Ever dream of escaping city life and owning your very own farm? Turner Farm, a historic house set on an acre and a half of orchards, gardens and meadowland came on the market this fall — for the price of many 900-square-foot Back Bay condos listed at Bostoncondo.com.
This North Reading farmhouse — built in 1732, the very year George Washington was born — was home to another, albeit less famous, Revolutionary War hero: Ebenezer Upton. But the property is named for the Turner Family, immigrants from England via Nova Scotia, who resided there from the turn of the last century until 1950. Since then, the house has been updated with modern conveniences and remodeled to show off the original construction: wide pine floors, exposed brickwork and exposed post-and-beam construction give a sense of history. Meanwhile, built-in cabinets, central air and central vacuum add modern touches.
Perhaps it’s not what’s inside that counts, though. An orchard houses apple and pear trees, as well as blueberry, raspberry and blackberry bushes. There are vegetable and flower gardens and meadowland.
The city isn’t far away, either. North Reading is 18 miles north of Boston and has easy access to I93, I95, 495, as well as commuter rail. “This home has such great history, charm and extraordinary gardens. Yet it’s so close to Boston,” says realtor Kimberly O’Neil. “Properties like this don’t come on the market very often,” she warns, “but when they do, they generate a lot of excitement.”
What you’ll get
Turner Farm comprises a main house (2,444 square feet) with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two working fireplaces. The property also includes a two-story carriage house, barn and grain silo. It’s located at 207 Elm Street in North Reading and is priced at $650,000.
Century 21 Spindler & O’Neil, 617-504-5945 www.spindlerandoneil.com
