One of my interests is cartography and after my move to the Eastern Shore, I was intrigued when I learned from my primary reference book for St. Michaels that only a few of Maryland’s eighteenth century town plans were laid out by an individual land speculator as  St. Michaels’s plan was.  James Braddock was an agent employed by the firm Gildart and Gaywith of Liverpool, England, and he had been trading in Talbot County since 1714. Braddock began to act independently and over time accumulated property near Christ’s Church. In only four years, his holdings totaled two hundred acres and Braddock turned out to be an imaginative urban planner. Rejecting the 18th century’s conventional town planning grid system, Braddock instead arranged thirty six lots around a central square, which later became known as St. Mary’s Square. Its boundaries were Market Street (now Talbot St.), Mulberry, Chestnut and Water St. Today’s feature is located on one of these original streets. 

The house is sited slightly above the Town’s brick sidewalk that seamlessly blends into the brick driveway for off -street parking. The tall row of hollies behind low ivy provides privacy from the neighboring house. I admired the house’s massing with front and side gables and a wrap-around porch, surrounded by rows of  nandina with red berries behind a row of liriope that provides privacy from the street.

Before I walked up the front steps, I paused to admire the front elevation’s arrangement of the front door and surrounding windows. Instead of a typical three-bay house, the middle windows on both the first and second floors are outliers for both their asymmetrical horizontal and vertical alignments below the centered attic window. Coupled with the eclectic mix of design elements of several architectural styles and the classic white façade with contrasting shutters, this house has a unique charm. The very deep front porch is a delightful outdoor room with wicker chairs for relaxing with family and friends.

The solid wood fence at the end of the drive is the boundary between public and private space. From the gate, the light colored gravel hardscape connects the screened porch with the accessory structure at the rear of the property. The seamless gable roofed addition includes a family room on the first floor and the primary bedroom on the second floor.

The accessory structure, fully finished, offers myriad uses-office, artist studio, teen hang-out, etc. From the Adirondack chairs, one can appreciate the verdant oasis of lawn and mature landscaping with privacy from both wood fencing and the trees. The view of the rear elevation in the background shows the gable of the original part of the house with the gable and shed roofed additions in the foreground.

The front door opens into a foyer with a direct vista through the house and the screened porch. The location of the stairs on the exterior wall maximizes the floor plan. The earth tones from the beautiful wood floors, stair newel post and balustrade and the period pendant fixture are reminders of another era. The side window brings sunlight into the hall and selecting the same color for the  wall and trim expands the space.  

Seeing the front room off the foyer with the fireplace fitted for gas, I understood the placement of the windows that creates a natural spot for the sofa directly across from the fireplace and space for artwork above the sofa. If this room became a bedroom, the wall could accommodate a high headboard. Sunlight filters inside through the wooden blinds and the French door leads to the side of the wrap-around porch for great indoor-outdoor flow.  Built-in millwork holds books, memorabilia and family photos.

At the end of the stair hall is the dining room, with two large windows for sunlight and built-in millwork for display of serving pieces. The round wood table and mix of wood chairs with cushions over rattan and upholstered chairs is conducive to lingering after dinner for conversation. The light wall color accented by the white chair rail and crown molding compliments the wood floors.

The living room is connected to both the dining and family rooms. The wood-burning fireplace and wood surround is flanked with wide and long windows and the side wall has built-in backlit millwork. Like the dining room, wood cornices offer the option for the addition of drapery. The door leads to a full bath but the bath could be rearranged so the door could open into the front room to create a first floor ensuite if needed.  

From the living room, a wide wall opening detailed with pilasters and layers of molding leads to the family room at the end of the house for a quiet space in which to relax at the end of the day for TV watching.

With its two side windows and a double-unit window overlooking the rear landscaping, this sunny and spacious family room accommodates both family or guests. The focal point of the room is the wide window seat below the double-unit window flanked by the full height built-in millwork. The soft colors and the subtle rug pattern create a restful pace for binge watching TV.

The kitchen’s sloped ceiling has skylights for added daylight and moonlight. The beautiful wood floors and the craftsmanship in the mix of wood species and color in the cabinets and the wood ceiling creates a unique look. The French door leads to the adjacent screened porch and windows that open into the porch for views of the landscape beyond.

Screened porches and sunrooms are two of my fave types of rooms and this screened porch gets high marks for its sloped ceiling finished with white wood and skylights that create patterns across the brick floor throughout the day as the sun passes over. The porch’s large size has ample room for both dining and sitting areas and is a perfect space for entertaining or small dinner parties. 

