150 years of charm
Brighton Heights farmhouse boasts 1860s mantels, glass doorknobs
George Hamscher built this barn red farmhouse in the 1860s. John and Mary Kraus, who bought it in 1966, raised six children here. And yet the five-bedroom, two-bath home at 3621 Elmhurst Ave. in Brighton Heights retains much of its original charm.
Mary Ann Cercone has owned the house since her mother, Mrs. Kraus, passed away in April, 15 years after her husband. Now it is on the market for $170,000 ( MLS No. 1282985) with Lisa Elliott of Northwood Realty (412-3673200 or www.northwood.com). There will be an open house from noon-3 p.m. Sunday.
Maps in the digital archives from the Sen. John Heinz History Center show Mr. Hamscher owned all of the land on Elmhurst Avenue in the 1800s. He was a farmer and gardener and may have come to Pittsburgh to care for the grounds at Dixmont State Hospital. Other records show that the land was sold off as lots around 1900. The Hamschers kept their double lot into the 1940s, selling it to one other owner before it was sold to the Krauses.
A lovely front porch with crisp white railings welcomes visitors. Inside, high ceilings and large rooms with lots of built-ins have remained unchanged. The 17-by-7-foot entry features its original carved handrail, a crystal chandelier and white wainscoting.
The 16-by-13-foot living room to the left of the center hall has its original decorative fireplace mantel with mirror. Neutral carpeting and crown molding create a simple vignette. A pair of windows let in lots of light.
To the right, the 17-by-14-foot dining room has a Tiffany-style pendant and paneling that is not original to the house, according to Mrs. Cercone.
“I remember a mantel in every room. There might be one in my parents’ room as well.”
The 15-by-14-foot kitchen accesses two staircases, as was common in those days. It has a simple layout and plain, white cabinetry.
At one time, five branches of the Kraus family lived on the block paved with Ligonier stone. The only major addition was a first-floor apartment on the rear left of the building for Mr. Kraus’ mother. It is plumbed for a kitchen. As Mrs. Cercone’s mother aged, she lived mostly in this space.
At the top of the back staircase is an 8-by-5-foot laundry room. “It used to be a bath. It had a clawfoot tub set at an angle in the corner.” With six kids to bathe, It was certainly well-used.
The apartment’s two bedrooms measure 11 by 10 feet and 10 by 8 feet. Upstairs are three more bedrooms that face the front of the house.
All of the original glass doorknobs are intact, as is the hardware. Some of the windows have been replaced, but they have mullions like the originals. Two bedrooms measure 16 by 13 feet and the third is 10 by 8 feet. Although there is carpeting, Mrs. Cercone remembers wide plank flooring underneath, most likely pine.
The backyard is a gardener’s paradise.
“My mother loved working in the yard,” she said. “She was in the garden every single day. It was her hobby.”
The yard is filled with blooms in three seasons. The soil is especially rich, probably due to the fact that it was a farm and has been constantly amended and tended for more than 150 years.
“My mom would be out there when it was 95 degrees. She knew her stuff and grew calla lilies, hydrangea, primrose and white petunias. She just loved flowers.”
Even now, the charming red shed is surrounded by various blooming beds, as is the large deck.
The property’s Allegheny County assessed value is $101,900 (www2.county.allegheny. Search.aspx). Over the last three years, one house has soldon Elmhurst Avenue for $ 61,500 in March 2014 (www.realstats.net).
Mrs. Cercone says the close-knit neighborhood that she remembers is getting even better, with more young families moving in and fixing up houses. There is a Giant Eagle grocery store and several small business districts along California and Brighton roads.
“And well, Tom Friday is just the best butcher,” she said.