Beyond the stone wall

By Teri Borseti, Globe Correspondent, 12/2/2001

ORTH READING - With its 5,400 square feet of living space, its 800-square-foot cherry kitchen, and great overall flow, this is a home for a family that loves to entertain.

The plot on which the house sits was granted to Ebenezer Addison Flint by the king of England in 1632. The huge foot-thick blocks of granite used to build the house were cut from a local quarry.

The original handwritten work order for the house, which dates back to 1831, is framed and hangs on a wall in the house. And the house is still solid.

The listing broker, John McQuaid of Private Properties in North Reading, said: ''There have been a couple of additions over the years. In 1911, a section was added to the second floor and it was used as a ballroom. In 1990, the section that is now the huge kitchen was built. The house has actually gotten better with age.''

The current owners, who have lived in the house for 12 years, are moving out of state.

The house is tucked behind some very old old pine trees and a tall stone wall built in the 1930s. A long driveway offers enough parking for numerous guests. An ornate, two-tier farmer's porch was added by the current owners, McQuaid said.

The front door is protected by an original detailed wrought iron storm door. Inside, a staircase separates two front parlors. In the parlor to the left there's a fireplace, one of seven in the house. Wide-board floors and deep box-style windows with Indian shutters are period-perfect. A double chair rail lines the walls.

The second parlor has a wood stove, a built-in cabinet with original wrought iron hardware, and crown moldings atop the doorways.

Beyond the parlors is a den/office with a fireplace which has an intricately carved mantle. On the opposite side is a full- size dining room with a built-in China cabinet. The fireplace in this room has exposed brick and trim and has been painted Wedgwood blue, giving it a cozy feel.

At the rear of the house is a new 1,000-square-foot kitchen/family room and dining room. One wall is exposed granite, originally the outside of the house. The kitchen area is lined with cherry cabinets and granite counters; the appliances include a subzero refrigerator, commercial gas stove, and an island/breakfast bar that comfortably seats 10.

Vaulted ceilings with skylights rise above the dining area, and there are glass doors with palladium window above that leads to the backyard. One corner of the room has a built-in desk/computer station.

A sunken family room is at the far end of the addition in a section that was originally a barn. This room has a tiled floor, skylights, and a gas log fireplace.

On the second floor there are three bedrooms and a 540-square-foot master suite in the area formerly used as a ballroom. The room is large enough for both bedroom and den furniture and has a full-size grand piano, which McQuaid said will remain with the property. The room has a gas log fireplace and double and triple windows on three sides. The master bath has a clawfoot tub and ''his and hers'' pedestal sinks. A pocket door in the hall leads to a huge walk-in closet.

There are fireplaces in all the other bedrooms. Two of them have bay windows with wide sills. There's also a tiled full bath off the hallway.

A large walk-up attic has a couple of semifinished rooms.

Outside, a large three-season porch overlooks an in-ground pool and large, flat backyard. An octagonal building, part of the original property, was moved and now serves as the pool house.

''The house has everything, and the price is right. Considerably smaller new construction in this area starts in the $800,000s,'' McQuaid said.

This story ran on page H1 of the Boston Globe on 12/2/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.