House of the Week: An 18th-century farmhouse in Delco for $599,900

When Beth and Gregg McDougall first saw the farmhouse in Glen Mills, Delaware County, it struck them as the perfect place to raise their four children.

Built in the 1770s, it was on a 2-acre property with open spaces to play and a pond that sometimes froze enough in the winter for ice-skating. The neighborhood had many young families and a sense of community.

And “it was the construction of the house” that drew them in, Beth said, ”the deep window sills, high, old-style baseboards.”

But now, with their children grown up, Beth, a private household nanny, and Gregg, an auto dealership’s assistant service manager, want to live in a more walkable neighborhood, in a home closer to stores and restaurants.

The 3,048-square-foot twin in Thornbury Township is in a homeowners association that includes a clubhouse, playground, and pavilion in addition to the pond.

Entrance to the home is through a covered front porch, and the foyer has a slate floor. The rest of the floors are random-width hardwood.

The dining room has built-in shelving, and the family room has a working fireplace and recessed lighting.

The kitchen has ample cabinet storage, a cast-iron farmhouse sink, butcher block countertops, an island with electrical outlets, and a wood-burning stove. Adjacent to the kitchen is a sun porch that can serve as a mudroom or sitting area.

Three bedrooms are on the second floor, including the primary bedroom, and two more on the third floor, one of which is now used as a game room. There is also a large walk-in attic.

The basement, which once served as the kitchen and now houses the laundry and mechanicals, is accessible from both the kitchen and exterior. The basement also has a large working fireplace.

The house is in the West Chester Area School District and easily accessible to West Chester Pike, Route 202, and I-476.

It is listed by Victoria Sheridan of Coldwell Banker Realty for $599,900.