This house was built by a Pilgrim before our nation was founded.
A Massachusetts property that numbers among the oldest still-standing homes in America has listed for sale, asking $800,000. It’s believed to be the oldest US residence currently on the market.
(As for the oldest still-standing home, the Fairbanks House, also in Massachusetts, was built circa 1637 and is considered the oldest timber frame house in North America.)
Known as the Stephen Bryant House, this listed structure was built in the first period timber framed style in Plympton, Massachusetts’ historic Harrub’s corner district around 1669, back when the area was an English settlement.
The abode “is one of Plympton’s oldest and most preserved 17th century homes,” real estate agent Jen Macdonald of Full Circle Homes, who holds the listing, wrote in an Instagram post of the 125 County Road address. She goes on to detail that the structure was built “as a half house” before being “expanded to its present five-bay by Dr. Caleb Loring in 1703.”
Its present owners have meticulously restored and maintained the home for the past 31 years, and today it offers three working fireplaces, wide-plank pine floors, custom wainscoting, exposed hand hewn beams and “new but to period” leaded diamond glass windows.
In all, the home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms spread over 2,503 square feet and two stories, plus a walk-up attic.
In addition to the defining historic features, there are also modern amenities including a washer/dryer, a full house generator, forced hot air heat, updated electrical and a “brand new” oil tank.
The main house is set on a 2-acre homestead lined with rock walls. The grounds also contain a detached one-car garage, herb gardens and a chicken coop.
The property is set to be featured on the new HGTV show “Zillow Gone Wild,” born of the eponymous viral real estate listings account.