Wetherbee Farm Real Estate

Ashby, MA

Offered at $1,800,000

For more information, contact either:

Gladys Fox -- Massachusetts office
Tel: 888-635-0801        Fax: 978-635-9418
wfre@comcast.net
Linda Hampson -- New Hampshire office
Tel: 888-674-6773       Fax: 603-532-0737
lindahampson@comcast.net
Ashby, MA

Property Description: Properties like this exquisite 61-acre retreat are rare! It is such an idyllic setting with its lovely lawns, stonewalls, and pastures! The grounds are expansive and offer an incredible variety of gardens, woods, lawns, and stone walls, but there is much more here, including a small pond with a private beach, a putting green with a sandtrap, and an apple orchard. Moreover, there is still ample room to build a full equestrian facility; imagine how a beautifully designed indoor arena, larger barn, and huge fenced paddocks would look here!  

Featuring a restored and expanded circa-1850, center-chimney Colonial with many original features - including a beehive oven and 4 fireplaces – the entire property reflects its fine design, materials, and craftsmanship. Wide-pine floors appear throughout the home; they are in prime condition, as is the rest of the property.Within the past seven years, the major systems were replaced; in the main house there are three furnaces and central air conditioning – seldom found in antique homes. While the home offers all the modern conveniences, the owners respected the home’s antiquity while enlarging and enhancing its spaces. It has retained its charm, appealing warmth and dignity with its nooks, crannies, built-ins, and delightful woodworking.

In the main house is a custom kitchen whose highlights include dramatic overhead lighting, a large island, a delightful bank of windows, wide pine floors, and a convenient desk for menu organizing or bill paying. The kitchen is nestled between two dining rooms – one formal for those elegant dinners, and one for the family’s everyday use. A built-in wood stove warms the 15 x 18 family room while two window walls allow the sunshine to cascade into this wonderful space with its cathedral ceiling. All who enter this room enjoy the ambiance - especially during those crisp fall and winter months when they can revel over the crackling sounds emanating from the wood stove.  

Not far from the family room is the private stairway leading to the new, superbly designed, airy, welcoming master suite. Drama permeates the master bedroom; it is difficult to know where to look first, whether at the cathedral ceiling whose lines create intriguing angles, or at the custom cherry corner cabinet, a cleverly designed home to both an entertainment center and fireplace. As in the family room, the windows are large, framing gorgeous views of the grounds – including the private pond, gardens, and lawns that seemingly go on forever. The drama continues into the striking master bath.

On the second floor, accessed by another staircase, are four bedrooms surrounding a central gathering room with a fireplace; these bedrooms share a private updated bath. Unlike many antique homes, this one offers ample closets and other storage space.  Although there is a large amount of family space here, guests are obviously welcome and pampered. On the first floor is a beautiful guest suite, complete with a bedroom abutting a lovely sitting room.

Here, nothing is forgotten nor any detail overlooked! The grounds and outbuildings are as extraordinary as the home itself, including professional landscaping that features a "rainforest pergola" centered above a koi pond, beautiful gardens wherever one looks, and an in ground Gunite pool – perfect for entertaining with its stone patio, massive stone wall surround, and wonderful views. Extremely well-designed, the three-room pool house has air conditioning and a screened porch, while its full kitchen offers an antique stove and granite countertops. Take full advantage of the spa room with a four-person sauna, a sunken Jacuzzi, and mahogany floors. Adding tremendous convenience to this building are a full bath, a laundry facility, and a full basement for storing pool furniture and equipment.

While meandering around this fantastic property, you will notice several other beautifully designed outbuildings. The carriage house has a separate furnace, air conditioning, and fabulous storage for motorcycles, cars, or those spaces can become horse stalls. It features a five-room office on the second floor, including a bath and kitchen. With its own private entrance and parking, it is a perfect building to use as barn manager or trainer’s apartment. The “Little Red Barn” provides wonderful basement storage, and a heated first floor with a professional lift for vehicle maintenance work. There is more storage on the second floor.  The last outbuilding is unique – it is a brand new, fully functional sugarhouse. Collect the sap on the 61 acres and experience the joy of "sugaring off" right on your own property!  What a fun, quintessentially New England pastime!  

Amenities:  Multiple fireplaces off the central chimney, wide pine floors throughout, cathedral ceilings, great storage, sprinkler and security systems, heated garage, five-room office, gardens, spa with Jacuzzi and sauna, small private pond with beach, putting green, apple orchard. 

Property Details
Style Center Chimney Antique Colonial Exterior / color Grey
Year Built 1850 completely renovated and enhanced Construction Frame
Rooms 11 in main home, 3 in pool house, 5 in carriage house Roof Asphalt
Bedrooms Foundation Fieldstone
Full Baths 3 in main house, 1 in pool house, 1 in carriage house Driveway Paved
Half Baths Acreage 61
3/4 Baths Road Frontage 320 feet
Flooring Wide pine, tile, wall-to-wall carpeting Water Body Small private pond with beach
Garage 4-car, heated, work area with lift, 3 story Water Two private wells
Basement Main house, garage, carriage house, pool house Electric Four new 200 amp panels. Two for main home, one for pool house, one for carriage house and barn runs off that, and one 100 amp panel for the sugar house
Footprint Irregular Sewer Private septic
Living Area 4,478 sf Heat System/Fuel Forced air, HWBB, Oil

Room Dimensions
Living Room 14 x 23
Dining Room 12 x 16
Family Room 15 x 18
Kitchen 11 x 16
Master Bedroom 21 x 21
Bedroom 2 10 x 16
Bedroom 3 20 x 20
Bedroom 4 13 x 16
Bedroom 5 10 x 27
Exercise Room 13 x 16
Office 10 x 11
Foyer   7 x 9
Laundry
Water Heater Oil
Equipment
Surveyed  Yes

Equestrian Amenities
Barn Yes
Indoor Arena No
Outdoor Arena No
Paddocks No
Trails Yes
School district: Employee Apt(s) 5 room suite/office above barn
Taxes/Year Lot Description Lawns, woods, rolling
Book/Page MCROD 26580 / 478