Southern classic on 17 parklike acres in Lancaster

This country estate built in 2001 has over 5,000 square feet of living space with five bedrooms and three and a half baths. The home is on 17 parklike acres with numerous trees, plank fencing, a barn and a large pond.

Scarcely a hint remains of the chaos and dilapidation that greeted Sue and Ron Sutton when they first found the property at 309 Perry Rogers Road in Lancaster.

“When she first brought me out here it was horribly grown up with locust trees and hackberries,” Ron said of the then ramshackle farm. “There was sad patchwork metal tool shed and a barn ready to collapse.”

They waded through tall weeds and brambles, surveying the property as best they could. Then Sue announced that she “could envision the place as a beautiful building spot.”

“I thought she was dafter than a duck,” Ron said. “I thought this woman had lost her mind, oh lord why does she want this place?”

But Sue’s vision prevailed. They bought the property in 1999 and set out cleaning it up. Bulldozers were brought in to clear the land and dig the pond.

Both Sue and Ron are admirers of William Poole, the Wilmington, North Carolina architect known for creating warm and romantic living spaces based on southern classic architecture.

“We were moving here from an early 1800s house on my husband’s family farm,” said Sue, a retired teacher. “I wanted that kind of older look and feel for my new house.”

SHOWCASE FOR KENTUCKY TRADITIONS

The Greek revival style house has a large columned porch with a swing and a sitting area flanking the front entrance. Inside, the foyer has a staircase and wide red oak hardwood that continues throughout. To one side is a formal living room with a fireplace. To the other side is a dining room that opens into the eat-in kitchen.

Extra wide wood moldings, archways, transoms and 10-foot ceilings on the first floor are characteristic of the William Poole style and provide an appropriate backdrop for many antiques.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed chasing after antiques nearly our whole married life,” said Ron, a retired pharmacist. “Like most couples we went through the plastic furniture phase. That’s all we could afford when we got married.”

Sue notes that they try to buy locally when possible and have an affinity for Kentucky pieces such as the Jackson Press in their dining room.

The traditional setting is also a fitting showcase for Sue’s masterful needlepoint and counted cross stitch pieces. Bell pulls, pillows, samplers, and wall hangings large and small add to the home’s charm.

The den with built-in bookcases and a custom-built mantel opens onto an outdoor brick and concrete courtyard with a fountain and a view of the one and a half acre pond with dock.

The spacious first-floor master suite bath has a large cast iron free standing tub and two walk-in closets.

A back staircase provides additional access to the second floor with three bedrooms, two full baths, and a large bonus area that could be an office, exercise room or a bedroom. There is an abundance of closets and storage areas.

DESIGNATED CHRISTMAS HOUSE

The light-infused kitchen, a favorite morning coffee spot for Ron, features Jenn-Air appliances, double ovens, a large island, two sinks, cherry cabinetry and exposed brick detail.

Sue opted for a robust gas cooktop to accommodate the large pots used for home canning. The writer was delighted to leave with a gift of Roma beans and bread and butter pickles in hand.

“The kitchen and dining area are great for entertaining,” Sue said. “We can have 40 people in here with no problem at all. And it’s sort of been designated the house for Christmas, for all the family to come to.”

Sue especially likes how the eat-in and kitchen visually line up to make a sort of extra-long galley for large gatherings. “It’s like everybody’s still together,” she said.

Outside, the barn has two stalls for horses, a tack room and lots of floor space.

“We’re torn about leaving,” Ron said, but they both agree it’s a lot of house for two people, and it’s time to downsize. “We have our own plethora of animals that I will miss -- deer, wild turkey, fox – you can just sit out and enjoy. It’s very comforting.”

Sue mentions that there’s a scarcity of houses for sale that are on one floor, so they will most likely be building, maybe in Danville or Stanford. And don’t be surprised if it’s another William Poole design.

This story was originally published September 24, 2017 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Southern classic on 17 parklike acres in Lancaster."