The stairs to the second floor pass the two front bedrooms and ends at this sitting room between the primary bedroom and the front bedrooms. The millwork full of books, the gas fireplace, a desk for checking emails or homework, a rattan chaise for settling in with a good book or reading a story to a wee one before bed creates a delightful space.  

From the sitting room, double door open into the sumptuous primary bedroom located at the rear corner of the house overlooking the landscaping. The light wall colors, beautiful wood pieces and light blue bed linens create a serene space for sleep. As a bibliophile, I appreciated the pair of sconces attached to the built-in millwork on either side of the bed that are the perfect height for reading. 

The primary bath has a shower and the hall bath serving the other two bedrooms has a soaking tub. I admired the hall bath’s wood floors and the white wainscot instead of tile and how the sea scape artwork adds perspective to the wall.  

The larger of the two guest bedrooms is located at the front corner of the house and has windows on two walls for sunlight throughout the day. The soft colors accented by the paisley bedspread creates a restful retreat.

My home office is an accessory structure on my property and I like separating work from home life. This stylish office would please anyone working from home with bright white walls and a seating area for breaks from computer work. Above the sofa are built-in shelves for storage.

I could easily imagine writing my Spy articles at this desk, surrounded by windows and the glass entry door. The stylish track light fixture offers both ambient and task lighting.  

This charming historic home in the earliest part of St. Michaels’ Historic District with its appealing traditional architecture, high ceilings, hardwood floors, and original architectural details that have been meticulously maintained offers timeless elegance of an earlier era with updates for today’s lifestyle. Easy flow between the main floor rooms and the spacious outdoor rooms of the front wrap-around porch and the rear screened porch overlooking the landscaped fenced yard expand your everyday living and entertaining space. The “bonus” room is the front main floor room that was probably the original parlor; minor reconfiguration of the full bath behind it could create a main floor ensuite. Other “bonus” spaces are the accessory structure that is finished as an office and the attic accessed by a stair for storage.

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For more information about this property, contact Monica Penwell, Realtor with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-745-2596 (o), 410- 310-0225 (c), or [email protected] . For more pictures and pricing, visit monicapenwell.sothebysrealty.com “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Eve Fishell, Chesapeake Pro Photo LLC, 443-786-8025, www.chesapeakeprophoto.com, [email protected]

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

“Sol y Sombra”, (sun and shade) is aptly named for this unique property has just enough trees to shade the house in the summer and in the other months sunlight streams through many large windows, including bay window walls. The site’s 4.8 acres offers peace and privacy along Barrett Cove, off Edge Creek that leads to the Choptank River. The 500 linear feet of riprapped shoreline includes a deep water dock with an electric boat lift as well as a kayak launch. The property contains a main house and a guest house and both offer one-level living for a multi-generational compound or for extended stays by family members. 

The house’s footprint is set high above and parallel to the water which gives it the added advantage of being slightly angled to the road for privacy. The cottage-style architecture mixes gabled and hipped roofs and hints of French design elements in the arched doorway and dormer. The house was built in 2004 by the current owners and has been meticulously maintained. The owners happen to be treasured friends of mine and on the day of my visit for The Spy, the white brick façade stood out from the tall trees festooned with their golden leaves of fall. 

The main house is surrounded by water on two sides, and the rear elevation reaches out to the water with bay-wall projections containing wide and tall windows at each corner of the house. Between the bays is a covered porch, accessed by both the living room and the family room. Brick steps lead down from the covered porch to a brick terrace for unobstructed panoramic southeast water views. Before I went inside, I relaxed on the terrace and marveled that across the expanse of water, only one house was visible.   

Walking out to the dock, I appreciated the sloped riprapped shoreline and the house’s setting in a cluster of tall deciduous and evergreen trees that do not obstruct the water views from inside the house. To the left of the main house, the guest house is angled away from the main house for privacy.  

The pair of French doors with a half-moon transom in the recessed front porch opens into the spacious foyer with its very high ceiling and gleaming white oak floors that flow throughout the main rooms.  The foyer blends into the hall that connects the bedroom wing from the main living areas. Slender white columns are spaced along the high wall that separates the foyer/hall from the living room. 

Just as I did  the first time I saw this room; my eye was immediately drawn to the niches in the chimney wall of the gas fireplace that display an artful arrangement of backlit pottery. I was also again enchanted by the crafts, wall hangings and art that reflects the wife’s upbringing in South America that give this house its unique personality.

The vista from the front door through the living room’s wall of sliding doors to the porch and to the lawn and water beyond is hard to resist.  At the side wall, other slender white columns define the edge of the adjacent dining room. The focal point of the dining room is the built-in millwork containing more enchanting artifacts from South America.  

