ABOUT THE RESIDENCE

In the spring of 1908, William and Margaret Vernoy selected a prime spot in the burgeoning neighborhood of Grant Park to build their dream home on a hilltop location right across from the Milledge Avenue entrance to the new park. Finished by mid-summer, the stately, two-story mansion sported twelve-foot ceilings, eight fireplaces with elaborate mantels, and an expansive front porch overlooking the new park — all situated on a double-sized lot.

The principal components of this exceptional example of early 20th century architecture are still mostly intact after 114 years. You'll immediately feel as though you've been transported into a Monet landscape as you enter through the handcrafted wrought-iron gates at the south end of the property, with its lush, mature landscaping and many water features, fountains, and lotus ponds. You'll admire the original heart of pine floors, perfectly preserved late-Victorian oak millwork, and original gas-to-electric transitional light fixtures as soon as you enter into the rear reception hall.

A half bathroom, an office or bedroom with an ensuite full bath, and the kitchen are all located off the rear reception hall. The dining room and library are just ahead, separated by a central hallway, both of which feature floor-to-ceiling bay windows with original leaded glass. At the end of the central hall, you’ll find yourself in the grand foyer with its dignified and austere staircase, double French doors leading to the screened front porch, and the entrance to the magnificent ballroom-sized parlor with leaded scalloped windows, an 8-foot fireplace mantel with hand-carved griffins and a ceiling adorned with William Morris’s classic “Willow Boughs” paper.

Ascending the stairs, an oversized leaded window with a Corinthian flourish overlooks the front porch. As you near the top of the stairs, an original torch-and-wreath stained glass window refracts billows of prismed light. On the upper level are three spacious bedrooms and two full bathrooms all connected by a central hallway. The owner’s retreat includes a generous primary bedroom and separate sitting room – both with decorative fireplaces – an oversized walk-in closet, and a secluded sleeping porch high in the treetops, overlooking Grant Park’s famous Milledge Fountain. At the rear of the second level is a set of service stairs descending to the first floor, as well as walk-up attic stairs leading to the fully-decked attic space.

At the rear of the grounds, a fully-rental-ready one-bedroom, one-bathroom accessory dwelling unit (ADU) with a separate entrance from Milledge Avenue adds another surprise bonus to this incredible estate. An alley abutting the back of the property and running between Milledge Avenue and Orleans Street could provide access for future off-street parking without the need to revert the ADU to a garage. The nearly 100x150-foot lot also provides ample room for a future pool.

The Vernoy House may well be the last estate in the neighborhood of its size, era, and magnificence in this remarkably unaltered condition. As such, the ideal steward will have an acute understanding of period-appropriate restoration in order to usher this historic home into its next century and beyond.