At first glance, you might think this 1775 farmhouse is all about Colonial practicality and restraint. That is, until you see its gazebo.
This property in Barnstead, New Hampshire is all business in the front and party in the back.
It's true inside the house as well, because when you enter the house through the back porch entrance
you're greeted by an accordion player, welcoming you back. Valkommen tillbaka.
So if it were mine, I'd keep that fun-loving feeling in the kitchen...
{Mark D. Sikes}
while letting the front room
have a little more pretty Colonial restraint.
There's already a bit more of that vibe going on with the bright dining room as it looks now...
compared with the formal living room at the front of the house:
Here's the floorplan to see how the four rooms connect to one another:
Which brings us to the foyer with the steps down to the basement level:
Let's have a look around the second floor:
This house has four bedrooms and one bathroom in 2,560 square feet.
If the thought of four bedrooms sharing one bathroom makes you a little nervous, don't worry. There's plenty of room to keep the party going by taking over some of the space in the attic...
or in the attached carriage house:
The carriage house dates from 1810 and was brought from Newmarket, 35 miles away, reconstructed and attached to the main house in 1993.
Finding neat old buildings and adding them to the estate has been the theme of this property for most of its existence. The first addition was in 1908, when this 18th century barn was re-raised here.
Next up was the bunkhouse/office that was added in 1935:
It was originally built around 1880.
That brings us back to the gazebo, which was an 1860 boat house, moved from Wolfeboro (about 30 minutes north of Barnstead) in 1974.
I like it just the way it is, but if we wanted to ramp up the party in the back feeling, this is our inspiration design:
There's plenty of room to add more buildings for more parties too, because the property spans 104 acres.
It has views of the Belknap Mountain Range and Cogswell Mountain.
It's also a short distance from Upper Suncook Lake (or Suncook Pond, back in the day):
That gives us a nice segue to Mr. If It Were Mine's map:
Those New Englanders aren't very chatty about the history of the property, though. It was listed as a state historic site in 2003, which simply names it as the Sellin Farm and provides this photo:
I also found out that according to the state of New Hampshire, Sellin Farm is vulnerable to earthquakes and human caused hazards. That may be related to why you have to sign a waiver to tour the barn.
As for Thomas Edgerly, the home's original owner, I learned that he was a constable and selectman who helped plan Barnstead's roads and meeting-house, as well as determined the reward for animal hides.
If you have various interests like his and would like various outbuildings in which to pursue them, the Old House Dreams listing is here.
