Tusculum, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jul 14th 2007 at 1:02PM

It's no easy task to live in an older house especially one built in 1773. Tusculum was the summer home of Rev. John Witherspoon, a leading patriot, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and 6th president of Princeton University. When Avril and John Moore bought Tusculum in 1996 they undertook an epic remodel with restoration architect Jeffrey Clarke. An article on the HGTV website chronicles the work that took place. The old stone foundation had to be encased in concrete and the woodwork and mantels were refinished. The original house did have to be modified for modern conveniences like a gourmet kitchen, a family room and bedrooms. The property includes a main residence, stone embankment barn, caretakers' cottage and farm outbuildings dating from various years. All the outbuildings have been repaired, restored or re-built. The wine cellar holds 2,000 bottles and is entered through the special tasting room. It is listed at $12 million. After the jump, I think I'd rather live in the barn.