3097 Fairmount Boulevard (1997)
An aura of serene elegance is evoked by this magnificent home of Georgian and Federal influences. Located in the Fairmount Boulevard District of the National Register of Historic Places, this home, built in 1917, was designed for William H. Prescott by the prestigious architectural firm of Walker and Weeks.
Originally, formal gardens connected this residence with that of its neighbor at 3085 Fairmount, which, by more than happenstance, was owned by William Prescott's brother, Orville. Undoubtedly, these were gentlemen of discerning taste, for they had chosen as architects of their homes the same firm which designed Severance Hall, and the designers of their joint formal garden were none other than the Olmsted brothers, who were celebrated nationally for their outstanding design of Central Park in New York. One lone fir tree now stands in tribute to the vision of both the Prescott and Olmsted brothers.
The home still boasts original copper gutters with decorative scuppers as well as a slate roof. The strong Georgian influence is seen in the symmetry of the front façade, with a departure to the Federal, as seen in the first floor French windows set into brick overarches.
An unusual feature of this home is that there is no front entrance; however, entry through the porte-cochere leads into a grand main hall with its view of a marvelous staircase wending its way up to the third floor. French doors lead from the hallway to the living room, which contains many pieces of exceptional antique furniture and two "double entendre" prints. The library has built-in bookcases, one of which has been turned into an entertainment center. The window-filled walls of the library leave no room for radiators; this room instead is warmed by convection heaters under the floor. An antique player piano as well as several pieces of Amazon art, collected by the owners while in the Peace Corps, can be seen in the library.
The dining room contains the original silver wall sconces and chandelier. Off of the dining room is a linen pantry with a convenient laundry chute. In the butler's pantry is a copper wringer washer with a gas jet underneath to heat the wash water. The cabinets in this pantry are original while those in the kitchen were added later, but made to match those in the pantry.
The beds in the guest and master bedrooms are antique cast iron. The beautiful master bathroom was created by the current owners out of four separate spaces. The built-in linen closet in the bathroom is original, while the other cabinets and fixtures were added, designed to look like originals.
One of the bedrooms has been turned into a dressing room filled with vintage clothing; another is now a comfortable sitting room. The "flamingo room" was originally a summer sleeping porch. The two third floor bedrooms included on the tour have beautiful arched windows and interesting ceiling lines created by the eaves of the house.
The owners' enthusiasm for and love of this home is evidenced throughout by their painstaking and considerable attention to all details from electrical and plumbing work to asbestos removal to exquisite and unusual decorative items found throughout the home.