The dining room table is centered on a wide double unit window for views through the porch to the lawn and water. If one preferred a larger living room, the perhaps decorative columns could be removed and the living room would double in size.  Seating could then be grouped around the fireplace and another seating group around the built-in millwork full of books would please this bibliophile very much. I could well imagine two loveseats flanking the fireplace and another sofa facing the dining room window with ottomans for putting one’s feet up for an afternoon of reading.

On the day of my being a hostess for an open house, during breaks I relished the serene water view from the rear covered porch. The living room’s sliding doors to the porch divide the porch into two areas for relaxation. As the sun angle changed, I moved down to the brick terrace that was bathed in sunlight. 

I returned to the house by the door that leads to the open plan family-breakfast-kitchen area. The family room has always been my fave room for its combination of the bay wall’s tall and wide windows with the side windows that offer panoramic water views. This spacious room is ideal for entertaining or for relaxing with family and friends. 

The ceiling plane from the family room to the office area, breakfast area and kitchen changes from the segmented roof line of the family room’s bay wall to a flat ceiling over the other areas. The breakfast and office areas could be combined to create a dining area and the table would be centered on the wide double unit window at the side wall. 

The custom kitchen design has corner-angled base cabinets with the sink cabinet below the windows for landscape and water views. I usually prefer upper cabinets to end below the ceiling but with the high ceiling, my friends’ display of colorful ceramics parades above the upper cabinets. There is also a walk-in pantry for additional storage.

The hall between the kitchen and the foyer contains this well-stocked bar set into the wall next to the door to the dining room. Its location is easily accessible from the kitchen, family room, dining room and living room. As the Weekend  Wine Woman at Piazza, I was happy to see several bottles from Piazza in the wine rack! Opposite the bar is the powder room and utility/laundry room with the latter having a door to the oversized double-car garage.

I continued my tour by crossing the foyer part of the hall to reach the bedroom wing. Another short hall with a linen closet leads to this waterside primary suite. The ceiling plane has a perimeter soffit for HVAC and then becomes a tray ceiling from the segments of the bay wall. I loved the artful and slim iron bedframe whose transparency doesn’t compete spatially with the room’s volume and the deep blue wall color creates a restful space. 

A pair of double doors leads to the primary bath from the primary bedroom.  The corner jet tub below a wide picture window with an up/down pleated shade privacy when needed. The mirrored walls above the separate lavatory cabinets enlarge the space and the heated tile floors are a plus now that winter is fast approaching. There is also a toilet compartment and a separate shower. The large walk-in closet completes the primary suite.

There are two other guest bedrooms that share a “Jack and Jill” bath. This bedroom at the front of the house has an alcove created by the box bay window with a picture plane between operable units and transoms above. The focal point of this room is the colorful wall hanging above the bed instead of a headboard.

This guest bedroom/office has two windows overlooking the lawn to the guest house and the blue and yellow color scheme is restful. Any guest would appreciate the ergonomic chair and computer table for checking emails before turning in for the night. The adjacent bath is compartmentalized which makes sharing easy when there are guests in both bedrooms.

Shortly after my friends bought the property and built their main house, they added this two-bedroom, two bath modular home for a guest house. The guest house is a plus for three-generation living or as accommodations for extended stays of family or friends during the summers or holidays.

The spacious guest house family room accommodates two sitting areas and the rear windows have landscape and water views.

The eat-in kitchen easily accommodates a table that could be expanded as needed for special occasions. The side door leads to the laundry and an exterior door. From the sliding door, steps lead down to the lawn and to the water. 

When the open house ended, I relaxed in one of the Adirondack chairs near the large willow tree and admired the serene, long view across the water as I basked in the late afternoon sunlight before heading home. 

“Sol y Sombra” offers a rare opportunity to own a large waterfront property with both a main house and guest house, very close proximity to St. Michaels’s many amenities, without having to drive through the Town during the peak summer months as I must. One-level living for aging in place, great indoor-outdoor flow to the outdoor rooms of the rear covered porch and the brick terrace, a pier and kayak launch for warm weather afternoons on the water, meticulously maintained houses and grounds-wonderful property!

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For more information about this property, contact Cliff Meredith, Broker, with Meredith Fine Properties at 410-822-6272 (o), 410-924-0082 (c), or [email protected] . For more photographs and pricing, visit www.MeredithFineProperties.com ,“Equal Housing Opportunity.” 

