I also spent some quality time thinking about the kinds of people that buy and live in very old historic homes. It would seem a sense of history would be important, possibly even family ties to an event or a particular area or even a specific kind of structure. The idea of sustaining a one of a kind building which could never be replaced and which no one else could own could be important. And certainly a willingness to embark on a continuous maintenance/upgrade program which would require a lot of fixer upper skills would be critical. In any case, owning and living in an historic home is definitely not for everyone but for those that take the step, it must be enormously satisfying.

I did a simple search on homes for sale by age and came up with better than fifty places, some historic and some probably just pleasantly mature. So here we go back in time!

The first home of interest was built in the 1787, about the time that President Thomas Jefferson first asked Kentucky's General George Rogers Clark, the older brother of William, to find a route to the West. It was his younger Brother that a few years later, with Meriwether Lewis, led the historic and now famous expedition to the West Coast. Lexington was in the early stages of development as more and more settlers crossed the Appalachian Mountains in search of a new life.

This home (#1) was originally the Hart-Featherston estate and is one of the oldest homes in the Lexington area. It's on a large hilltop lot in the Century Hill District of the City, has almost 3700 square feet, and was listed for sale for $395,000.

The next home (#2) was built in 1800. By this time, Lexington had grown so fast its population exceeded Pittsburgh and it was twice as large as Louisville. A visitor proclaimed "Lexington is the largest and most wealthy town in Kentucky or indeed west of the Allegheny Mountains; the main Street of Lexington has all the appearance of Market Street in Philadelphia on a busy day...." This Circa 1800 log home on Elliston Lane in Versailles has been painstakingly restored, is on five acres of land, and was listed for sale for $464,000.

This third home (#3) was built in 1817, a few years after famed Kentucky statesman Henry Clay built his mansion home, Ashland. Clay was a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, and served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Secretary of State, and also made three unsuccessful bids for the Presidency, narrowly losing in his last attempt. That same year, riverboats ventured from New Orleans to Louisville for the first time proving the Ohio and Kentucky rivers navigable and stimulating the growth of that City.

Burford Hill, is on the National Register of Historic Homes, has been featured in several architectural publications, and is known for the intricately carved Matthew P. Lowery woodwork inside and out. Over 4000 sq. ft., it is on about 10 acres, subject to survey, with a barn ready for horses. This home is on Greenville Street in Harrodsburg and was listed for sale for $349,000.

Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd, was born to a prominent Lexington family in 1818. The Georgian house in which she lived from 1832 until 1839 is open for tour, and includes Todd family furnishings and Todd and Lincoln memorabilia. But that's not the one that's for sale.

The Lincolns were married in 1842, the year this lovely home on East Fourth Street in Perryville was built (#4). It was listed for sale for $499,000. Zoned commercial, a major restoration was completed in 1990. Designated National Historical Trust property & Kentucky Landmark, purchase included the right to use the name Elmwood Inn for any business other than a gourmet food line, tea line or publishing company. Window treatments & chandeliers included. Furnishings, oriental rugs, & artwork not included but could be available for purchase.

Several of these homes have either sold or been taken off the market since the day I did the search but there are a number of others now for sale that are equally exciting.

In my study, I found this Interesting Map of Historic Homes in the Lexington area. These are not for sale but could be worth a visit.