From City to Suburbia: 507 North 4th St., Keokuk, IA 52632

507 North 4th St., Keokuk, IA 52632

$279,000

4 Beds 3.5 Baths 3,406 Sqft Single Family

UPDATE: All green woodwork has now been painted white.

Pre-qualification Letter required for Showing. This is easily available from your bank, credit union, financial institution or lender; often with only a call and with no obligation to buy.

If you would like to see the house you must make an appointment directly with us (so we can be available for your visit).

It has been suggested to us that local realtors will not show this house and direct their clients away from the Birdwood. We are more than happy to make the house available for viewing.

The gracious and comfortable BIRDWOOD, an 1855 Italianate style family home, provides an eclectic mix of antebellum charm and modern informality. Surrounded by park like landscaping and full of elegant architectural detail yet wonderfully lived in and comfortable. Perfect for a growing family, home business or those who just enjoy a beautiful home and garden. This house is made for friends, family and lots of company! THIS HOUSE IS NOT A FIXER UPPER but still has room for your personal touches.

Located high on a 150 foot bluff, one block from the Mississippi River, the Birdwood was built in two stages. The original 2 story brick house, built in 1840, is now the kitchen and laundry downstairs and bedroom #4 and bathroom #3 upstairs. In 1855 the house was completed using triple brick construction, in the Italianate style, with the addition of formal rooms. The two separate buildings meld beautifully with the uniform architectural detailing of hipped roofs and corbels. The river being near is not a problem. This house is high and dry and we are not even required to carry flood insurance!

INTERIOR: Geo Thermal Air & Heat, 36 New Energy-efficient Windows!

1st FLOOR:

1855 HOUSE HAS 12 FOOT CEILINGS AND ORIGINAL WOOD FLOORING

FOYER: 10x10 with beautiful wooden front door (another foyer door leads to front porch). There are arched windows above each door so this area is always bright and welcoming.

HALL: 21x9 with door leading to back porch.

GRAND STAIRCASE WITH LANDING: 3' wide stairs with a 8x3 landing, and a 9' window. This window floods the upstairs and down with light. A beautiful sight when you enter the house!

POWDER ROOM: 7x3 under the stairs with one 3' window, new sink vanity and toilet. Floor is yellow linoleum in good condition.

LIBRARY: 21x15 with 5 floor to ceiling built-in bookcases with 80 shelves, a fireplace, two 7' windows, and a five panel 7' windowed alcove with bench.

LIVING ROOM: 15x18 with a 3 panel 9' window and one 7' window, a fireplace, and a built-in cupboard.

DINING ROOM: 15x18 with three 7' windows and a built in china cabinet.

1840 ORIGINAL HOUSE HAS 10 FOOT CEILINGS AND VINYL OVER LINOLEUM FLOORING

PASSAGEWAY TO KITCHEN: 8x3 with a storage/coat closet, private staircase to the 4th bed and 3rd bath, door to back porch.

KITCHEN: 15x11 with two windows, outside door (leading to the workshop/summer kitchen), pantry, entry to laundry room, the door to the cellar, dual fuel oven, dishwasher and refrigerator.

LAUNDRY ROOM: 6x7 with one window and 1940s metal kitchen cabinets.

2nd FLOOR:

1855 HOUSE HAS 10 FOOT CEILINGS, ORIGINAL WOOD FLOORING, AND TILE FLOORING

HALL LANDING: 6x10 leads to bedrooms 1, 2, & 3.

HALL BATH: 6x10 with two 6' windows, storage closet over tub, new granite topped vanity, toilet, garden tub and marble tile, hidden entrance to tower.

TOWER STAIRCASE: hidden in bathroom and was used as a broom closet until discovered.

TOWER: 3rd floor 6x10 with two 5' windows, two 7' windows that open to functional balconies. Room is useable but in need of refurbishing.

BEDROOM 1: (over the Library) 16 x15 with one 6' window, one 8' window that opens to a decorative balcony, fireplace and an adjoining bath.

BATH 1: 4x11 (built into bedroom 1 in 1950s pink ) with tile shower, floors and walls, new sink and toilet, one 6' window, large closet with 3 built-in drawers.

BEDROOM 2: (over living room) 19x15 with two 6' windows, one 8' window opening to decorative balcony, working gas fireplace, one large closet and one smaller closet.

BEDROOM 3: (over dining room) 13x12 with two 6' windows, one closet with built-in drawer, one floor to ceiling cedar closet (the closets face each other leaving 3'x4' space between), upstairs Geo-thermal unit. Beautiful views into the side yard.

1840 ORIGINAL HOUSE HAS 7 CEILINGS, VINYL AND CARPET OVER LINOLEUM FLOORING With the private stairs, guests can come and go at will, even access the kitchen without being disturbed or disturbing us if they choose. Bedrooms 3 & 4 with the hall, stairs and bath serve well as a sort of guest apartment with room for a whole family.

STAIRCASE: narrow turning stairs whose 1st floor entrance is disguised and opens to an upstairs landing.

HALL LANDING: 3x9/3x6 with one 6' window, a linen closet and leads to 3rd bed, 4th bed, and 3rd bath.

BEDROOM 4: (over Kitchen) 12x15 with two 2' windows and a closet.

BATH 3: (over Laundry) 6x8 with one 4' window (from the floor behind the tub), original claw foot tub (with new shower attachment), new toilet and sink, and a closet.

CELLAR: interior entrance is in kitchen and extends from kitchen to the front hall, houses main floor Geo-thermal unit, and has 2 workbenches. The exterior entrance is outside the dining room.

EXTERIOR: The entire house is surrounded by lawns, hedges, flower beds, deciduous, evergreen, and flowering trees.

FRONT PORCH/LOGGIA: 16x13 cement half covered by a three arch loggia

BACK PORCH: 7x12 /7 x18 L shaped plank floor with rubber roof.

FRONT YARD: 5' above street with wide stairs, lawn, curved walk with flower bed

SIDE YARD (alley): poured cement patio with free standing metal gazebo.

SIDE YARD (Fulton St.): 7' above street with street to yard cement stairs and the inscription BIRDWOOD.

BACK YARD: sidewalks connecting house and outbuildings, large lawn (lots of room for children to run and play) and a 6 fence bordering neighboring properties. This yard is enclosed from the street with a stand of trees and forsythias, very private.

WORKSHOP: 14x22 former summer kitchen 5' from kitchen door used as a workshop or a one car garage has a drop down ladder to 2nd story, workbench and a remote controlled garage door. It is clean, wired and spacious, but like the carriage house, without insulation and unfinished. There is also a large upright freezer in the workshop, just steps from the kitchen.

CARRIAGE HOUSE: 33x22 two stories with workbench and is used as a garage with cement floor downstairs and wood floor upstairs, 3 windows down and two up, two garage doors Sort of like having a brick barn that matches your house. Opens into the back alley.

This house is an experience, a world in itself. While a genuine historic home, it is not registered as such and there are no restrictions to changes you might desire to make. To our knowledge, it is not restored but has been continually maintained. We are not aware if it has ever stood empty. That means that for over 160 years each owner has upgraded or made changes as needful to keep the house functional, safe and comfortable. There are idiosyncrasies, imperfect efforts in places, a mysterious stain on the dining room floor... things we would do if we were able to stay here longer. But all in all we have found much assurance in a home that has stood the test of time. The Birdwood is certainly that. Hope you will come and see her.

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