Photography by-Townsend Visuals, www.townsendvisuals.com, (443) 279-8309

Construction by Warrington Builders, (410) 820-9371

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

 

This one-of-a-kind property in Royal Oak has it all-145 acres of peace and privacy with a long view of Fox Hole Creek leading to the Tred Avon River. The paved driveway first passes through a verdant landscape with broad vistas to ponds, fields and pastures defined by white fences, then disappears under a  canopy of mature sawtooth oaks, to finally curve around the Colonial style main house.  Opposite the house, a low stone wall encloses a water feature and landscaping on axis with the front door and mature trees focus one’s view on the front façade.  

Before going in for my tour of the house, I walked around the grounds and admired how the rear elevation of the house has unobstructed views of the water from both the main floor’s elevated brick terrace that spans the full length of the house and the deck at the second floor. Brick steps cascade down from the terrace to the lawn, the small boathouse and pier opposite the pool area.  Next to the pool area is a two-bedroom guest house for extended stays.

 

From the main two-and-a-half-story wing, the house telescopes down to one-and-a-half-story wings with an additional one-story wing. The covered walkway steps down to connect the house to the three-car garage with an apartment above. Single dormer windows, with triple windows at the roof line and the deep shed roof over part of the terrace, enliven the very appealing massing. 

The pool area contains a sitting area shaded by a pergola and a pool house with a sauna, bath, kitchenette and porch for respite from the sun.  

I continued my exploration of the site by passing under the covered walkway and walking down the separate drive to the farm area over to the section containing paddocks and barns. I discovered a delightful space between the two barns that contains a charming sitting room between glass enclosures of a greenhouse on one side and a potting shed on the other.  A walkway leads from this building  to a cozy gazebo, perched on the edge of a large pond. 

One of the barns has been transformed into a “showroom” for vintage cars, completer with a hamburger joint and workshop. I was delighted to see a 1950’s station wagon with wood exterior panels just like the one my family had when I was young. Whatever your collection may be, this huge area offers myriad possibilities!

I did not see any horses in the paddocks but the horse stables and tack room have been kept intact for the next equestrian owner. The other barn part has been cleverly modified to contain a billiards room and a vintage convenience store.  

Opposite the barns are paddocks outlined by white fencing with small run-in sheds with red roofs and cupolas. One of the roof’s cupola is capped by the horse-shaped weathervane.  Along the side of one paddock is the entry drive with the portion lined by sawtooth oaks. 

On my way back to the main house, I toured the charming guest house. Who wouldn’t want to be a guest in this cozy two bedroom house with an open plan kitchen-dining-living space, a fireplace and a full porch with water views? 

Before I went into the main house, I paused to savor the exquisite five-bay main wing’s symmetry with the center door, fanlight transom and half glass, half paneled sidelights, 6/6 windows and the classic color palette of white siding, green shutters and red brick exposed foundation. The three bay porch with decorative railing above has a wider center bay, to accentuate the front door and to provide clear views of the landscape from the rockers. The accent of slate treads at the brick steps that lead down to the driveway visually separates the treads from the brick risers for safety. 

The front door opens into a gracious foyer with a side stair to the upper floors and offers a vista through the house to the rear wall of the waterside living room. The beautiful hardwood floors, wide wall openings, soft wall colors, trimwork and moldings introduce these design elements found throughout the house, 

The very large living room easily accommodates more than one seating area, with one area grouped around the fireplace and another near the adjacent sunroom and breakfast room. The transparency of the rear wall with glass doors, transoms, and full height windows that wrap around each corner of the room offers panoramic views of the landscape and water.

The partially covered brick terrace is accessed by the living room, sunroom, family room and primary bedroom for great indoor-outdoor flow and serene views of the lawn and water. 

The glimpse of a corner fireplace beckoned me to the breakfast area. The placement of the table and chairs under a wide window with a center picture plane between two operable units maximizes views of the landscape and water. I admired how the fireplace is elevated so it can also be seen from the adjacent kitchen.

A pair of French doors lead from the breakfast area to the sunroom with wrap-around windows, doors and transoms. I admired the pitched ceiling above the gable end wall, infilled with glass and the stained wood beams and decking that float above the perimeter soffit. Built-in millwork, with a center recess for a large screen TV, holds books, family photos and memorabilia and the sage green and rose upholstered pieces create a wonderful space for relaxation.

The large gourmet kitchen has a mix of cabinet finishes from stained to white to the light green of the island’s cabinetry that compliments the wall color. The stainless steel appliances complete the look. Sunlight from the front windows and the breakfast room’s wide window keep this room sunny throughout the day. Next to the full wall of cabinetry is a hall with the laundry and powder room opposite stairs to the partial basement.  When I went down the stairs, I discovered a wine cellar with a tasting area!

