45 Washington St

Rocky Hill, NJ 08553

For the first time in over a quarter century, the Italianate Dr. C R Van Doren house is for sale in the historic town of Rocky Hill. This c. 1858 home was built from a pattern book, The Architect, published in New York by William Ranlett. With three bedrooms and an attic suite of two rooms, plus a third bathroom, there is ample room for an office, guest quarters or an entertainment area. Many of the home's beautiful arched windows have the original glass and can be covered by indoor pocket shutters. The wide, pine floorboards, the extensive wooden trim around windows, the two fireplace mantles, antique brass light fixtures and the plaster molding on the living room ceiling fill this house with charm. Best of all, an addition across the back of the house combines the best of the old and the new with a radiant heat bluestone floor and double glazed, large Andersen windows and doors which fill this great room with light. The kitchen has cherry cabinets, soapstone counters, an Aga Companion gas top stove with two ovens (one convection), a large Shaws fireclay farm sink and a walk-in pantry. A large first floor bathroom and ample laundry room with lots of storage were created when the addition was built. Complimenting the stacked front loading washer/dryer is a classic, English cast iron and wooden pole, ceiling mounted clothes drying rack with a pulley! There are unique features inside and out such as a tower room off of one bedroom which would make a great reading nook and a granite mounting block or "upping stone" at the curb to greet guests. Front and rear entry light fixtures are historic reproduction lights from Charleston and the roof is served by all copper gutters and downspouts. The backyard is large enough to put in a pool, tennis court or extensive gardens and still have room for outdoor dining and entertaining. Deer, foxes, groundhogs and birds can be seen as the property backs up to a large park and a pond that is preserved as greenspace. You can walk, bike or drive into Princeton and enjoy artisinal ice cream, European bakeries, numerous restaurants and coffee shops, bookstores and all the culture Princeton has to offer. You're only an hour from New York (less if you fly from the local airport) or Philadelphia and thirty minutes from Lambertville/New Hope. Of course, you may be so happy exploring Rocky Hill's historic homes and churches that you can't find the time to hike the Sourlands or float down the Delaware river!