Up until 9 years ago, this home remained in the Eldridge family. It was passed down from generation to generation until the current owners purchased it. But before they did, they had to interview for the property.
It’s not just any historical home, it’s one of the most pristinely preserved historical homes imaginable according to JP & Associates Realtor Hannah Hess.
The three-story Victorian was built in 1892 by the eldest Eldridge who was an attorney. He was a bit of a traveller, too, and made his way to the World’s Fair in Chicago where he found three fireplaces he couldn’t live without, so he had them shipped via train to Gainesville.
They still remain in the home today (plus one bonus fireplace that was purchased elsewhere) and Hess said there’s not a single scratch on any of them.
Not only is this home massive – it’s 4,329 square feet – it’s also been very, very well cared for over the years and almost completely original. As in, there’s isn’t central HVAC.
The home’s coziness is provided by old-school heaters. Of course, the electrical has been updated and the kitchen as well. It’s modern with custom cabinets, stainless steel, and granite, but it blends seamlessly with the rest of the house.
The woodworking – and there’s a ton – is worth its own write up. There isn’t a stitch of paint on any of it. Hess said the intricate baseboards are continued into the closets and that’s a real spare-no-expense sort of detail.
Obviously, Eldridge was a man of considerable means and had the taste level to go along with it. In fact, the pocket doors were hand carved by a spoon. And those shutters you see in just about every photo? Those were pretty advanced at the time – they move as a single unit and independently so you can control the level of sunshine streaming in.
J.G. Garrett designed and built by the home. His signature was a keyhole stained glass window. It’s still there today and completely original.
Downtown Gainesville is one block away and it’s adorable.
There are boutiques and mom-and-pop restaurants and it’s a community that supports one another. Pre-COVID, Hess said once a month a live band would play on the square and everyone was invited. Farmer’s Markets are a regular thing and neighbors definitely call each other by name.
With telecommuting, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Slack, and everything else that became a thing last year, suddenly living in Gainesville and working in Dallas doesn’t seem like such a stretch.
If you’d like to take a look, give Hess a call. She grew up in nearby Muenster so not only does she know just about everything about this three-story Victorian, she’s a bit of a local expert, too.
This grandest of grand four-bedroom, one-and-one-half-bath homes at 326 S. Dixon Street is currently listed for $399,000.
