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(Photo courtesy of Saunders)

A 19th-century house with a separate guesthouse and lush plantings.

 

The nuts and bolts

4 bedrooms

3 bathrooms 

2,062 square feet

1 acre

House proud

“Lester House” is so named for its original 1865 owners, and is perched on a slight hilltop acre in “Eeltown,” one of Shelter Island’s earliest established neighborhoods. It was owned by the same family until 1916.

“Many homes in this area are prior to 1900, so it’s a very historically rich section of the island,” says Penelope Moore, the Saunders & Associates real estate agent representing the listing. “This house sits back from the road and set on over an acre, there are a variety of sweet private spots to garden, read, sunbathe or simply meander.” 

What’s the plan?

The stucco-clad home is entered through a glassed-in porch that runs nearly the width of the house, and leads into the foyer with a handsome spiral banister. To the right is the 430-square-foot living room with a wood-burning fireplace and to the left, a 177-square-foot family room with a hallway leading to a full bathroom and back patio. The kitchen is at the back of the house and offers access to both the patio and a 80-square-foot deck. Three bedrooms, including the 206-square-foot primary are on the second floor and share a full bathroom. Most of the rooms have the original wide-plan flooring and some have sloped or vaulted ceilings that lend authentic charm.

What’s cooking?

The 220-square-foot kitchen’s U-shaped cabinet configuration leaves plenty of space for a dining table, as well as ample room for multiple chefs in the kitchen. White Shaker-style cabinets include glass-paned upper cabinets. In addition to the two egress doors, there are windows along every wall. Wainscoting leads up to the vaulted ceiling, which features wooden beams.

What else?

There is a heated carriage house with a 370-square-foot bedroom and full bath. The front sun porch is heated for year-round use. 

Amenities and more

  • Wood-burning fireplace 
  • Large outdoor shower 
  • 798 square-foot brick patio and outdoor brick BBQ

One cool thing (or two)

(Photo courtesy of Saunders)

The Shelter Island Reporter highlighted a unique feature of the house: “the only circular staircase on Shelter Island.” It further noted the mahogany staircase is a “work of art, with intricate needlework depicting island life in the late 1800s. In 1972, a former owner remarked that he “fell in love with it and bought [the house] in 15 minutes.”

 

Agent’s callout 

“It is a home that is both enveloping in that you feel “embraced” by it, but it is spacious in that the house flows one room after the other, one surprise that follows another,” says Moore. 

Location, location, location

Lester House is .2 miles from Coecles Harbor Marina & Boatyard and .8 from Little Cedar Island. Nearby is the Shelter Island Tidal Wetlands Area, near Congdon’s Creek. It’s about 2.5 miles to Shelter Island Heights, near the North Ferry route. 

 

Details

The history-rich home at 80 North Cartwright Road lists for $1,995,000 and the details can be seen here.

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