HIGHLIGHT
A 1916 Colonial has views of Washington, Pa., and a nearly $570,000 price tag
Bonnie and Ken Haines have spent only three years in their home at 25 Redstone Lane in Washington, Pa., but they have built a lifetime of memories. “We fell in love with it the first time we saw it,” he said. Built in 1916, the Colonial has six bedrooms, three full bathrooms, two powder rooms and 6,000 square feet of living space. It sits on 4.9 fenced acres and has a gated drive and in -ground swimming pool. Just two miles from the I-79 exit, the house was built on a hilltop overlooking the city of Washington with beautiful views on all sides. There is also a two-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot carriage house.
The property has been listed for $569,900 (MLS No. 1420984) with Skyler and Brenda Deems of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (www.thepreferredrealty. com or 724-825-8670.) There is a virtual tour online and the home is open by appointment in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.
Mr. Haines noted that the property is dotted with mature trees and that the pool, built by a previous owner, is spectacular at night. “They had the pool brought in in one piece and lowered in by a crane.” Swimmers can see the tops of buildings in downtown Washington from poolside, he said.
The entrance gate leads to a governor’s drive and terrace where visitors sometimes congregate.
“The entire property is gated, so deer cannot get in,” Mr. Haines said. “But when the gates are open, a small herd walks right up and rests there. We have two fox dens. We see the pups every spring.”
The home’s original cedar siding is naturally pest-resistant. There are new metal roofs on the main house, carriage house and a small barn. A portico shelters a side entrance used to unload passengers and groceries.
The 9-by-6-foot entry leads to the main hallway with an original turned staircase, a paneled wall and toile wallcovering in an earthy green and cream. Hardwood floors and 9½foot ceilings run throughout the first floor, highlighting arched doorways and detailed molding.
The 22-by-21-foot formal living room has a brick fireplace, and the 19-by-16-foot dining room has a beamed ceiling, a long window seat with room for six, and a ceiling painted with cherubs.
“The dining room had a lot of murals on the walls,” Mr. Haines said. “I got to keep the cherubs on the ceiling, but the ones on the wall we painted over.”
The large kitchen has been updated with black granite counter tops and a bank of windows. In addition to a commercialgrade six-burner gas cooktop, there are double ovens and a second separate electric cooktop. The space opens to a 36-by-19-foot family room with a coffered ceiling and a pool table. A little corner nook has seating on three sides and is set up for chess.
The second floor contains four bedrooms, including a 19by-15-foot master. The other three bedrooms range in size from 16 by 14 feet to 17 by 14 feet. The master and another bedroom have ensuite baths, and there is a third full bath in the hallway. The bedrooms have lots of period details
including paneled doors, original 10-inch baseboards and window seats. The third floor has a bonus room and a full bathroom.
The house has a unique double-walled foundation.
“The man who built the home was an engineer, from what I understand,” Mr. Haines said. “There is an internal foundation wall that is 10 inches thick and a second exterior foundation wall that is just as thick. There is no moisture whatsoever in this house.”
The home has radiators and boiler heat that is backed up by a forced-air system. “The home gets very warm. We do not have to use the backup system,” he said.
It also has a whole house fan that vents air through a cupola on the roof.
“It is so powerful that we have to prop the doors open in the summer or they will be pulled shut,” Mr. Haines said.
A downstairs room air conditioner is needed only during a few weeks in the summer because the house has excellent crossventilation, he said.
The carriage house, originally used as stables, has two living areas, two bedrooms and room for three vehicles. Mr. Haines believes the home was once owned by sculptor Alan Cottrill, who used the carriage house as a studio.
The owners said they are selling because their five children are leaving home. “The kids are off to school and their lives, so we decided to downsize and play,” Mr. Haines said.
The house has comfortably held up to 150 guests for a graduation party.
“The No. 1 most favorite thing to do is sit out on the large covered porch and see the city lights at night,” Mr. Haines said. “This house is a welcoming house. It was filled with several families with lots of kids, including ours. It’s a good place to just raise kids and enjoy family time.”