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Value-Packed Easton Property Features Links To Hemingway, History

EASTON, Conn. -- Homebuyers can find fascinating history lessons in many Fairfield County homes. One of the most intriguing properties is for sale at 7 Old Redding Road in Easton, where Ernest Hemingway once presumably penned parts of his novel “A Farewell to Arms.”

An Easton home where author Ernest Hemingway once stayed in the late 1920s is on the market.

An Easton home where author Ernest Hemingway once stayed in the late 1920s is on the market.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
The living room is open and spacious.

The living room is open and spacious.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
The home has several original working fireplaces, including this one in the dining room.

The home has several original working fireplaces, including this one in the dining room.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
The home has a magnificent library.

The home has a magnificent library.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

The home on the 3.51-acre property was built in 1780 and features four bedrooms and five baths in 4,608 square feet of space. It is listed by Jill Kelly and Sarah Keenan of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty for $1.549 million.

“It’s stunning,’’ Kelly said. “It has a remarkable presence.”

Hemingway stayed at the house in the late 1920s when he was married to Pauline Pfeiffer. She was the daughter of Gustav Pfeiffer, who owned a patent medicine company in St. Louis and was one of the key players in the development of Easton. Gustav lived at the Moses Dimon House, next door to the property for sale. He purchased about 20 homes in the region, and had a vision to turn the neighborhood into Williamsburg North, according to the Easton Historical Society.

Pauline and Hemingway stayed at the house in the late 1920s. While it is unproven, most local historians believe the celebrated author wrote parts of “A Farewell to Arms” at the home. The novel was published in 1929. The couple married in May 1927.

Looking at pictures of the home, people can use their imagination to visualize Hemingway at work. The home was also residence of Robert Pfeiffer, a Harvard University professor and expert on the Bible’s Old Testament. Citing Robert’s affiliation with the home, some refer to it as the “Harvard House.” The property’s current owners were also frequent users of the books in the home’s expansive library.

“It’s jam-packed with materials,’’ said Kelly, who added the current owner is a descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. “There’s a lot of reference books and original works.”

The main structure was built in 1780, but two additions were built in the 1930s by renowned architect Cameron Clark, who restored several other nearby homes. The home has been well-maintained over the years and hardly shows its age.

“The family has made a great effort to maintain it,’’ Kelly said. “The cedar shake shingle roof is new. There’s a three-car garage. The wide board floors run throughout the home and they’re just wonderful. There’s so much history to it.”

The living room includes two huge fireplaces, and the entire house feels spacious and open.

“I think potential buyers will be surprised by the scale of the rooms,’’ Kelly said. “There are high ceilings, wonderful detail and the original fireplaces work well. The home has antique hardware throughout, including a front door lock. with a huge key. God only knows how far back that goes.”

The property includes an in-ground swimming pool with a nearby changing room. Aspetuck Valley Country Club sits nearby, and the home is also convenient to shopping districts in Westport and Fairfield. The property includes mature plantings and large areas of open space.

“It’s a stunning piece of property with a great history,’’ Kelly said. “For the price, it’s a great value.”

Click here to visit the listing website.

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