599,000

Dreaming of a stylish country retreat with history? Look no further than the charming Captain Elijah Johnson house, nestled in the bucolic village of Middle Haddam, CT and located just two hours from New York City and Boston. This property blends modern amenities, including a swimming pool, with the carefully restored original features of a house built in 1780 and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Set on a picturesque 0.7 acres, this waterfront home with a difference boasts a private waterfall and brook, cocooned by old-growth oak and maple trees. From the back deck or the saltwater gunite pool you enjoy the peaceful sights and sounds of water, making it an ideal spot for unwinding. A remote-operated irrigation system draws directly from the brook, ensuring that the gardens never face drought. Just three minutes' walk away the Connecticut River provides opportunities for boating, kayaking, and even enjoying a yellow sand beach. This spacious home features 4+ bedrooms, providing ample space for family or guests, with multiple living areas that provide flexibility for many uses. The first floor includes the primary bedroom with fireplace, making single-level living an option. Two new bathrooms complement the home layout, and the eat-in country kitchen is filled with charm, providing a warm and welcoming space to cook and gather. The spacious living room with original oak paneling and fireplace makes the perfect retreat for winter nights. The Johnson house was built by a sea captain, one of several in a village that lived from the thriving river commerce of the late eighteenth century, at the head of a lane going down to the shipyard and enjoying coveted rights to Mine Brook. In the nineteenth century the owners built a dam and set up a foundry that produced buttons for the Union Army in the Civil War. The pond that formed upstream became an important part of village life, providing a space for ice skating in the winter and bathing in the summer. The current owners, recognizing the unique intrinsic value of the property, invested over two hundred thousand dollars in a wholesale interior restoration and remodeling undertaken by Rick Caulkins Building LLC, specialists in antique housing. They have when so wanted enjoyed supplemental income from private rentals, averaging over thirty-five thousand dollars a year. Whether you are relaxing by the pool, exploring the nearby river, or simply enjoying the tranquility of the brook and waterfall, this home is one of a kind.