I circled back to the dining room with its wide wall openings to both the foyer and one corner of the living room. The wallpaper, white wainscot and paneling around the firebox, wood furnishings, Oriental rug and upholstered chairs that complement the rug colors combine to create an elegant room for memorable meals. I noted the sly fox resting on the safe harbor of the fireplace’s hearth!

After crossing the foyer, I entered a hall along the front of the house that passes a storage closet, powder room and den, that ends at the primary suite. A pair of doors lead to the den with another  pair of French doors to the living room for great flow. The stone fireplace sets the tone for a rustic look and encourages one to sit back and enjoy the wide screen TV by the fire. At the rear of the room is built-in millwork and two chairs for reading and enjoying the view of the landscape and the water beyond. 

The sumptuous primary suite’s is located at the waterside corner of this wing. The large bedroom with a sitting area by a fireplace has a tray ceiling for added height and two pairs of glass doors lead to the waterside brick terrace.

The large primary bath is arranged very well with the focal point being the bow window above the tub between the compartments for the shower and toilet. The opposite wall has a long row of cabinetry and dual lavatories next to a linen closet and a large walk-in closet completes the primary suite. 

The second floor contains two bedroom ensuites and French doors from the stair hall open onto the deck for bird’s eye views of the water. The two ensuites are located on either side of the stair hall for privacy and one of the ensuites has extra space for two small offices or a large walk-in closet. 

The third floor is the domain of one bedroom ensuite with its own private stair,  tucked under the roof rafters that creates delightful interior architecture. The  two single dormers at the front wall overlook the landscape and the wide triangular dormer with a triple window overlooks the water for panoramic bird’s eye views -this would be the bedroom I would choose as a guest. 

Although I was not on site at twilight, I thought this photo would be a perfect coda to this property’s story. The nocturnal shot with the interiors lit up highlights the amount of transparency in the number of windows and glass doors and the angled positions of the various buildings creates an irresistible composition of this remarkable property!

This one of a kind, immaculately maintained property, does have it all -a location in sought after Royal Oak with a long view of Fox Hole Creek leading to the Tred Avon River, the verdant landscape of broad vistas to ponds, fields and pastures defined by white fences, Colonial style architecture with the main house’s great indoor-outdoor flow, outdoor rooms of the brick terrace and upper deck, main floor primary suite and  guest rooms on the two upper floors. Outdoor amenities include the pool area, tennis court, small boat house and pier and the greenhouse. For the equestrian enthusiast, there is a five stall barn with tack room and washroom with fenced paddocks. This peaceful and very private waterfront haven is close to the Belleview Ferry to Oxford and is also equidistant to the amenities of Easton and St. Michaels.

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For more information about this property, contact Cornelia Heckenbach at Long and Foster Real Estate Inc., 410-770-3600 (o), 410-310-1229 (c) or [email protected] , “Equal Housing Opportunity”. For more photographs and pricing visit www.stmichaelsmdwaterfront.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by HomeVisit, http://www.homevisit.com/, 703-953-3866

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

I moved to the Eastern Shore twenty years ago, and as an architect and a history buff, I can’t resist pulling over to read a historic marker as part of my continuing education about my new home. As a Catholic, I knew Maryland was founded to offer refuge for Catholics during the European religious wars, and the colony was an early proponent of religious toleration, including The Religious Society of Friends. 

In my research, I learned that George Fox founded Quakerism in England during a time of great upheaval in both politics and religion. He rebelled against the established church’s ceremonial traditions, ritual and politics, and in 1647, he began preaching a powerful message of a more personal approach and direct communication with God, His message resonated with many other dissidents who became known as the Religious Society of Friends. After George Fox told a judge to “quake before the authority of God”, the movement became better known as  “Quakers”.

On the day of my visit, I drove along a gravel drive and reached this peaceful haven surrounded by Easton’s residential district. I learned that the focal point of the property is the original white clapboard building that was built on three acres of land purchased from John Edmondson in 1682. Soon thereafter, construction began on a Meeting House that was completed two years later, since the land had to cleared and timbers for its framing had to be done by hand with broadaxes. One of the builders was William Southeby, a Native American whose wrote against slavery. The complex today contains the Old Meeting House, the Brick Meeting House, the Brick Common Room and the Burial Grounds. 

The focal point of the property is the Old Meeting House that is the oldest documented wooden frame place of worship in Maryland. The building has been in continuous use since the first meeting in the fall of 1684 and over the years, many notable Quakers have worshipped in this building, including William Penn.  Access to the property was originally by water from a creek that originally fed into the Tred Avon River but only the gully for the creek now exists. The entry lane from S. Washington St. was not purchased until 1789 and the final four acres of the property were not acquired until the 1940’s.

