329 Bratton Street

Description

The moment you walk thru the front door you can feel the love of the McDonald family. The story starts with James E. McDonald, who built this beautiful home on granite stone in the late 1800s. It was passed down thru the generations. Oh, the stories this majestic Italianate home could tell! Like how James played a major role in founding the Shriner's Hospital, how daughter Mary, a champion for civil rights, played the baby grand piano for her guests when she ran a Bed & Breakfast here. The last generation to live here: Camilla was disabled and spent her entire life right here. They say she had a heart of gold. One grandson became a professional singer and attorney, and another is a voracious reader, former newspaper columnist and author. But all of them loved this house and for the most part left it as granddaddy had wanted it to be. That's a rare find. Original shutters still hang outside; the grand staircase and wide front entrance, still intact. The arched doorway and doors, still in great condition. Windows, original. Doors, original. Floors, fanciful trim, beautiful old cracked plaster, all original. No nasty aluminum siding! No asbestos ceiling tiles. No crazy chopped up rooms. It's a gorgeous old home ready to be restored and almost entirely original! What does it need now? For sure--paint, kitchen and bath remodels, floors refinished, plumbing and probably electrical work and a new HVAC system. Inspections welcome but selling AS-IS. Already priced accordingly.