Thornburg’s Cobblestone House has character to spare
When Dick and Mavoureen Sullivan moved here from New York decades ago, their first home was in newly built Pennsbury Village. As their family grew, they moved over the hill to Cornell Road in Thornburg.
When the house across the street at 1137 Cornell became available, they jumped at the chance to live there.
“Most of the people in Thornburg house hop,” said Mrs. Sullivan. “We were friends with the people that lived there. They were great party people.”
The couple, only the fourth owners, are retiring and have put the house on the market for $549,900 (MLS No. 1315814) with Lu Ryan of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services (www.howardhanna.com or 412-276-5000 ext. 203). It is open by appointment.
The house, which is part of the Thornburg Historic District, is referred to as the Cobblestone House for its distinctive cobblestone siding. The Shingle style house has lots of Craftsman, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival details.
It was built in 1900 as a spec house by Frank Thornburg, Ms. Sullivan said. She said it was so unique that it didn’t sell at first and was used as a community center.
“It is very open, with lots of glass .... They used to have the annual Christmas dance here.”
The house is on a corner lot and has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms and two powder rooms. A welcoming porch wraps around the front and one side. At the front entrance, visitors find a threepanel oak door and an 11-by-8-foot entry with one of the few non-original light fixtures in the home. It came from the Pittsburgh Athletic Club in Oakland.
“They were doing work there and we were able to purchase it,” Ms. Sullivan said.
It casts a warm glow on the unique plaster-cast tray ceiling. All of the hardwood floors have recently been refinished in a warm, walnut stain.
To the left, a pocket door opens to reveal the 19-by-14-foot formal dining room. On the far end, a wall of windows has mahogany valances. There is also a window seat and one of several one-of-a-kind fireplaces with green tile on the surround and hearth.