The meeting house was built to better accommodate the growing number of Quakers attending Quarterly and Half Yearly meetings of the numerous preparative meetings. Friends came from the surrounding counties as well as from across the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. The Old Meeting house was built in the form of a “T”. The facing benches, where Clerks of the Meeting sat, were most likely at the north and south ends of the first floor. In 1797, the building was enlarged to the west by removing the bottom of the “T” for a 12 foot addition that spanned the length of the building. This greatly enlarged the space for worship and the facing benches were then moved to the eastern wall.  The main entrance was also moved to the south end of the building and was enhanced by brick steps up to a stoop protected by a gabled roof supported by simple columns.

 In 1990, recognizing the amount of wood decay, termite damage and other issues, the Board sought guidance from the Maryland Historical Trust with the result that the building underwent a major renovation, beginning with raising the building off the ground and installing a new continuous brick foundation. 

The ongoing restoration of the large wooden multi-paned windows by volunteer James “Gramps” Mosner continues.  I was amazed to learn that his labor time for each window takes approximately 100 hours!  He has to first carefully remove the original glass, repair or replace the wood frames and muntins, re-prime the exterior wood, clean the natural finish on the inside wood, reinstall the original glass, remove broken panes and replace with mouth-blown glass from Germany that is the closest match to the original distorted glass, paint the exterior and reinstall the sash. This is  a true labor of love from a dedicated preservationist, so the current Quaker members can gaze out of the same windows their ancestors did over 275 years ago. 

When I stepped inside the building, I immediately inhaled the welcoming fragrance of old pine.  I admired the hand-hewn framing members, made of local hardwoods felled on site; the wide pine flooring, exterior walls partially clad in plaster and  the wide and long windows that reflected the sunlight. The wooden dividers date from 1797, and would  be open during time of worship but closed for business meetings; the men would be on one side with the women on the other side. This practice was discontinued in the mid -19th century.

Being accustomed to churches with a center aisle and rows of benches, I was intrigued by the interior layout of the wood benches. “Facing benches,” where the Clerks of the Meeting sit, were most likely originally located at the north and south walls. The 1797 addition greatly increased the worship space and the facing benches were relocated to the eastern side wall. This vista is from the northeast corner, where the stairs to the attic were relocated. One of the two pairs of doors added to the west side is shown.  

The stairs to the second floor open up to a wonderful attic room that spans the length of the building with windows at each gable end wall. The attic floor’s layout was probably two spaces  to accommodate Friends who traveled great distances to attend Quarterly or Half-Yearly meetings. Originally plastered over wood lath, some plaster remains with signatures of Quakers like postcards from the past. 

After my tour of the Old Meeting House, I walked over to the Brick Meeting House that was built in 1880 designed in a simple rendition of the late Greek Revival of that period.  I admired the three bay front elevation with brick pilasters below layers of molding, the arched brick headers and arched topped 12/12 windows with operable shutters. At the loft level, 6/6 windows with operable shutters complete the simple and elegant composition. This building has electricity, heat and plumbing so it is used in the cooler months of the year.  First Day School classrooms are on the spacious second floor.

The side elevations of the Brick Meeting House are identical to each other with  a center dormer window, three long windows on the main floor and a door. The wood panel above the door was probably a transom window at one time. I carefully set up this shot to show the vista from this elevation’s windows through the windows on the other side of the building. 

After entering the vestibule, I opened the pair of doors to this beautiful vista of the white walls and ceiling as a counterpoint to the warmth of the wood floors and the rich darker wood tones of the benches. Sunlight streams in through the large windows for natural lighting. This building has electricity, heat and plumbing so it is used in the cooler months of the year.  The spacious second floor houses First Day School classrooms. 

The Quaker service, called Meeting for Worship, is meditation based. One arrives and chooses a place on a bench and settles in silence, waiting expectantly for leadings of the Spirit. Individuals are sometimes led to offer spiritual messages as vocal ministry.  Topics often revolve around Quaker values, or Testimonies, which include Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. They may also pray, read from the Bible or another book.

 

At the front interior wall of the Meeting Room is built-in millwork with books about the Quaker faith. Founder George Fox visited Talbot County in 1673 and upon his return to England, he sent a number of books to this Meeting Room. His contribution was the beginning of the Meeting Room’s library, often considered to be Talbot County’s earliest Public Library, if not the Colony’s.

The Common Room was built in 1982 behind the Brick Meeting House to accommodate the members’ many secular activities, including reaching out to the wider community. Complete with kitchen facilities, its uses include committee meetings, receptions, social events, or other community events that involve members.

