17 S MIDDLEBUSH RD Franklin Townsp, NJ 08873

If you've ever dreamed of owning a charming vintage home, but needed ready access to amenities such as shopping, hospitals, schools, and the train to Manhattan? this is it.Timeless craftsmanship, enhanced by high-end updates, is the hallmark of this exceptional home. Built in 1844 and sited on a lush acre in the Village of Middlebush, the home features a stunning kitchen addition looking out onto a hewn stone patio which leads to a heated saltwater pool and pool house. Today's lifestyle is enriched by the historic character of the home which offers four bedrooms, three baths, a finished walk-out basement, and entertainment-sized living and dining rooms with custom built-ins and period details. The home has been lovingly cared for throughout its history. Constructed as a "showplace" for the builder, the house was home to the Voorhees family. The last family member to occupy the home was Miss Amanda, who lived here from the turn of the century to the 1960's. In addition to serving as the organist for the neighboring Middlebush Reformed Church, she oversaw a "finishing school" for young ladies to learn the requisite social graces. The space that served as the dormitory is today's walk-up attic which offers myriad options for renovation into additional living space. The past fifty years brought other interesting residents. In the 1960's, the home was owned by a professor of religion from Rutgers and his wife. In its next life, the property was jointly owned by four couples: its "hippie commune" days. In the 1980's, the home once again became a family household where local high school sweethearts raised their family in the house they'd always coveted growing up. In their thirty years of residence, they renovated the home to provide modern amenities while respecting the historic character of the dwelling. The present owners, with the expectation of remaining in the home for their lifetimes, replaced the roof and updated the heating system since purchase in 2013. The owners' job relocation in 2016 has made this special house available once again.