Tour Gray's historic home in Cambridge is up for sale for $10.8 million
Asa Gray House, 88 Garden Street, Cambridge, a National Historic Landmark, sold for $10.8 million.
Joanna K. Suvelis, evillocal.com
Cambridge has about 200 homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
One such home, Asa Gray House, known as 88 Garden St., a National Historic Landmark, sold for $10,800,000. It has over 7,500 square feet of living space, 13 bedrooms, five bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. He was signed by the team of Gail Roberts and Ed Fizzo of Coldwell Banker.
Lauren Harder of The Harder Group, which specializes in historic home restorations, recently completed the restoration of the original section of the home, as well as a refurbishment and extension to the back of the home. The renovation includes modern technological upgrades.
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“I am working on renovating historic homes for modern living. We are fortunate to have land values here in Cambridge that support this type of restoration/renovation and owners who are sensitive to the historical setting,” said Harder, who loves working to preserve and beautify this home.
According to Roberts, the current owners, who bought the property in April 2021, intended to live there, but their plans changed.
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The historical significance of the house.
Originally known as the Botanical Garden, it was built in 1810 by the Massachusetts Agricultural Society as the home of zoologist William Dandridge Peck, curator of the school's botanical garden, Harvard's first professor of natural history.
After Peck, botanist Thomas Nuttall and Harvard presidents James Walker and Jared Sparks lived in the house.
Asa Gray moved home in 1842 to become Massachusetts Professor of National History at Harvard. He lived there until his death in 1888.
The house became a private residence when it was sold in 1910 to renowned architect Allen Cox of Putnam & Cox, who moved the house from the corner of Garden and Linnean Streets in Cambridge to the Harvard University Botanic Gardens. to its current location at the corner of Garden and Madison and refurbish it.
The house remained in the hands of the Cox family until the end of the 20th century .
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In the late 1990s, the family that bought it gave the Cambridge Historical Commission conservation restrictions that protect the exterior, ground floor rooms, stairs and attic structures. The owners restored the home by opening up the back, remodeling Cox's office, and arranging extensive landscaping. According to Charles Sullivan, executive director of the Cambridge Historical Commission, the work won an award for preserving its design in 2001.
The house also has significant national significance, as it was the first work of the influential American architect Ethel Towne, who designed a Federal style home with a single-level façade, angular Ionic pilasters, and a balustraded hipped roof. According to Sullivan, the current owner first rented the house, then bought it and made the final renovations.
Who is Asa Grey?
Gray was born in Sankey, New York, in 1810, the same year, at 88 Garden St.
According to the National Register of Historic Places, Gray made outstanding contributions to botany. He published the first comprehensive book on the flora of North America, adopted a naturalistic plant classification system, and was an early American proponent of the Darwinian theory of evolution.
While studying medicine, Gray became interested in North American botany and began collecting plants. He became an assistant to the famous New York botanist John Torrey, who began his career in the profession.
At 32, he became professor of natural history at Harvard University, a position he held for 45 years. He is not known as an inspirational teacher. In fact, according to the National Register of Historic Places, students set off fireworks in the room.
However, he made a name for himself in the field of botany, going on expeditions and sending new specimens to Cambridge, where they were classified and named. He has published many books.
Through his work in defense of Darwin and botany, Gray became one of America's leading scientists.
What are the historical features of this house on Garden Street in Cambridge?
The largest room on the ground floor, the part of the main house that does not include an extension, is Gray's study, which has built-in museum cabinets in the wall, 17 inches deep and 12 to 24 inches wide, believed to have been used. to store many instances.
Other surviving historical features are undulating glass windows, mouldings, shutters, fireplaces, the grand staircase, and fanfares at the entrance to the top.
Contemporary features are part of this luxury home in Cambridge
The modern chef's kitchen features large work and dining areas, a 12ft island with Thermador 48" gas hob, two Thermador electric ovens, two sinks, two dishwashers, beverage center, ice maker, pantry with sink and Sub-Zero refrigerator. 38' Living room with three French doors to an enclosed courtyard with a terrace
Recent renovations added an office/gym area with breakfast bar, 16ft cathedral ceiling, skylight and bathroom.
A heated entrance hall and garage were also added.
In the kitchen, living room, hall, office and bathroom with rantal radiators, as well as on the ground floor, there are 21 gas water heater zones with warm underfloor heating.
The house has seven zones of central air conditioning.
The lower level has a media room with external access, a wine cellar, a guest bedroom, a full bathroom and a laundry room.
Homemade noodles, all made in house. The ramen was launched in Cambridge by the former owner of the Bayberry Café.
On the second floor there are four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.
The master bedroom has double sinks, a deep soaking tub and a bespoke walk-in closet.
There is also a laundry room on the second floor.
