the staff of the Ridgewood blog
MIDLAND PARK NJ , Looking for a unique home that blends old world character with modern living? Then, the historical Myers-Masker House in Midland Park, NJ, may be for you. Located on an acre of park-like property at 179 Park Avenue in the borough, the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and recently hit the real estate market at $850,000.
“It’s a unique home with lots of personality, and with that personality comes a lot of history,” said Jo Ann Cotz-Levine, the current homeowner who worked on the meticulous renovation of the home in the mid-1980s. “The home represents the 19th century more than any other period. So when we renovated, we looked to modernize the home while maintaining the historical nature of that period. ” She and her husband, Julian Levine, have continued to care for and protect the home for the last 30 years.
The original core of the home, which was built in the latter part of the 1700s and also known in historical records as the Babock-Van Iderstine House, is of Dutch construction. Its stucco and brownstone exterior still exists today. In the 1830s, the roof of the home was raised and a second floor was added. A Victorian-style addition was added around 1870. It was meticulously renovated in the mid-1980s, when the homeowners took great care modernizing the home, while maintaining nearly all of its historical glory and allure. They took the home room by room, making efforts retain the original elements, bringing back its history while ensuring modern comfort.
“This rare and unique piece of history is a combination of late 18th century, Victorian, and 20th century architecture, ands stands as majestically as it did when first built,” added Cotz-Levine. Records also show that the earliest known church services in the area were held in the home, and the home has links to the 19th-century Wortendyke Linen Manufacturing family.
When guests step through the original entrance to this historical structure, they are greeted with rooms filled with natural light, wide plank floors and high ceilings. The home’s first floor is equipped with a modern kitchen, dining room, family room with a fireplace, a breakfast room, den, a half bathroom, and one of the home’s six bedrooms. This floor also contains a full bathroom that has been completely updated, but still maintains the 1928 subway tile. The second level of the home boasts a Master Bedroom Suite and two additional large bedrooms. The Master Suite includes a laundry room, and sleeping porch. A third level has two more bedrooms and a reading nook.
The home also has plenty of space for extended family. An attached Carriage House, which is accessible from the main house as well as through its own exterior entrance, is equipped with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, modernized full bathroom, living room, and laundry. The home is also within walking distance of local New Jersey Transit bus lines.
“The home is a rare offering in this section of Bergen County, and its old-world charm and modern convenience remain consistent with its overall historical legacy,” says Vivienne Muldoon, a Realtor Associate with Special Properties Real Estate Services, an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, who currently represents the property on the real estate market. “The home has been a labor of love for the current owner for more than 30 years, so the ideal buyer of this home and property is someone who values history and is willing to be its caretaker well into the future.”
For more information on the property, call Vivienne Muldoon at 201-398-5189.
About Special Properties Real Estate Services
Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC, the recipient of the Christie’s Affiliate of the Year award in 2017 and 2018, is an exclusive Affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate. Christie’s International Real Estate is a powerhouse global real estate network of more than 31,000 agents across 50 countries, representing an annual sales volume of more than $100 billion. Special Properties has offices in Mahwah, Franklin Lakes/Wyckoff, Ridgewood, Ho-Ho-Kus, Hoboken, Allendale/Ramsey, Montclair and Summit, NJ. With a staff of accomplished real estate agents and brokers, its clients are provided with the highest levels of customer service and customized, personalized real estate services. Special Properties provides local expertise with global connections. For more information, call 201-962-9552 or visit www.specialpropertiesres.com.