Carnegie Library, Estate of the Day
It's always been my dream to live in a library. You can live my dream in the former Carnegie library in Rockport, Massachusetts. The former library, which originally opened in 1906, has new life as a stately, luxurious residence with water views. The building was sold to private buyers for around $500,000 a couple of years ago and has been renovated into a single-family home with three bedrooms, 3.5 bathroom and an underground garage.
It doesn't look like a usual house and when you step through the granite arched entrance you find the library's huge rotunda and marble floor. The home has large bay windows, massive wood columns, a chef's kitchen and a granite patio. The property was restored to the standards of the State Historical Commission and is listed on the National Register of Historic Homes. This unique residence is listed at $2.75 million.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Dec 15th 2009 5:19PM
Ironically this manor house doesn't seem to have a library!
If were up to me I would set up 4 ft high circular shelves in that big empty foyer.
monet Dec 15th 2009 6:57PM
Seeing the exterior of the home first I would not have imagined what the interior looked like. Overall they did a fantastic job renovating. The only downside I can see from the pics is that it doesn't appear to have much in the way of a yard. Otherwise, lovely and inviting home
Spectacular Bid Dec 16th 2009 10:55AM
Now that is very charming and adheres to the principals of adapted reuse perfectly. The architect employed creative uses of the former public spaces and what had been the assorted rooms for the stacks.
The retaining of the original marble flooring with the inlaid design and pattern is a very nice touch. Further the core bones of the original building and the exterior are likely so well built that it can withstand many more years of the rough Maine winters.
Another example of a relatively smaller structure being far more interesting over any 12,000 sq ft McMansion. Here is another example, from Garrison NY, of a +/- 2,500 sq ft home that also is a gem for having so much original detail work:
http://www.mccaffreyrealty.com/listings/2900477/2900477.htm