CLAYSVILLE’S PAINTED LADY
1870s Montgomery House B&B priced at $475,000
You will find fabulous Victorians in many of Pennsylvania’s small towns, but it is hard to find one as exquisite as Montgomery House in Claysville.
She is an elegant painted lady, a term first used in the book “Painted Ladies: San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians,” by Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen. All the elaborate details of the house are highlighted in shades of green, gray and purple, giving definition to the amazing architectural decorations.
Grace B. Montgomery, whose family owned the property for most of the 20th century, nominated 1274 W. State Route 40 for historical designation as an example of the Second Empire style in 1974. According to her application, lumber mill owner Robert Porter spent two years working on the intricate woodwork of his new home in the 1870s.
The house’s storied history includes a dramatic turn in the five-part horror film anthology “10/31” in 2017. As of late, it has been operating as a bed and breakfast, hosting clientele from across the globe.
A change of life circumstances for owner Butch Smith has landed the 3½-story house on the market for $475,000 (MLS No.1623523) with Aaron Hirak and Juli Barbara of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (www.thepreferredrealty.com, 724-255-0102 and 412-848-7365).
Smith purchased the house via a circuitous route. He and his wife, who was a real estate agent, were out looking at properties for friends interested in starting a B&B. They saw Montgomery House and loved it. When their friends weren’t interested, they put in a bid, which was accepted. Suddenly, they were innkeepers.
“We started it without knowing what we were doing — a little bit of a challenge not knowing what to do,” said Smith with a laugh. But that didn’t stop them from creating a successful business with great reviews.
If ever there was a house meant to be an inn, this is it. Montgomery House has the character and history to charm any weary traveler. Plus, as Smith pointed out, it is located close to the junction of I-70 and I-79, with two
casinos, restaurants and shopping in the city of Washington, an 18-minute drive northeast on state Route 40.
The house, stunning on the outside, is a charming step back in time on the inside, while boasting all the modern conveniences.
Of course, it’s not for those who enjoy minimalism. This is a showcase of an era that relished rich colors and an abundanceof patterns.
The front hall is just a taste of what’s to come with its intricately patterned wallpaper. The original woodwork is everywhere you turn — deep rich tones from the staircase banister and newel post, to the transoms above the doors, to the hardwood flooring.
Many of the Victorian touches came from the previous owners, Kathleen and Terrence McAuliffe, who were adamant about the wallpaper.
“Mr. McAuliffe was hard to please as far as colors,” Smith said. “He would tell his wife what he wanted and she would go out and find it.”
The house, which passed from the Montgomery family to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh for use by its next-door neighbor, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, was in a bad state when the McAuliffes purchased it in 1987. It came close to the wrecking ball, but was saved by its historical designation.
That’s when the couple started their restoration journey. Then, in early 2005, the Smiths purchased the home, taking on the responsibility of maintaining a part of history.
The front parlor features a bay window looking out over the front porch and a fireplace with an intricate wood mantel topped by a mirror.
The first-floor family room is more sedate, but still boasts a handsome fireplace and more original wood flooring and tall windows.
The kitchen is not original to the house; it came as an addition where the original back porch was located. While the kitchen is not modern per se, the cabinetry is solid wood and of high quality. The walls have the same faux painting found in several upstairs bathrooms.
“All the cabinets in the kitchen were custom-made. They had a woodworker on staff,” explained Smith.
He and his wife updated various aspects of the home, and added a new refrigerator, dishwasher and stove.
At 32 by 12 feet, the kitchen is spacious and includes a small dining area to the one end and a granite breakfast bar.
There is a formal dining room that hearkens back to the more decorative Victorian style with built-in cabinets, a wood fireplace and stained-glass windows. Here, the windows’ design is simpler than a large, detailed panel on the second-floor landing and an intricate windowon the second floor.
There are five bedrooms, all with Victorian character of their own.
The second floor contains three full bathrooms. A large soaking tub is the star of the master suite bathroom, which also features faux painting by a local artist, golden marble and a blue sky with fluffy clouds on the ceiling.
Another bathroom has an open circular shower with knobs sending water spraying in different directions.
“Navy SEAL shower of torture is what people staying here have said,” Smith said with a laugh. “It takes you about three showers to figure out how to survive it.”
Over the years, the couple have entertained people from around the world, including a family from New Zealand. Many were weekend visitors from Pittsburgh — close enough to get home for emergencies while providing a truly unique experience.
There was also this couple from Tennessee.
“We had a couple from Nashville with us who had to hurry to get home after a few days. I asked why and they said they had a pet. Then I asked, ‘What?’ They said, ‘a camel!,’ ” Smith recalled.
“And then there was the judge advocate of the Army.
He gave my wife a medal for good service.”
Smith enjoyed the experience of bringing people together around the breakfast table and encouraging conversation. He found that many people you would think had nothing in common did. He liked to chat with guests as they arrived, finding interests that might be shared.
If a buyer is interested in purchasing the house to start up a B&B, Smith is happy to share his knowledge and experience. And most of the furniture is available for purchase. The one exception is the dining room table and chairs; his wife wants their daughter to have them.
The property includes a carriage house with a fourcar garage and a two-bedroom apartment at the end of the driveway. The annual taxes are $3,354.