Lighter and Brighter Than Your Average Castle, Hemlock Castle Available for $11.8M

Lighter and Brighter Than Your Average Castle, Hemlock Castle Available for $11.8M

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For a buyer with a regal pocketbook, Hemlock Castle in Greenwich, CT, is back on the market for $11.8 million.

Built sometime between 1902 and 1913, the Edwardian-style castle made of stone, brick, and slate is one of a kind. It sits on over 4 acres in one of the country’s most desirable markets.

“This property has a lot of things that are very unique. From the total square footage to the total acreage, there’s nothing like it around. It’s only a three-minute drive to downtown Greenwich and a 45-minute ride to Grand Central in New York City,” says listing agent Stephanie Bo Li, with Douglas Elliman.

The square footage totals 20,000, including the main house, a carriage house, and staff apartments. There are 14 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. The main house measures about 13,000 square feet and features eight ornate fireplaces and a grand entrance.

This house “has a lighter and brighter feel to it compared to a traditional castle, giving it a much more modern and homey feel,” Li says. “It’s wide and open with the tall columns and very high ceilings. It just has that grand feel without it feeling gaudy.”

Originally named Freestone Castle, it was designed a century ago by architect James C. Green.

Louise Putnam, the great-granddaughter of Revolutionary War hero Gen. Israel Putnam, built the castle, according to published reports. Legend says the general rode through the streets of Greenwich warning of an imminent attack by the British.

At one point, Harry H. Frazee, a theater producer and the owner of the Boston Red Sox, owned the home and threw huge parties.

There’s “a large dining room, which I think they used more like a ballroom. It has windows all around it, and it’s tall and bright,” Li explains, adding that the home also has a historic wine room that couldn’t be replicated today.

The current owners bought the estate in 2017 and gave it a major renovation, updating mechanicals and repairing structural systems.

“This house can stand for maybe another hundred years,” Li says. “Not all the things [they did] are visible to the eye, but they are very good for the house.”

Today, high-end appliances and technology are present throughout, including a media room and a modern gym with aerial hammocks.

“I’ve seen a lot of pricey properties in my real estate career worldwide, and a lot of them are newly built and in new developments,” Li says. “This [castle] is just something that’s incredibly unique. It’s got history, it’s got character, and it’s got charisma that a lot of properties don’t have.”

It also has versatility, Li adds. The main house, carriage house, and staff apartments could be configured in a variety of ways based on an owner’s desires.

The orientation of the castle takes full advantage of views of the surrounding land and manicured gardens.

“From many parts of the castle and when you walk and look around, not only do you get really amazing light, but also really amazing scenery because you’re surrounded by lush greens,” she says. “It really just feels like an oasis with everything at your fingertips.”

Security systems and gates control access to the property. Li says while it is exclusive, the house also feels extremely accessible.

The buyer “will be someone who has a sophisticated palate who understands unique and collector-types of properties,” she explains. “Someone who understands and appreciates the beauty of a stone castle and who knows how to take the current luxury and conveniences it provides and take it to the next level.”

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