Important to the Chattanooga real estate market is the first ever listing in the open market of “Kilomarnock”, also known as the “Craven-Coleman Home” as specified by the U.S. National Registry.
It is located in the “Cravens Colony”, an early neighborhood on the side of Lookout Mountain including the Cravens House, “High Enough” and “Alta Vista” built near it and the site of The Battle Above the Clouds.
The grand stone home has changed little since it was built in 1870 except for the last two of only three owners’ "refined finishes with elegant restraint." Its 11-foot ceilings, Victorian moldings, converted gold plated gas lit chandelier( exactly like ones in the Smithsonian), sweeping long entrance “wedding” staircase, its six fireplaces and its brass porthole ship’s window - an antique when put in 1870 - Civil War or earlier - are all intact. The refinished floors are original narrow oak and heart of pine upstairs.
The master bedroom is indeed a suite having computer room/nursery, monstrous furniture quality, his and hers closets, two vanities, shower and five-foot claw foot tub.
A deluxe kitchen via Scarletts complements the era. Plumbing is copper, and the wiring is new. A special aspect is the quaint architect-designed, East-oriented artist’s studio that is now a guest/poolhouse with kitchen.
It is said that the grand house was built with funds from the Cravens’ buying up carriages, mules and horses from the Union Army after the Civil War and reselling them. The house was to be built for Jessie Roddye Cravens - the oldest son of the “old ironmaster” Robert Craven. Another story is it was to be occupied by President Abraham Lincoln’s cousin, a partner from Kentucky of the Cravens, but they had a falling out. Over the years frequent visitors to the house have included John Roy Baylor, founder of the Baylor School: Chief Justice John Marshall, a Coleman relative: President Jimmy Carter: and Mayor and now Senator Bob Corker.
Call Charlie or Nathan Walldorf for particulars on this very historical offering. 423-756-2400