In continuous use since the late 17th century, the burial grounds are enclosed by high brick walls next to adjoining residential neighboring properties and open to the peaceful vistas of the grounds on the other sides of the property with mature trees for shade.  In the 18th century, markers were added that were small, similar in shape, with limited information, but maps are available for genealogical research. For those who are seeking more extensive research, the Friends have donated copies of the Meeting Minutes to the Maryland Hall of Records in Annapolis.  

The earliest grave dates is 1790, and now over 177 graves have been identified. The brick wall along the western property line contains a growing number of memorial plaques placed upon  the brick surface in memory of Friends who chose cremation.

The grounds are also used as part of the Sunday program for children to explore this wonderful site through nature walks, art projects. 

The Society of Friends sincerely invites you to attend a Meeting for Worship with them any Sunday morning at 10:00 AM or Wednesday evening at 5:30 PM (Childcare is available on Sundays.)

The Author is indebted to Bill Lane, Joan Wetmore and James “Gramps” Mosner for their help in assisting me with materials and insights about this historical treasure in Talbot County.

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Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

“The Point at Broadview” is aptly named for its stunning 2.37 acre site located at a point of a peninsula that offers sweeping 270-degree “broad views” of Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River. On the day of my visit, I drove down to the end of a road and then turned onto the curved, tree-lined private drive. Past the trees, the driveway straightens out to reveal the front elevation and I slowed down to savor the exquisitely detailed façade. The Shingle Style is one of my fave architectural styles and this house reminded me of many shingle style houses built among Long Island’s dunes that I admired on trips to my late sister’s East Hampton house.   

This aerial accentuates the low slope of the site with 1,145 linear feet of bulk headed shoreline along Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River.  The cleared area offers both unobstructed panoramic water views from the house and also a blank slate for the next Owners to add landscaping to suite their own tastes.  At one side of the house is an in-ground pool and on the other side is a large garage to shelter boats, near the private boat ramp and deep water dock with 5 feet MLW and a 10,000 lb. boat lift.   

 

The house was built high above the flood plain and to lessen the height of the house’s foundation, a low retaining wall constructed of New England fieldstone separates the parking area from the landscaping beds that slope up to the partially exposed foundation, also of New England fieldstone. I loved the symmetry of the front gable wings at each corner of the house that project slightly from the center wing and their steep roofs that slope from the second floor’s ridge to the first floor’s eaves. The earth tones, texture of the shake siding, artful sizes and arrangement of windows, window boxes for seasonal color, blue operable shutters, copper lanterns and white trim evoke the timeless appeal of classic New England design. 

 

At each corner of the house’s rear elevation, bay-shaped wall projections infilled  with large windows maximize the panoramic views of the water. I especially liked how the architect specified the “cottage” type window that has a row of muntins above the picture plane for unobstructed views of the water. A variety of outdoor rooms for bird’s eye views of the water include the spacious stone terrace at the main level below a deck at the second floor and two private balconies at each end of the house.

The listing agent met me at the wide front door as I was admiring the custom wood door’s cottage style design of multipaned glass above a wood panel.  When I stepped into the wide foyer that extends to the rear wall of the house, the high ceilings, expanse of wood flooring, and multi-layered trim around doors,  doorways and windows were an introduction to the highest level of finishes I soon discovered throughout the house.  The vista from the foyer ends at a pair of French doors to the stone terrace but I especially admired the perspective of the mini-enfilade that began at the foyer and continues to the window in the last room. 

Next to the foyer is an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. The living area’s interior wall has a gas fireplace flanked by built- in millwork in a mix of cabinets below open shelves with accent lighting for display. The rear wall of the living area is filled with a quadruple window/door unit with two center panels that slide to each side to create a wide opening for easy indoor-outdoor flow. On either side of the quadruple unit are sconces for soft nocturnal lighting. At the front of the living area is another mini-enfilade through the foyer, the hall past the powder room and ending at the mudroom/laundry.

The spacious living area offers a variety of seating arrangements to enjoy both focal points of the fireplace and the water views. I especially liked the diagonal vista to the bay-shaped wall with a built-in ledge with great panoramic views of the water.

I could easily imagine my wide, round dining table in the marvelous space that reaches out to the water. Since there is also a waterside dining room, another option would be to extend the ledge below the windows to create wrap-around seating with cushions and pillows and small round tables for relaxing with family or friends. 

This cook was quite envious of the kitchen area with its custom cabinetry, large center island and its accent of the beautiful mahogany countertop, top-of -the-line European appliances, handcrafted farmhouse style fireclay sinks, Waterworks faucets, gas range and combination convection oven/microwave. I appreciated the sleek lines of the craftsman style cabinet doors that blend into the walls and the upper doors that rise to the ceiling. The exterior door leads to a deck with steps down to the pool area. 

