The Historic Kellogg House in Cape Charles, VA
A career in real estate, I can honestly testify, is full of surprising twists and turns. After almost forty years of service to buyers and sellers, I have experienced my share of deja vu experiences, close calls and even seemingly perfect miracles. Twenty-five years ago I happened upon the Eastern Shore of Virginia on a lark, a visit during which I made a life altering decision to relocate my children here from our home in Sandbridge in Virginia Beach. I was a single dad raising five children at the time and between my work and my shorthanded approach to parenthood, I felt like I was losing control of my family. Even in idyllic Sandbridge, the big city was eating my children alive, starting with my 18 year old son who was on the verge of turning into a bonafide juvenile delinquent. My discovery of this beautiful rural community surrounded by water appeared to be my ticket to a different lifestyle, a place where I could change the scenery, a place which could revitalize my family life and bring my children closer together under my supervision. Two years passed while I studied the situation on the Eastern Shore, trying to figure out exactly where to move and what I would do for gainful employment.
A Fireplace Hearth to Warm Our Friends Hearts
A friend on the Shore phoned in March of 1990 to let me know of an exciting new listing on the market in Cape Charles, the historic Kellogg House, so I made plans to check it out. To make a very long story quite short, it turned out to be the house of my dreams, a true mansion in every respect! Being sold by an estate which was firm on price and terms, I was forced to contract for a purchase with no contingencies. Talk about stepping out in faith, I drove home realizing that if this was meant to be then I would need to sell my home in Sandbridge, sell my business in Virginia Beach and re-establish myself here on the Eastern Shore in Cape Charles. And, miracle of all miracles, it all came together without a hitch !
The Entry Hall, Grand Staircase, and Dining Room China Cupboard At Kellogg House
And so we all moved to the big brick mansion at 644 Monroe Avenue in Cape Charles, historic Kellogg House, the wonderful home where all four of my remaining children grew to maturity, graduated from high school and went off to college. I remember packing my last two children, identical twin boys, off to Virginia Tech, dropping them each in their respective dorm rooms and making the long, five-hour drive back home with tears in my eyes. For the next three months I came home from my nearby office selling Eastern Shore real estate to a big, dark, empty, quiet home with no one to talk to, no one to cook for, no one to beg for allowance money. I just about lost my mind while I bounced around this old mansion of a home where childrens’ laughter used to echo off the plaster walls and pounding feet sounded like a herd of elephants running up and down the wide central staircase.
The Long and Sandy Lane To My Eastern Shore Waterfront Home
Then one day, while out driving on beautiful Church Neck, I happened upon an old gentleman planting a sign in the ground by the road. I slammed on the brakes, threw the gear in reverse and caught the old man before he could get back in his truck. “What are you selling ?” I asked him. “My house,” he replied, “back there.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, but in the distance all I could see was a long, sandy lane disappearing behind the farm fields into the forest. He said to follow him and he climbed back in his pick-up truck and started down the lane. I followed through fields and woods, over hill and dale. We drove a half mile back until we came upon a clearing where I could get a peek at the head of Westerhouse Creek, a colorful saltwater inlet from the Chesapeake Bay. By that time I was completely mesmerized by the beautiful approach to his waterfront home and its wooded setting up high over the lovely little estuary.
Love at First Sight!
Both of us dismounted from our vehicles and gazed out towards the water. Could I look at this waterfront property to buy it, I inquired ? His whole demeanor changed for the better and I took a guided tour beginning with the view over the lovely little cove. Fifteen minutes later, after touring the cute little cottage, perfectly sized for my new status as an “empty nester”, we were standing between our trucks in the driveway and I asked him how much he wanted for the place – five acres of woodland between a fresh water pond and the salt water inlet from the Chesapeake Bay. He stated a price that I just could not refuse and we shook hands on the deal then and there ! I reached into my briefcase, pulled out a blank contract form, and proceeded to fill it out right there on the hood. We exchanged the pleasantries as I filled in his name on the contract. Some familiarity caused me to pause and look at him, and I said, “You look mighty familiar. Where have I seen you before ?” He looked me in the eye and said, “My picture is in the newspaper every Wednesday with my weekly column.” Then it hit me, I exclaimed, “You’re the Randolph Walker who writes “On the Saltier Side!” Just about choking over this revelation, I stammered, “and I’m buying your house!” For years I had been avidly following his folksy column about retired life out in the Chesapeake Bay countryside. Funny stories each one, about the tug-of-war between his wanting to fish and hunt and his wife twisting him around her little finger to finish the chores. I had salivated at his many colorful references to the waterfront home where they lived, always thinking that it sounded like heaven to me, but I had never known exactly where that place was.
At Play on Westerhouse Creek, A Chesapeake Bay Saltwater Inlet On Virginia's Eastern Shore
After signing the contract, I headed back out the long, wooded lane towards the paved road. Peeking up at the blue sky breaking through the treetops, reality suddenly hit me – I had to sell my house in Cape Charles !! Don’t you know, it dawned on me that here was another one of those occasions that, if it’s meant to be, it will be. Over the next two weeks, I worked as hard as I could, contracting people interested in Cape Charles real estate including calling a friendly purchase prospect I had shown property to a few months earlier and offering her my big brick home in Cape Charles for sale. And she wanted it! “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I sang up on high.
Heading For The Chesapeake Bay-An Eastern Shore Paddler's Paradise
That was ten years ago, and my life in that cozy cottage on Westerhouse Creek has been even better than I could have ever imagined that day. Now, I am back to square one again, with the responsibility of finding another person who will appreciate the lovely historic home on Monroe Avenue as much I did, and as much as my friend did when her purchase of Kellogg House from me helped me to buy my dreamboat place from the writer who stirred my soul.
Well, things have really come along on the renovation of 204 Bay Avenue since my last post. For those who are new to our blog, 204 Bay Avenue is one of the “Grand Dames” of Cape Charles, VA. Built in 1912, she overlooks the Cape Charles beach and the beautiful Chesapeake Bay. Now she is in the process of being restored by her proud new owners, Paul and Kim Chandler, who were quite excited last year to find their dream Chesapeake Bay historic home for sale right on Cape Charles’ beautiful waterfront.
With the nice weather, a good deal of noticable construction on the exterior has taken place over the last few weeks. The once elegant portico is now well on its way to recovery and restoration to former glory. It was an extensive process during which the entire top of the portico was removed, completely re-framed and then the the exterior dentil moldings were put back into place. Porch railings were removed in order to reinforce the floor joists and to rebuild parts of the floor of the full house length porch. Once that is completed and the railings are re-installed, the porch will be ready to re-assume its proper role as the gracious place from which to wave to neighbors, watch the walkers-joggers-bikers enjoy an evening’s outing along the waterfront and enjoy glorious Chesapeake Bay sunsets, ice cold glass of tea in hand.
