3155 Valley Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

This charming old stone house, neglected for many years, was rescued by a young couple in 1964 on its 200 th birthday. For the next 55 years they lovingly restored, renovated and eventually doubled the size of the home in 1976. Few passersby realize the striking wood-shake roofed, stone and wood residence they are seeing from the street is actually the back of the home. Sited on two acres, the home faces south looking out over an extensive lawn which includes a brick patio and walkways, a charming gazebo, lushly planted garden beds and further afield a shed and barn/garage with loft. There is a granite date stone on the gable end with the initials J M VC 1764 possibly the builder's initials or that of the original owner. The house was owned and offered for sale in 1781 by Captain Patrick Dennis, a ship captain commissioned by George Washington to command the armed cutter Vigilant. The Vigilant was one of 10 vessels patrolling our coastline against British invasion. These ten cutters were the forerunner of our present day Coast Guard. Captain Dennis was also a spy for Washington. The home has had three additions. In 1858 a room was added to the stone portion as a kitchen to replace the original basement kitchen. Approximately 1920, the porch off the new kitchen was converted to a more modern kitchen. The final addition in 1976 included a family/keeping room, powder room and butler's pantry on the first level and a second staircase. The staircase leads to the second level which includes a library and the master bedroom suite consisting of a dressing room and handsome bath. To maintain the home's integrity, the owners furnished the addition with old flooring, doors and hardware. They received Somerset County's Cultural & Heritage Commission award for preservation & restoration in 2000 as a testament to their dedication to period authenticity. The main level of the home consists of formal living and dining rooms, large foyer, butler's pantry, powder room, kitchen and keeping room. The updated custom kitchen sports cherry cabinetry, granite countertops, a wet bar and a delightful bay window with cushioned window seat. In addition to the master suite, the second story includes a library, laundry, three more well-sized bedrooms and the main bath. Closets and storage spaces received equal importance throughout the home. The interior appeal is alluring. Dutch doors provide entrance to the front-to-back foyer as well as the kitchen. Wide-plank random-width hardwood floors flow throughout. There are five wood-burning fireplaces, carefully finished beaded-edge and rustic ceiling beams, batten doors and authentic period hardware throughout. Windows in the stone portion of the home are original and deep-set into the stone walls. The dining room windows are also original. Located on the corner of Valley and Stonehouse Road, this picturesque 1764 home gave Stonehouse Road its name. Maps of 1850 mark the area as Stone House. T he dwelling, deemed worthy of preservation, was documented in the Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey in 1936 with pictures, blueprints and a plaque. Stone House has been on numerous tours over the years and in 1976 was named a Bernard's Township Historic Site and marked with a plaque.