I love butler pantries and this compact one is perfect with its delicate English garden wall paneling, handcrafted fireclay sink, freezer, custom cabinets and brass hardware. I could easily imagine displaying my collection of colorful Italian ceramics from Simpatico and the crystal and serving pieces from my mother’s side of the family in the glass fronted upper cabinets. Sunlight streams fully into the space from the windows that makes this efficient space seem wider than it is. 

To explore the rest of the main floor, I  retraced my steps to the foyer and discovered the adjacent dining room with its focal point of triple windows overlooking the stone terrace and the water. The room’s length of eighteen linear feet could easily accommodate a large table for family celebrations. At the front of the room, a wide wall opening leads to the hall off the foyer for continuous  flow between the dining and living room.

Being a bibliophile, the library at the end of the mini-enfilade is a book lover’s dream with floor to ceiling built-in millwork and Nautical brass lighting of sconces mounted on the trim between the bookshelves. The wrap-around bay wall infilled with windows for water views defines a very appealing space for settling in on a comfortable upholstered chair and ottoman and getting lost in a new book. 

Before I went upstairs, I went back to the foyer to explore the English style service areas of the powder room, laundry and mud room. Since my laundry is a stack W/D in an alcove, I coveted this laundry with its checkerboard marble flooring set onto the diagonal to expand the space, front-loading washer and dryer, custom cabinetry, natural stone countertops and large sink. The storage in the mud room awaits a family with bench seating, built-in storage including a peg wall and boot rack.  The triple-unit window bringing sunlight into the space and the exterior door opens onto a small deck that leads to the rear yard for easy clean-up after an afternoon in the pool.

The stairs to the second floor lead to a landing opposite a pair of French doors leading to the waterside deck. The landing blends into a hall that leads to the primary suite at one corner of the floor and into another hall that leads to the other bedroom ensuites at the opposite corners of the house. This floor also includes an exercise room whose door is shown in the wall next to the stairs. I might be tempted to exercise in this waterside room with its mirrored wall and sliding glass doors to the deck!

The spacious deck extends beyond the rear wall of the two bay-shaped wall projections at each corner of the house. I was mesmerized by the view of the thin line of the opposite shoreline and the distant horizon line of the water meeting the sky. It was difficult not to linger in this fabulous outdoor room but I went back inside to tour the primary suite. 

A pair of doors leads from the stair hall to the primary suite. The  primary bedroom’s ceiling of triangular segments below the roof rafters that frame the bay-shaped walls creates delightful interior architecture. The right side of the bay has an extra window segment to maximize panoramic views of the water and the French door leads to a private balcony for star gazing at night. 

The stunning primary bath is a confection of soft colors and textures and the oversized tub floating on the marble flooring is the focal point of the spacious room. Sunlight filters deep into the space from the wide picture window and the side window that also offer water views.  Opposite the vanities is an alcove that separates the toilet compartment and the shower with all three spaces having windows for daylight.  

The hall from the stair landing leads to the other bedrooms and baths and to this bonus room in the other bay-shaped space at the corner of the house. Its distinctive shape and panoramic water views offer myriad uses such as a sitting room, playroom, office, etc. 

If I were lucky to be a guest, I would choose this bedroom ensuite behind the bonus room for its wrap-around window that casts sunlight deep into the room and the French door to a private balcony. 

I don’t usually feature a house that is unfurnished since interior design is one of the four criteria I use in selecting a House of the Week. This house is an exception for its exceptional architecture in one of my fave styles and for its exceptional site, high above the flood plain. It doesn’t get much better than an exquisite Shingle style house, designed by an architect, sited on a point of a peninsula with sweeping 270-degree views of both Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River. The bonus- this newly finished house’s final inspection was issued in July of this year!

The lack of furnishings allowed me to focus on the beauty of the interior architecture’s ten foot ceilings, hardwood flooring that flows from room to room, large windows detailed with a row of muntins above large picture planes and glass sliding or paired doors leading to the waterside outdoor rooms of the main floor’s stone terrace and the second floor deck.  Natural materials of stone, marble and wood enhance the house’s exteriors and interiors, built to the highest level of construction. Brava to the Architect and her team!

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For more information about this property, contact Debbie McQuaid with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-673-3344 (o), 410-924-4482 (c) or [email protected] .For more photographs and pricing, visit  www.sothebysrealty.com/ttrsir/eng/office/766-b-85898-4000107/ttr-sothebys-international-realty. “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens, 410-310-6838, [email protected].       

Architecture by  Purple Cherry Architects, www.purplecherry.com , 410-990-1700

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.