand family home. Today, it displays preserved period features while functioning for contemporary living.
The Queen of Easton, as it is often called, sits on a corner lot and is topped by a tower with a steep witch’s hat roof. Irregularly placed gables are adorned with scalloped siding. A deep porch fronts the intersecting streets.
The turnkey house takes full advantage of outdoor living space with a corner lounge and screened-in dining porch. Another porch sits off the back of the house, where antique brick paths lead through gardens and deodar cedars to a Williamsburg fountain and the detached garage.
Inside, rich woodwork fills the foyer, which opens to a formal living room with a gas fireplace. The dining room, which can seat 12, connects to the modernized kitchen with a marble-topped island, bar and breakfast nook. The nearby laundry room doubles as a butler’s pantry.
A carved oak staircase leads to the second-floor bedrooms, one of which features a Victorian-era keyhole window. There are three bedrooms on this floor, including a primary suite with a sitting room, sleeping porch, wood-burning fireplace and second porch with a sauna. The third floor has two more bedrooms.
Throughout the nearly 4,000 square feet of living space are five full bathrooms and a powder room. The asking price for 132 South Harrison Street is $2.25 million.
Suss sees the home as appealing to a wide range of potential buyers. The current owners work from home and have used the residence for hosting events and overnight guests.
“This home is an ideal setup for a family of four, with parents who telework,” she says. “Elementary, middle and high schools are all walkable.”