199 Main StreetBelfast, ME 04915Price: $945,000

Here's a home with character built in 1850 by a Belfast stone mason when Maine was a new state in the union. At that time this Federal style home commanded the top of Main Street hill with a clear view of the town & harbor below. While retaining the historic quality, many stewards of this property have since contributed to it's overall look of today by replacing the original square cupola with an octagonal cupola with better access, joining the barn to the house & making a Great Room upstairs, installing cherry cabinets & granite countertops in the kitchen, creating a 'social club' area in the basement featuring a bar embedded with silver dollars, and most recently, renovating 4 bathrooms with decorative tiles. However, a brick fireplace in the dining room, a small coal stove in the den, a giant copper cauldron & beehive oven in the kitchen all contribute to the welcoming charm of this landmark house. Surprisingly in a downtown location, this property contains a true Secret Garden professionally designed to ensure flowers are in lovely bloom from spring to fall on an acre and a half of land. There is also a raised bed of wild strawberries, 2 pear trees, several apple trees, & a peach tree, all enclosed by fencing and bordered by a stone wall on one side. Perfectly suited for an artist, the third floor is an art studio with natural light from the cupola, two skylights and a double-hung window. Each bedroom has a tiled bathroom, & the primary bedroom also has an enameled propane stove for winter heat. Many rooms have custom draperies or Roman shades. On the second floor there's a glassed-in 3-season porch that could serve as an extra sleeping area for guests. This home could be a social hub once again, but this time, welcome your guests to the expansive Great Room with it's high ceilings & polished floor for a cocktail party or watch the Oscars on a widescreen wall monitor with friends, or maybe neighborhood school friends can gather there for a sleepover.