Castle House has a new family!
It has been nearly a year since the historic Castle House at the corner of West Duncan and South Washington streets has had a permanent occupant to call it “home.”
In fact, it has been almost exactly one year since The Mirror published an article about the castle house in its August 3, 2015 edition, shortly after it went on the market.
A unique property like this does not come on the market very often, and when it does, it takes time to find just the right buyer.
Realtor Tom Racine of Howard Hanna found just such a couple in Heather and Rob Wilton, who moved here last week from Ypsilanti.
Heather (Duffy), in fact, actually lived in Manchester during her high school years, moving here from Canton with her family, and graduated in 2004 from MHS. She and Rob met in 2007 and have lived in Ypsilanti ever since.
“As a kid I always wanted to see the inside of the castle,” Heather explains. “I loved the old architecture and that it’s a CASTLE! Rob and I were in Manchester for Mother’s Day when we found out the castle was for sale. We drove by and also looked at the online listing. We fell in love and made an offer when we walked through the home. We’d always intended to move from our home in Ypsilanti once we had children, but our plans just moved up a little.
“This is brand new for Rob,” Heather adds. “He’s a born and bred city kid and not sure what to do with all this fresh air.”
The Wiltons will soon find out what to do with all the fresh air and Manchester ambience. They are finishing the moving process this week.
“Thank goodness for family!” Heather said. “They have been phenomenal with all their help. My dad, brother, and sister-in-law met Rob and me for the big move and my mom and mother-in-law are cleaning whirlwinds. Our realtor, Tom, has also taken amazing care of us through this process.”
As far as future plans, Heather and Rob may consider renovating the second floor in the future. “The house actually was converted into a boarding house in the 1960s and some of that is still reflected in the second floor,” she explains. “The previous owners, the Ingalls, did an amazing job at renovating and refurbishing the house and outbuilding and little else is left for us to do.”
Heather and Rob say they had always talked about owning an “old and architecturally interesting” home. They definitely found that in Manchester’s Castle House, which was built in 1907 by banker and politician A.J. Waters for his wife, Cora. “We both love the early styles with all the beautiful wood floors, molding, and built-ins,” she says. “Plus, how can you say no to living in a castle?”
The couple sees Manchester as a good place to eventually raise a family while remaining closer to Heather’s family. Rob’s family lives in Florida, so they find it helpful to have some family nearby.
As far as the history of the property, Heather says, “I understand the property originally belonged to one of the local churches before it was bought by the builder (A.J. Waters). (Waters) moved the house that was already on the property and built the castle for his wife. Waters’ wife, Cora, lived in the home until her passing and the Castle was left to their only daughter Gaita (Cathey).
The home then was bequeathed to Gaita’s sons, who converted the home into a boarding house. The second floor still shows signs of those days, which lasted into the early 1980s. So that area is where the Wiltons will focus as they plan for their future renovations.
“The Ingalls did an amazing amount of work,” Heather says, “including rebuilding a large amount of the turret as well as adding structural beams to the outbuilding and many other things.”
What would Heather change, if anything? “I’d ask someone else to do all this packing, moving, and unpacking for me!”
The couple also is adjusting to life without air conditioning, and making do with window units. “We have some work to do to make this truly our home and I’m excited to do so!”
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