New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Antique Cheshire home with inviting porch and in-ground pool
The charm of this antique may have attracted sellers Christine and Peter Radasch when they purchased it, but its selling feature is the screened-in porch. “The screened-in porch should probably sell the house,” Peter Radasch said. “It’s that nice.” Radasch, who purchased the home in 2008, said the porch was his family’s favorite room and where they would eat and entertain.
The home was built in 1916 by a Mr. Close, who – according to handwritten notes on the back of an old black and white photo of the house – owned a business in Waterbury and had four sons and one daughter. Close’s daughter had the first bedroom on the left on the second floor, where she would sit in the window seat watching the sun set or gazing at cows in a nearby field. Decades after her parents sold the house, she visited twice when she was in the area – in 1982 and 1999.
In 1977, Close’s son, Frank Close, visited with his son, John Close; and in 1991, a foster daughter of the Closes stopped by. The tasteful, inviting living room is to the left of the foyer and has a fireplace flanked by builtin shelves, where Radasch displayed his bottle collection and some of the family’s favorite art. The Radasches spent countless hours in the room, warmed by the fire while playing Scrabble and Catan.
At the end of the long room is a dining area, where the family held holiday feasts. On the other side of the foyer is the breakfast room. The kitchen has a center island with barstools and flows to the screened-in porch, which is also accessible from the den/ family room. The firstfloor prime suite has French doors to a comfortable
Address: 25 Ridgeview Place, Cheshire
Price: $639,888
Rooms: 11
Features: This is a rare opportunity to own one of Cheshire's most gracious homes. The antique home features original hardwood floors, crown moldings, period hardware, beautiful trim, and built-in bookcases. The living room has a fireplace with built-in shelves on both sides. The gourmet kitchen has granite counters. The first-floor prime bedroom suite has a bath with a marble shower and two sinks. The home offers two charming porches and an in-ground gunite pool. This fabulous property is the perfect spot to host amazing summer soirées.
Schools: Doolittle School, Dodd Middle School, Cheshire High School
Agent: office, where Radasch has spent a lot of time working from home. The prime bath has a marble shower and two sinks. Toward the back of the kitchen is a mud room that accesses the garage. Off the mud room and also accessible from the prime bathroom is a hot tub. There’s an old-fashioned wraparound porch, where the Radasches occasionally have coffee or tea.
Upstairs, two bedrooms, which were the Radasches’ daughters, face the front of the house and share a bath. Known for having the most comfortable bed in the house, the guest room – with built-ins – was sought after by visitors and the Radasches’ daughters alike. Upstairs, there is also a den – or additional bedroom – where the kids hung out watching television.
The basement has a substantial finished room with a mirrored wall, where Radasches’ daughters practiced dance. “If I had to do it over again, I would put a pool table in there,” Radasch said. The backyard contains an in-ground gunite pool, gardens, and a nice lawn. Radasch said some of his best memories of the pool took place at his youngest daughter’s graduation party. People celebrating meandered through tents set up on the property, splashed in the pool, and ate from spreads set up in various spots.
While Radasch said he is not a fan of entertaining, he could not deny that the house, with rooms flowing easily from one to the other, was made for it. He said when he has hosted gatherings, 30 people could comfortably move through the rooms, snack on spreads on the porch or beside the pool, or enjoy a buffet in the kitchen or breakfast room. “This house was tailor made for that,” he said.
Now that his daughters have grown up, Radasch and his wife are downsizing and retiring. He said he would most miss the living stage his family was in when they lived in the home.