Rural Luxury

Modern living at an antique farmhouse estate

Built for Captain Peter Salmond of England in 1683, the antique farmhouse located at 60 Allen Street in Pembroke has a rich and storied history. The garage was once Pembroke’s first post office. False cupboards were once used as crawl spaces — first used as a space to hide from the Native Americans, and later as a way to pass food and water to slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. Situated on over four acres of beautiful pastures, the home retains a rustic country charm while providing tastefully appointed modern amenities.

From 1808 until 1980 the home passed was home to several generations of the Foster family, ending with Lydia Clemonds, who had been born on the property at 94 years old was forced to leave the home because it lacked a septic system. When “Aunt Lydia,” as she was known in town, passed away in 1981, the house was in danger of falling into ruin. Thanks to the industrious renovations of the home’s subsequent owners, however, the antique house was transformed into a modernized and luxurious country residence.

What makes this house wonderful is the careful manner in which the décor honors the home’s 17th century origins while still managing to accommodate modern day enhancements. Yes, the doors all have old metal latches, but the house also comes equipped with a centrally monitored security system. Five different fireplaces are served by one central chimney, but the house also boasts three different types of ventilation — a combined heating, air conditioning, and humidification system.

A new first floor addition is home to a marvelous great room with post and beam construction and a large fireplace with a spiral staircase that ascends to a lofted study. The great room and three season patio have four modern skylights, but the panels of leaded glass that flank the entrance to the home are bent and bubbled with centuries of wear.

The fully renovated kitchen features Italian soapstone counters and new appliances. There’s also a beehive oven if you feel like baking your pizza the old fashioned way. The living room, dining room, and “keeping room,” a term used in colonial times to refer to a room off of the kitchen, all have original wide pine floors and brick fireplaces with a charming old world fade.

A short flight of stairs takes you to the three bedrooms and one bathroom of the second floor. Slanted floors and box shaped bedrooms are subtle reminders of the home’s age.
Just when you think you’ve seen the whole house, there’s the third floor. Behind a door that looks like it’d lead to another closet, is a winding staircase that takes you to the magnificent master bedroom suite. There are nooks to hide away and read in, as well as an outdoor balcony where you can enjoy the view. With its own fireplace and a luxurious bathroom, complete with walk-in shower, steam room, Jacuzzi tub, and surround sound, this may be the part of the house you’ll never want to leave.

The yard boasts acres of wonderful outdoor scenery including nearly twenty fruit and nut trees and an herb garden. Large mouthed bass and ducks swim in the ¾ acre fresh water pond and a herring run acts as a border to the side of the property. Fully functioning horse stables and a paddock are also available.

The marble floored three-season porch is right off the great room and overlooks the herb garden. Capped with skylights, one of the key features of this room is another historic treasure: the stained-glass window from 1865.

The home’s garage (that was once the post office) offers protection for cars and a lofted space, accessed from inside the house via a separate staircase, provides additional storage space.

For those who are looking to expand, an additional 3.12 acres is available for purchase. Although the property abuts the Herring Run Park, which is part of the Woodland Trust, 60 Allen Street is not on the official historical register, which gives future owners the freedom to make changes as they wish—not that they’d necessarily want to. The house as is a perfect mix of rustic New England charm and modern comfort.