Second Chances Are Rare – Don’T Miss This Opportunity!!

The previous buyer has changed their mind about moving cross-country so this unbelievable 5-bedroom 1.5 bath Queen Anne Victorian home in the heart of Island Falls Maine is back on the market and waiting to be restored to its former glory.  The home sits on a well-manicured 0.9+/- acre lot in the middle of Island Falls.  The home has a large wrap around front porch as well as a smaller side porch. 

The home was built in 1893 by George Kelley, a Timber Baron/lumberman in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Inside the home, many of the historic features have been preserved.  In the kitchen are the original cupboards including a built-in flour bin drawer style bread board.  In true Victorian tradition, the kitchen gives direct access to the formal dining room as well as the butler’s pantry, the side porch, the cold storage room, and the formal living room.  In the dining room you will notice the stained-glass windows that run throughout the public spaces of the downstairs as well as the master bedroom upstairs. The built-in buffet/China cabinet and corner cupboard as well as the detailed woodwork are reminders of the late 1800’s tradition of large families and “the good China”.  The concentric squares of the hardwood floor in this room as well as the plate rail that runs around the room are subtle reminders that everything centers on the table. On the ceiling you can glimpse the plaster medallion from which the chandelier hangs (they brought it down through the dropped ceiling when they installed it in the 1970’s as an energy saving measure). The formal living room has a traditional hardwood floor and a hand-crafted mantle that shows the talent of the artisan who create it. The front parlor boasts a true parquet floor as well as large pocket doors that isolate it from the living room when pulled shut. The ornate woodwork and carvings throughout the home testify to the workmanship of its builders.  The original entry door and manual doorbell were left intact as well as the curved staircase with its ornate carvings and banister. The master bedroom is located just above the front parlor and echoes the downstairs with its stained-glass windows, hardwood floors and accented woodwork which are also evident in the hallway and the other 3 bedrooms in this area. The 5th bedroom is located on an offset hallway that leads to the back stairs to the kitchen. The home’s full bath is also located off this hallway (This home is reported to be the first in Island Falls to have an actual flush toilet) In the bathroom is the entrance to the attic stairway and ultimately the cupola. The sleeping porch overlooking the southern driveway still has the chain for a hanging swing attached to its slatted ceiling.  Much of this home’s original wiring (knob and tube style) is also still in place.  The cold storage area off the kitchen gives way to the barn. The barn/carriage house does have enough room for a smaller vehicle and has entrances on both the south and north sides. It features a large loft-style storage area above with access stairs. The basement still has the remnants of the cistern (used for collecting water prior to the advent of town water supplies) as well as the hand pump for accessing the water.

The home does have some modern updates as well. In the kitchen, they have removed the wood cook stove (and discontinued its chimney) and installed a gas range and electric refrigerator. They have also added a laundry area in the kitchen.  The fireplace in the living room has a lined chimney and is fitted for a wood stove insert.  A direct-vent propane heater on the opposite end of the living room. That and the fireplace are the home’s only functional heat at the present time.  The original ladies’ day room is now a half bath and could easily be upgraded to a second full bath.  The entryway itself was “updated” with wood paneling in the 1970’s but could be restored to plaster for a more authentic look.  There are dropped ceilings in many of the rooms that could be removed for aesthetics as well.  Some of the electric (including the entrance and circuit breaker box) are updated and the plumbing is still functional. The bathroom has been “modernized” over the years as well making it somewhat disconnected in style from the rest of the house.  The home is now serviced by the town water district and has its own septic system.

Outside, the sloping back lawn features apple trees, a patch of rhubarb, flower gardens and a patch of fiddlehead ferns as well as a tree border for plenty of privacy.  Whether gardening is your idea of outdoor fun, or you love to ride snowmobiles, bikes or ATVS or fish and hunt there are plenty of outdoor activities just outside your door.  From the back yard you have direct access to both ATV and snowmobile trails. The Mattawamkeag River is just a minute’s walk from the front door.  Within the Town of Island falls you will find 2 lakes for boating, swimming, and fishing as well as the river.  The town itself, aptly named for a small riffling fall near an island in the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag River, is in Southern Aroostook County and has a population of approximately 835 people.  There is a grocery store, a small café, a gas station, and an auto repair garage as well as a world-renowned yoga studio in one of the oldest homes in town.  This is small town America.  Many Amish have settled here and provide storage buildings, furniture, and workmanship/labor to the area in addition to an abundance of farm fresh produce.  There are potato farms around the area and plenty of forest land open to hunters and hikers.  If you are looking for the quiet life away from the city, Island Falls is a great place to consider.