Tavern Farm is an example of great early 19th century New England architecture. Originally dating back to a King's Grant, this property has evolved over time, once being a thriving tavern and more recently known as Clark Hill Farm when it was wrapped in hundreds of acres from the 1960's forward. There are good covenants in place along most of Clark Hill Road (and surrounding this farm) on land that was once part of the original farm, keeping house lots at a minimum of 5 acres each, affording everyone plenty of elbow room. This is the last house in New Boston, just before the Francestown town line, on a charming gravel road dotted with other farms and residences. The majority of the traffic going by is on four legs in this area! It is quite common to hear the clip clop of horses & their riders in all seasons. Not only are the quiet roads perfectly suited for hacking but there are miles of them in the abutting town of Francestown for horses, walkers and mountain bikers alike.
The house, with its handsome dormered third floor, boasts 7 fireplaces, with the 4 on the first floor used by the current owner. Warm wood floors, some original and some reproduced, are throughout the house. The kitchen is newer and boasts one of the original fireplaces. Custom built by a Nantucket craftsman, the entire space, including the charming breakfast nook, has double-glazed true divided light windows for efficiency. Mahogany countertops add a rich, yet country accent. Upscale stainless appliances include a 5-burner Fisher-Paykel range, a Fisher-Paykel dishwasher and a side-by-side fridge w/water & ice. Adjacent to the kitchen is a formal dining room, although it is presently used as a sitting room. It, too, has a fireplace framed in granite and with a woodstove insert.
Opposite the center hall, which is front to back, are two additional rooms in the main house, each with a fireplace. One is a living room, the other a library. The living room has a Dutch door to a screen porch. The rest of the first floor consists of two heated rooms in the ell that could easily be made into a fabulous family room and a great mud room. There is a triple soapstone sink and older laundry hookups here as well. The main laundry is on the 2nd floor.
Upstairs you will find three generous bedrooms, two with fireplaces. Another original corner bedroom was converted into a large bathroom with laundry hookups. The master bedroom area is to the rear and is quite private. It has been sheetrocked and roughed-in for another bath. A turned staircase takes you to the 3rd floor, a charming space that had a kitchenette (counters and sink are still there), 2 bedrooms and a vintage bath with clawfoot tub, once the maids' quarters and now great guest or studio space.
Outside much of the siding has been upgraded to cedar shingle and a great open porch was added so you can sit and look over the barn and pastures. There is a 4 bedroom septic system. There are some renovation items that need completion such as a organizing the wiring in the basement, a range hood wiring in the kitchen, and trim here and there in some of the newer areas.
A wonderful Center Hill barn was built about 12 years ago and originally had 2 stalls and auto storage. It too has been upgraded into a full-fledged horse barn. See below for the details. It stands tall to compliment the height of the house.
Tavern Farm is a lovely piece of history with the necessities we demand today. The land is 16.4 acres and is open, level and includes 2 - 1/2 acre grass paddocks accessed from the in-out stalls, and two very large pastures. More could be fenced. Not a horse person? This would also make a great place to grow and raise livestock. The Barn and Horse Amenities
• Barn measures 36' x 48' • Wash stall • Very large tack/grain room • 5-6 Stalls - 4 are in/out • Wide, brick paver aisle - tack 3 horses up at once • Huge walk-up hayloft • 2nd Two stall run-in barn with water and storage area • 100' x 220' Outdoor arena w/stonedust and sand footing • Miles of trails and good gravel roads from the driveway
