| Historic House For Sale --
404 Rhodes Ave. Big Rock, IL |
This 1912 brick American Foursquare home is, indeed, a prime example of
the phrase, “They just don’t make them like they used to.” From the
extra-thick basement walls to the heavy-duty attic beams and all of the
outstanding craftsmanship in between, it’s obvious that the
builders of this house took great pride in their work. Exuding unmatched
charm throughout, this house truly is one in a million. You’ll
absolutely love the sense of serenity you get whenever you step into
this home. You’ll be amazed at how the richness of the woodwork coupled
with the inspiring stained glass windows and antique fireplace create
such a calm, soothing atmosphere after a long, hard day at work.
And talk about character, this house is the ultimate in character,
exemplified in the still-original stained oak woodwork found in
abundance throughout the home, including numerous built-in cabinets, two
sets of pocket doors, dining room plate rails, crown molding, 5“-wide
door and window trim, as well as 5” window sills, and 7“ baseboards.
Beautifully refinished oak flooring flows throughout most of this
stunning home, except for the vinyl in the kitchen and main floor
half-bath, ceramic tile in the upstairs bath, and the original-stained
oak flooring still in one of the bedrooms.
The woodwork has straight-lined craftsman influences, and while the
style of the woodwork tends to be rather simplistic in nature, the
gleaming refinished oak flooring teamed with the breathtaking stained
glass windows and the old-fashioned freestanding, filigree-designed
radiators all blend together ever so nicely to add just a touch of
subtle
elegance, making this home exceptionally attractive. And, because a lot
of the plaster walls have been replaced by drywall, there’s not an
overwhelming amount of wallpaper remaining in this vintage home. So if
you’re looking for that “just right” historical house that offers the
extraordinary architectural details of the past, yet is not too
over-the-top, this very well could be it. Read on!
Most assuredly this home’s most outstanding features include two sets of
gorgeous stained glass windows, which brilliantly light up the night sky
during the evening hours, while inside radiating true breathtaking
elegance during sunlit hours. The stairway boasts one set of these
windows, where three giant stained glass windows, measuring a total area
of 5.5’x 9’, are located towering above a built-in bench seat, which is
the perfect place to sit down and relax with a good book and a hot cup
of cocoa while soaking up the sun’s warm rays on a cold winter’s day. In
addition, the bench also acts as a convenient storage unit for some of
those cherished treasures collected over the years.
The dining room sets the scene for the other set of stained glass, where
six stained glass windows, all adjacent to one another, span the width
of the dining room and sit atop a beautifully fabricated built-in china
cabinet. Located on the opposite wall is another original built-in
cabinet serving as a pass-through to the kitchen. This pass-through
cabinet is part of one of two floor-to-ceiling original-stained oak
cabinets found in the kitchen. Additionally noteworthy to the kitchen
are two oversized, side-by-side windows which overlook the property’s
large side lot and allow an ample amount of sunlight to shine in, giving
the kitchen a refreshingly bright appeal.
The living room features two column units on each side of the entrance,
facing an oak mirrored-mantled fireplace with olive tile surround. Added
privacy may be achieved by closing the two pocket doors dividing the
living room and dining room, or for a more open feeling, the pocket
doors may remain open.
Opposite the living room is an additional room which may be used as a
study, playroom, or music room for that piano you’ve always wanted. A
pocket door is found at this room’s entrance as well.
Ascending the beautifully polished stairs to the second floor, you’ll
find a generous hall landing large enough to display even more of your
beloved furniture. The bedrooms are located in each of the four corners
of the home. All but one of the bedrooms have closets, with two of the
bedroom closets being walk-ins. The original claw-foot tub, with added
shower surround, still remains in the updated second floor bathroom.
There is also a hall closet with a built-in dresser and shelves, and
next to this closet is a door leading to the astounding walk-up attic.
It’s here that you’ll discover an enormous amount of easily accessible
storage space, and with all the stand-up room this attic has to offer, a
secluded office, entertainment area, exercise room, quiet sitting room,
or even a fifth bedroom could be added. Dormer windows on all sides of
the attic provide magnificent views overlooking the property, while
allowing a lot of natural light to brighten the attic area.
Much worth mentioning, a wonderful advantage of owning this home is that
during the holidays you can relax a bit because all of that precious
time you usually spend decorating your home can now be spent with your
loved ones, since this house does not need a lot of added frills to make
it feel special at holiday time - it’s own existing natural built-in
décor provides that long-sought-after warm, peaceful ambience that is
quite reminiscent of the ideal storybook setting of holidays of old,
making it a dream-come-true during holiday seasons.
And what’s on the outside of this home is as good as what’s on the
inside. The spacious 30'x10’ welcoming front porch, back porch and large
yard set on 2-1/2 lots offer tremendous space for outdoor get-togethers.
Eat lunch or take an afternoon nap under any one of this property’s many
mature shade trees. And if you have young children, swinging them on a
swing hung from the large Maple tree in back will give them hours of
delight, plus make great memories that will last a lifetime. Have you
always wanted an elaborate garden, pool, or big playing field for the
kids? This property’s side lot would be ideal for any one of these, or a
combination.
Another highlight of the property is the huge barn, which is the
original carriage house that has been turned into a garage, with the
original horse stalls offering a remarkable amount of storage space.
And, the incredibly large 2nd floor loft area is great for hobbies,
additional storage, or even has the possibility of being renovated into
an office or entertainment center.
Judging by the many people in the past who have commented on how much
they love this extraordinary home, this definitely is one greatly admired house.
Originally owned by Fred Humiston, since then, for all but about five
years of it’s existence, this house has been owned by three generations
of Humiston’s descendants, the Davises. Thus, throughout much of the
past century this house has usually been referred to by the locals as
“The Davis Home.” The current seller, a Humiston descendant as well,
hopes to find a buyer who will love, respect, and deeply appreciate all
of the many fine attributes this home offers.
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