Historic Williams farm to be auctioned
One of Greene County’s historic properties is expected to change ownership at a public auction scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Now on the National Historical Registry, the 91-acre Williams farm, located at the end of a private lane at 280 Laurel Run Road in Franklin Township, comes with a brick home built in 1850 by Thomas Kent Jr. Originally known as the Kent farm, the property is in the heart of Greene County, just minutes from the interstate.
“The house has a lot of charm and a storybook appeal,” said Jim Behm, broker for Behm’s Auction and Real Estate Services. “The wish of heirs of the late M. Laurine Williams Estate is to keep the property intact as a single tract due to the historic nature of the farm.”
Prospective bidders can tour the property in a series of open houses whose times and dates are recorded on website www.behmsauction.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Behms-Auction-Real-Estate-Services-LLC-1502115956747722/.
Behm also said private tours can be arranged by appointment. Drone-eye views of the house and farm are also available on the Behm website and Facebook page.
The main floor of the house has a full kitchen with built-in cabinets and Whirlpool appliances and adjacent is a breakfast nook with sink area. The dining room has a large fireplace, original built-in wall cabinets and a “servant stairway” to the second floor. The foyer has its original staircase and entryway from the front porch.
Leading to the living room, which also has original built-in wall cabinets, is a sun porch with skylights. There is a full bath on this floor which has a jet massage tub and storage areas. Finishing the main floor is a second family room or oversized bedroom.
The second floor has four large bedrooms and full bath. In the cut stone foundation basement is an updated electrical system, newer gas boiler system, hot water tank, washer and dryer. The basement has a lot of open space. Located on the property in the rear of the home is a small building with gas heat, which was the”washhouse and servants’ quarters,” Behm said, and a two-car block garage, an equipment building, livestock barn and a storage building.
There is a producing gas well that is supplying the home with free gas. In addition, there is city and spring water serving the property and an updated septic system. At the back point of the farm is a private pond. The fields are in good condition and well maintained.
“We had two previous auctions of the owner’s personal property, and the heirs were so pleased with sales they called us back to sell the property at auction as well,” Behm said. “The auctions are really a simple process. We try to keep everyone on track and on the same page and our goal is to be as transparent as possible.”
Directions to the auction: From Waynesburg at the Route 21 and Route 19 split at the light, take Route 19 and proceed 1½ miles on Mt. Morris Road. Turn right on Laurel Run Road, then turn left and follow signs to the property.