508 E Locust Ave

Philadelphia, PA 19144

The elegant and versatile home at 508 E. Locust Avenue is too wonderful for words for many reasons. According to the nearby Germantown Historical Society, it was one of 6 houses (3 Twins) built by Thomas Garrett in the mid-1870s. Homes in this era were hand built with superior craftsmanship still visible today 150 years later. From the foundation to the roof, the exterior consists of Chestnut Hill schist, locally quarried stone, creating naturally insulated thick walls and deeply set, tiled sills that serve as window seats in every room. Original artisanship includes numerous, light reflective beveled glass doors, plaster crown moldings, 11 ft ceilings, and hardwood and softwood floors throughout this well maintained Victorian. This grand house has 5,093 sq.ft. of living space with superb potential limited only by your imagination. Entering the Foyer from the expansive Screened Porch that looks into two rooms through floor-to-ceiling shuttered windows, the Large Formal Dining Room is on your right, with crystal chandelier, engraved marble mantle, gilded mirror, and walnut interior bay window shutters. The Grand Stairs that wind around to the third floor will be straight ahead. To your left will be a cozy Living Room with working Fireplace decorated with Doylestown Moravian Tiles and Ship Medallion, built-inbookcases and another walnut shuttered triple bay window. Also to your left is a larger Family Room and where a second set of stairs and the kitchen meet. Once in the Country Kitchen with exposed beams, PA Dutch screened maple cabinets, two French porcelain sinks for budding chefs or cooking classes, and butcher block counters reclaimed from Germantown High School shops, you will continue straight into the sunny Breakfast Room and find the Pantry and the first of four full bathrooms. Between the Foyerand the Family Room there is a closet and a Long Hall that feels like a shortcut from the Kitchen to the Dining Room. As you walk up the stairs through the house you will find multiple landings leading to the front and back parts of each level, so seems as if the house has five floors, but it actually has threeAll rooms are Large and have high ceilings. Every room can be re-purposed for today's families The second floor back room is a Conservatory or Atrium with a full-room-width window seat; it once housed 17 fish tanks and now has many happy plants. The three third floor rooms have dormer walls, arched double hung windows, and an outside catwalk once used by a feline that thought both twins were his house. The bathroom has a vintage clawfoot tub. The back room would make a super master office/bedroom/living area retreat. The light throughout the house, and especially on the third floor, is perfect for artists and seed growers. The third floor front room gets afternoon sun in full glory. From the center room you can view the whole majestic property from the herringbone brick and slate walks to towering treetops. Along the theme of a large house comes a full basement, plenty of storage area, and a 29-foot long Screened Porch with two ceiling fans to keep you extra cool on hot summer days. Relax peacefully on the swing, looking at the birds, bees, butterflies, bushes, herbs, and flowers in your little bit of paradise on Locust Avenue. Of special note is that this property has been completely organic for 43 years with no pesticides or herbicides; it is a Certified Wildlife Preserve registered by the National Wildlife Federation, with protected places for birds and squirrels to raise their young. Besides this, there are many trees ad bushes over 100 years old and garden beds to boot.SELLER HAS HAD PRE-LISTING INSPECTION ON PROPERTYPLEASE CONTACT BARBARA FOR A COPY OF THIS INSPECTION REPORT EXTENSIVE ELECTRICAL WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY LICENSED ELECTRICIAN ELECTRICAL CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST