A stately old home in Connecticut
A stately old home in Connecticut
And a century-old charmer in Texas
I recently listened to a podcast that implied the possibility of time travel, and before I knew it I was in an internet hole.
If it were possible to travel through time, I’m sure there are plenty of people whose main concern would be to rewrite the history of their own life, or to see what lies ahead of them in their future. After all, it would be too tempting to let questions such as, “How much money will I make?” and “How many children will I have?” and “Will the planet still have green life by the time I’m living in an old folks’ home?” go unanswered.
Unfortunately (or, perhaps, *fortunately* depending on your opinion), we do not have the answers to what the future will look like, and we cannot change the past. Or at least, that statement is true according to what science has revealed to us thus far. I am waiting for proof that otherwise is possible, but for now this understood fact will have to do.
In the meantime, my favorite way to travel through time is via old homes that have stayed at least somewhat in tact.
A five-story Connecticut home from 1870
I have a certain fondness for Connecticut as the state that I drive through from my mom’s house on Long Island to get to my sister’s place in Worcester, Mass. The rolling hills are really something to behold, especially in the fall when the foliage ranges from warm maroon to a vibrant gold. But living in Connecticut is not without its price: The state has a whopping 2.07 percent average property tax rate. Compare that to New York, which has an average prop tax rate sitting at just 0.9 percent.
I’m not totally convinced that this residence can really be considered a house. I think “mansion” or “estate” are more fitting adjectives. The five-story structure spans over 7,500 square feet with eight bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and two half-baths. Those beds and baths are split up between three units: The five-bedroom main house, a two-bedroom apartment with two fireplaces, and a one-bedroom apartment. Originally built in 1870 for a Hartford manufacturing magnate, the property is listed on the National Historic Registry and includes an artist’s studio, 12-foot ceilings, multiple fireplaces, and updated appliances in the kitchen. The asking price is $750,000. [Sotheby’s International Realty]
A 1920 Texas bungalow with original details
Admittedly, I know very little about Texas other than that it’s referred to as the Lone Star State, Brené Brown is from there, and that when my sister came back from a summer-long internship in Denton she walked off the plane wearing a pair of cowboy boots. She loved Texas. She hasn’t lived there for years but has managed to cling to her habit of saying “ya’ll” in casual conversation. The statewide average property tax rate is 1.83 percent and the sales tax rate is 6.25 percent.
Dating back 100 years ago to 1920, this adorable Houston bungalow has maintained many of its original details, including the front door, pine flooring, windows, baseboards, hardware, and glass French doors separating the living and dining rooms. Inside a cozy 1,440 square feet there are two bedrooms, one bathroom, a large island in the kitchen, and the 0.1-acre property is fenced and landscaped. I love the spacious front porch on this cute yellow house — doesn’t it just make you want to sit outside with a glass of cold lemonade? The property is available for $549,000. [Douglas Elliman]
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