In 1915, the year the home at 3409 Newark St. NW was built, Washingtonians used the trolley for travel. One popular destination was Glen Echo Amusement Park, where local families had been enjoying amusement-park rides and the Spanish Ballroom for more than a quarter of a century.
The trolleys and Glen Echo’s heyday are a memory, but the Victorian Newark Street home retains its charm. Now on the market for $1,995,000, this Cleveland Park gem has been updated with modern amenities that complement the home’s history.
Modern tastes are amply satisfied with recessed lighting and spotlights in every room, skylights, updated bathrooms and an updated kitchen, along with the original ceiling heights of 9 feet 7 inches to 9 feet 11 inches on the first floor and 8 feet 8 inches on the second floor.
Original elements of the home include four working wood-burning fireplaces, front and rear stairs, and pine flooring on the main and upper levels. Recent owners have added such custom touches as built-in bookcases throughout the home, which provide both storage and decorative interest.
Previous owners designed the home with features that allow a disabled family member to move about the residence with ease and that also function for the rest of the family. An elevator links all three levels, a lovely brick ramp connects the brick patio to the upper level of the garden, and the master bath includes grab bars for safety.
For outdoor pleasure, the front of the home includes a deep porch, which wraps around one side of the house, with painted blue wood flooring and a painted blue wood ceiling.
The front yard includes a brick walkway and a spectacular Japanese maple tree, while the back yard includes a brick patio. The brick-walled rear garden includes a round sitting area surrounded by flower beds and trees for privacy and has been enhanced with lighting and an underground sprinkler system.
Inside, guests can be welcomed in a traditional center hall with two coat closets tucked underneath the front stairs.
Throughout the home, closets and built-in shelving have been added to maximize storage.
To the left of the foyer, a set of pocket doors opens onto the double living room, which has a wide central arch connecting the two spaces. The front section, currently in use as a music room, overlooks the front porch.
The back section includes a corner fireplace with a mantel and a bay window with shuttered windows and deep window sills, which can be used for displaying artwork or photos.
The main level also includes a unique library, which has been customized with three antique arched doors imported from Italy and placed along one wall. The center door has glass panes, which reveal the books on the shelves that have been built into the wall, while the other two doors must be opened to reveal their treasure of books and CDs. The library also includes a deep bay window with shutters.
Past the library is the formal dining room, which includes a built-in buffet with cabinets underneath, a corner closet for storing linens and china, and a door to the side yard.
The eat-in kitchen, accessible from both the dining room and living room, includes cream-colored tile counters, Mexican tile flooring, plenty of tall cherry cabinets, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, a trash compactor and extensive pantry space.
The hall that links the living room and kitchen includes custom pantry space and a charming tile powder room. One wall of the kitchen includes a fireplace with decorative tiles at each corner.
Across the back of the home is the family room addition, a sun-filled space of nearly 30 feet by 13 feet with walls of floor-to-ceiling windows with transoms on three sides. Two atrium doors flanked by columns link this room with the back yard.
Along one interior wall is a fireplace with a mantel, and behind a set of doors is a complete bar with a refrigerator. Between the family room and the dining room is additional built-in pantry space for glassware.
Two staircases lead from the main hall to the upper level, which has hardwood flooring.
At the back of this level overlooking the garden is the master suite, which includes a large bedroom with a vaulted tray ceiling with cove lighting.
Skylights have been added to the room, along with built-in bookcases. A raised-tile area includes a corner fireplace and leads to a private deck overlooking the garden. An outdoor shower has been added to the deck.
Multiple closets and built-in dressers flank the bedroom, which has a private full bath including a whirlpool tub, a separate shower, etched glass windows and a double-sink vanity. The master bath is linked to a hall that includes two more walk-in closets and has access to the second bedroom.
The two additional bedrooms on this level each include built-in bookshelves, and one includes a built-in desk. The upper level also includes a home office overlooking the side yard with built-in bookcases and cabinets and a full bath with a washer, dryer and linen closet. Along the hall are built-in bookcases and extra closets.
The finished lower level includes a central carpeted recreation room with a wine closet and built-in cabinets. An arched entry with columns connects the recreation room to a kitchenette with multiple cabinets and counters, plus a sink and refrigerator.
Beyond the kitchenette is a full bath. Each of two additional bedrooms on this level includes built-in bookcases. Other closets and a large unfinished storage area complete this level.
The attic also has an unfinished storage area.
Although life has changed in Washington since 1915, the appeal of a warm and welcoming family retreat is timeless.
Address: 3409 Newark St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Community: Cleveland Park
Age: Built in 1915
Price: $1,995,000
Size: Lot size of 7,435 square feet
Taxes: $8,252
Exterior features: Victorian-style house with shingle-shake siding with sloping roof; mature trees including Japanese maples; brick front walk leading to wraparound front porch; side yard accessible from dining room; professionally landscaped back yard including underground sprinkler system and lighting, brick patio and brick-walled round sitting area with grass, flowers and trees
Interior features: Five bedrooms; three full baths; one powder room; double living room; formal dining room with built-ins; library with custom woodwork designed around imported wood doors, bay window; tile flooring, a fireplace and cherry cabinets in eat-in kitchen; family room with fireplace, bar and floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides facing garden; master suite including vaulted ceilings, skylights, fireplace and bath; two additional upper-level bedrooms; full bath with laundry room; private upper-level study; finished lower level with two more bedrooms, full bath, kitchenette, recreation room, storage rooms and wine cellar
Amenities: Elevator; four fireplaces; handicapped features including grab bars in master bath and brick ramp in yard; private deck off master bedroom; central air conditioning; unfinished attic
Close by: Wisconsin Avenue and Connecticut Avenue for buses and Metro, easy access to downtown
Open house: Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Contact: Realtor Sherry Davis of W.C. & A.N. Miller at 301/996-3220
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