House of the week: A 6-bedroom Second Empire-style twin in Germantown for $469,900
The home, built in 1900, has a front porch that was enclosed by the current owners.
“I like the charm of an old house, the woodwork,” said Sharon Boyd.
The six-bedroom, 2½-bathroom home she and husband Larry bought in 1988, where they raised their three children, was that and more.
Its Second Empire-style architecture is rooted in the 19th century but is rarely recreated in the 21st. A prominent example is Philadelphia City Hall, built over a 30-year period from 1871 to 1901.
It is an eclectic style that flourished under the Emperor Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870 and was characterized by modern (at the time) materials such as glass skylights and mansard roofs.
The 2,295-square-foot twin was built in 1900. Sharon, a retired caseworker for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, and Larry, a retired assembly line worker for the Budd Co., made extensive renovations over the years.
They enclosed the front porch, tore down a wall between the kitchen and the dining area, and restored original wood flooring, crown molding, and wainscoting throughout.
Now, with the children grown and on their own, they will move to a smaller place in Mount Airy.
The house has three bedrooms on each of the two upper floors. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, butcher block countertops, dark wood cabinetry, and a central peninsula.
The living and dining rooms have track lighting and ceiling fans, and the bathrooms have been updated with modern fixtures, tile walls, and stylish vanities.
The partially finished basement could serve as a home office or recreational area, and street parking in the neighborhood is plentiful.
Sharon adds that “I know all the neighbors” and fondly thinks of the block parties.
The house is listed by Jay Burke of Keller Williams Main Line for $469,900.