A historic home in downtown Fredericksburg sold for a record-high number Monday.
The 9,320-square-foot home at 307 Amelia St. sold Monday for $3.75 million, said Coldwell Banker Elite’s Evan Sullivan, who represented Doug Stewart on the sale. The 1834 home known as Smithsonia was originally built as a girls’ orphanage, and later became a Civil War hospital, a boarding house and ultimately a residence.
The sale topped the previous record for the highest sales price in Fredericksburg by exactly $1 million. The previous record was held by the 10,500-square-foot home at 1304 Washington Ave., which sold for $2.75 million in 2006 and is currently on the market for $3.2 million.
The sale of Smithsonia was a long-time coming. Sullivan had it listed for more than two years, but before that it was on and off the market dating back to April 2010. Sullivan didn’t say who the buyers are, but he said they moved to Fredericksburg from Lynchburg and were represented by Lynchburg Realtor Robert Dawson.
“We thought an out-of-town buyer was always most likely here after the lengthy time on market, so the goal was to cast a wide net with marketing efforts,” Sullivan said. “We were successful in attracting prospective buyers from all over the country, but it was always going to take the exact right fit here, and ultimately we were able to secure a contract with the perfect buyers who will be excellent stewards of this historic home.”
Sullivan said he thinks crossing the $3 million threshold is significant for the Fredericksburg housing market, and he is grateful to have been a part of it, but he predicted that more such sales may be coming as interest in Fredericksburg grows.
One possibility: the 5,325-square-foot historic home at 213 Caroline St. that was listed for $3.195 million is now under contract, according to the online real estate listing.
Bill Freehling covers business for the Free Press. He can be reached at: [email protected].
