Homeland house offers history

Modern conveniences, series of additions don’t hurt home’s integrity

Much of the housing in North Baltimore’s Homeland neighborhood dates to the 1920s, when the area was developed by the Roland Park Co.. But among those structures is 121 Upnor Road, a house originally built in the 18th century that affords modern conveniences and Old World style, which is now on the market for $825,000.

The house, the oldest in Homeland, was built in the 1790s and served as a cottage for the caretaker of a grand estate, The original structure features unusually spacious rooms, and the additions that have been made over the years since have maintained the integrity of the original design.

With over 3,300 square feet of living space, this two story, three-bedroom, two-bath house, with two powder rooms, has a master suite downstairs that was added in the 1940s. There are updated features such as a walk-in closet, heated bathroom floors, ceramic tile and a steam shower.

“The rooms are very generous,” said Carol Gould, listing agent for Coldwell Banker. “You can read a lot about the stature of people back then” by the size of the rooms and property. “The caretaker had a very important job.”

The house has the original randomwidth heart pine floors throughout. The same style of floor was included when the current owners added an elegant 1½-story family room to the house in 2015, and the abundance of sunlight from the north and south sides gives the home a cheery feel.

Of particular interest are amenities such as five sets of French doors leading to the outside, six original, working 18th-century wood-burning fireplaces, ceramic tile, crown molding, built-in bookcases and transom windows.

The cozy kitchen has open shelving, a ceramic French farm sink, granite countertops, a red brick floor, and stainless-steel appliances.

A laundry room can be found in the well-lit, sunny basement, which is accessed by the original wooden spiral staircase. Another wood-burning fireplace is found here. This space is currently used as an exercise room but has the potential to become another family room or a children’s play area.

Those interested in history will likely be impressed by the upstairs hallway lantern, which once belonged to the original manor estate, and a restored Baltimore gas street lamp that has been electrified and is used outside.

The outside patio and deck provide access to the property’s many mature trees and natural landscaping.

“It’s a beautiful combination of history in its finest — with all the convenience and amenities of a 21st-century home in extraordinary settings,” Gould said.