05/17/2023
Just Listed:
Welcome to the Albert B. Murdough House. Refined and exquisite, this stately 1895 Colonial Revival has been architecturally restored to its original splendor merged with modern luxury, moments from Oakley Country Club & Arsenal Yards.
The main level features soaring ceilings and a circular layout, original white oak hardwood floors, and historic wood paneling. A minimalist's dream kitchen, with custom fir cabinets and Calacatta marble countertops is located at the heart of the home with direct access to a covered porch, garden & 2-car garage with EV charger. Each component of the kitchen was designed as functional art.
The music, living and dining rooms each have distinctive features: curved walls, everlasting knot walnut inlays, working fireplace & leaded windows with Fleur de Lis motif, coffered ceiling & large windows with custom handmade window treatments.
A grand staircase leads to the top 2 floors past stained glass windows to a majestic hallway with archway, 5 well-proportioned bedrooms, & 3 gorgeous bathrooms including a primary suite spa-like sanctuary.
A quality home to set the stage for a life well lived.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
(describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within community)
This 2-1/2 story, hipped roof house is almost a primer on Colonial Revival motifs. It has the regularity of massing and symmetry of the style. Corner pilasters with corinthian capitals, support a full entablature. Above a one story entrance porch is a deeply inset Palladian window with an inverted shell motif for the center window. The porch itself is supported by paired thin columns with composite capitals . Gable arches insert at the roof line and window panels have carved floral/coat of arms motifs while pedimented gable dormers have a carved fleur-de-lis ornament. First story windows have leaded glass lights and window surrounds are architrave, segmental arched and pedimented for variety.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
(explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community)
Albert B. Murdough was a builder and contractor who had his offices at 17 Main Street in 1905. While H.W. Macurday put up many of the houses of the l890s in Whiting Park and Russell Street, A.B. Murdough was also an active builder in the town during this period of construction and growth. His house, described above as a primer of Colonial Revival decorative detail , was located in a very central area of importance to a builder and contractor: in Watertown's most actively growing and affluent neighborhood. The Russell family was among the first to sell their land for residential development begining (sic) 1882-84, and houses built up quickly along Russell Avenue. Murdough's house was not one of the first but formed an important addition to a street which one local resident cited in 1892 as sure to have fine architecture and garden-like settings.
Source: The Massachusetts Historical Commission document attached herewith recorded by the Architectural Preservation Association; Dept. of Comm. Devel. & Planning, dated September 10, 1982
25 Russell Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472 is a single family home listed for sale at $2,500,000. This is a 5-bed, 3.5-bath, 4,304 sqft property.
