Hot House: 2332 Pickwick Road, Dickeyville, Baltimore
A historic cottage in historic Dickeyville. Three beds, two baths. Party pavilion. Move-in ready. Asking price: $430,000
Dickeyville is a rare example of an intact 19th-century mill village, and is located on the west side of Baltimore, surrounded by the forests and streams of Gwynns Falls Park. This house, known as The Infirmary, was built in 1812 and was re-located from Fort McHenry to Dickeyville. The Infirmary is move-in ready and was recently redecorated with grace and style.
What: It is unusual for this house to be on the open market because the coveted houses in Historic Dickeyville are usually sold via word-of-mouth. This close-knit community loves to celebrate, including an annual 4th of July Parade and Halloween and Christmas decorating contests. Most of the houses in Dickeyville, formerly a mill town on the Gwynns Falls, are more than 100 years old, and many are approaching 200 years. The styles of the houses vary because they include residential buildings, former municipal buildings, and public buildings, including a theater and a church. The original millstream, dam and pond still exist, as does the village green.
I probably over-use the word charming, but honestly, this house fits the bill perfectly. From the gingerbread trim outlining the double-peaked roof to the cozy pavilion with its own fireplace, this house and the village setting are absolutely charming.
Despite the number of trees surrounding it, the house is filled with light. The custom kitchen has been modernized with up-to-date appliances. The master bath features a great old clawfoot bathtub. Both the living and dining rooms have fireplaces.
The three bedrooms range in size from cozy to spacious, and there is plenty of closet space, unusual for a house of this age. The main bedroom takes up most of the house’s top floor and includes a spacious sitting area.
One of the prime features of this house is the low maintenance grounds, which include a large flagstone terrace off the back of the house that provides an easy space to have a meal. The pavilion, which copies the architecture of the house, is the perfect place to cozy up in front of a roaring fire and enjoy the oncoming fall days and nights.
Where: Dickeyville is on the west side of Baltimore City, just off Forest Park Avenue and Windsor Mill Road. The Gwynns Falls Park surrounds it with its miles of hiking trails, streams and wooded land. The people who live in Dickeyville tend to stay in Dickeyville for years, as are the couple who own this house (they bought another house in the village). It’s about a five-minute drive to I-70 to get onto I-695.
Final Appraisal: As I mentioned above, houses in Dickeyville don’t come on the open market very often. This historic village, set within the city limits, is like a land out of time. This gingerbread cottage ticks many boxes if you’re looking for a charming house in a close-knit village, not a cookie-cutter McMansion in a planned community. The listing is here.
