1402 CAROLINE ST Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Say goodbye to cookie cutter living & give yourself the gift of a very special property, its origin coinciding with the birth of our nation! Built on land that was part of the 861 acres purchased in 1752 by Fielding Lewis, the lot ultimately was sold to the Walker family where there's some evidence they built the original part of this home between 1767-1770. One of the most fascinating parts of the house is its English basement - having served as a primary bedroom suite, & an efficiency rental unit, with its own outdoor access; but it also offers perfect flex space for any number of creative uses. The centerpiece is a huge fireplace measuring 8' wide with the opening 5' wide & an arched top measuring 4' at the maximum height! Very large irregularly shaped stones run around the entire basement & 3/4 of the way up the wall. The plate and center beam are made of massive hand-cut pieces of heartwood with the floor joists running in 2 directions. An en suite 3-pc bathroom features Italian tiles and Brazilian granite. In the mechanical room, there's a rare remaining (covered & sealed) hand dug well from the late 1700s! You'll also find a sump pump; the home had a French drain installed by the current owner. Entering the home from Caroline Street, you'll be stunned at the size of the interior! Ten foot ceilings greet you in an oversized foyer, & gorgeous heart pine wood floors - laid over the original random-width floors in the 1800s - extend through the spacious living room with masonry fireplace & period mantle. French doors separate the living room from the kitchen with wood floors, as well as another set separating the foyer from the laundry area with beadboard ceiling, & powder room (with pocket door), where the LVP flooring is heated. The sunny kitchen features a center isle with built-in Jenn-Air gas stove, breakfast bar, skylight, & room for dining. Step down into a larger dining area (with easy care LVP) that also has served multiple purposes (the area was at one time a bedroom, & the Seller used it as a cozy den). Windows along the back of the dining area/den look out into a surprisingly large backyard, accessed by a slider at the side, with a 6' privacy fence, garden, & plenty of room for relaxing, entertaining, dog play, & even expansion. If you love historical homes, you'll really appreciate the original random-width wide-plank flooring in the 2 upstairs bedrooms, the larger of the 2 with a fireplace. And the smaller of the 2 (accommodates a queen-sized bed!) features a gorgeous interpretation of a Monet on the ceiling - painted by former owner & celebrated artist Mirinda Reynolds. The updated 2nd floor bathroom's floors are of reclaimed wood from the 94 year old Embrey Dam breach of 2004. Large soaker tub with handheld shower, & a dual sink vanity round out the bath. Part of the house previously outfitted with ductwork for forced air gas heat, the current owner removed that system & had both a heat pump & mini splits installed. (info available on heating & cooling sources for each floor) OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST: *Metal Roof (newer metal roof over main house) *Pella and Renewal by Andersen Windows *Blown-In Insulation *Hot & Cold Water Outside Faucets *Attached Shed at side of house, & Detached Shed at rear of lot (as is) *Interior freshly painted throughout *Exterior partially painted *Within Rising Sun Historical District *1-1/2 blocks to Central Rappahannock Regional Library *Walking Distance to Downtown Fxbg Restaurants, Shops, and VRE ***DON'T WAIT! YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE THIS GEM YOUR OWN!***