A Downingtown home filled with history

In 2018, Marshall Pearson and Thomas Toner were searching for a new home with some specific must-haves.

They wanted a historic home that wasn’t too big, on a private lot, but not too far from dining and shopping. When they stumbled upon a circa-1870 schoolhouse in Downingtown, it checked all the boxes. But it came with a concerning home inspection report.

The well and septic system had issues, and the wooden beams in the basement were literally breaking. But the couple had faith they could overcome those problems. Over the next few months, they did just that.

They also put on a new roof and gutters, installed central air-conditioning, and painted most of the interior. And Toner went to work adding the design touches on their two-story, 1,680-square-foot stone home.

“At one point Tommy had 13 shades of gray paint on the wall before he picked the right color,” recalled Pearson, an attorney at Exton Law in Exton, who is also color-blind.

Then in 2021, Hurricane Ida left its mark: 2½ feet of water in the basement. They installed French drains and a sump pump, and added a membrane to the walls.

The house was originally the schoolhouse serving families working in the Bondsville Mill, home to the Bond Woolen Factory that produced Kentucky Jeans, according to the East Brandywine Historical Commission. During the Civil War, the mill produced uniforms for the Union soldiers.

The first floor includes the living room, dining room, kitchen, and den, with three bedrooms and a loft upstairs, and a full basement below. The primary bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, skylight, and walk-in closet.

They call the loft their “retro room,” filling it with furniture from Adamstown antique stores. At Christmastime they have two unique Christmas trees, one with a color wheel and another that rotates.

Many of the original features remain, including the random-width plank pine floors, a Gothic style window within a stone wall, and the living room’s stone fireplace. There, in the living room, the couple enjoy listening to jazz music while sipping on martinis or entertaining friends.

“We have a lot of people over for dinner parties quite often, serving hors d’oeuvres, wine, and cheese, and we always have a fire,” said Toner, who works in retail design.

The pair enjoy shopping for home wares at vintage stores and consignment shops. The Velvet Shoestring in Wayne is a favorite, and where much of their furniture was purchased.

Two seating areas in the living room offer cozy spots for guests. An original Jean Prouvé daybed sits against one wall.

Their finds also include quirky touches, such as the giraffe lamp they discovered online and the antique school desk they bought at Brandywine View Antiques in Chadds Ford.

“It’s our only nod to the schoolhouse,” Pearson said.

The living room and kitchen are divided by a large wooden island the couple bought at the Brimfield Antiques Flea Market in Massachusetts. They fitted the furniture with wire shelving units for added storage, and often eat meals there.

Pearson is the family chef, starting off each week with Seafood Sunday. He especially enjoys following recipes from the New York Times, willing to measure, chop, dice, marinade, and carry out every step to perfection.

“I’m more about sautéing a chicken breast and putting it over rice,” said Toner, who takes charge of the place settings and table layout.

Pearson and Toner enjoy spending time on their covered front porch, taking in the view of Bondsville Mill Park, and on the large deck that wraps around the side and back of the house.

George, their a 14-year-old dachshund-Jack Russell terrier mix, and Benney, 2, a Labrador retriever-golden retriever-German shepherd mix, romp in the fenced-in yard and take walks on the park’s trails.

The backyard garden is Toner’s domain, where he cares for roses, hydrangeas, and native plants alongside rock and cottage gardens. The property, he says, is “unique and perfect for us.”

“We struck gold.”

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