Perched on the water, this Maryland residence stirs up memories of the state’s Prohibition-era past.
The log cabin at 1715 Porters Hill Road in Annapolis carries about a century and a half of history, dating back to its construction in the 1880s. However, its chapter during the Roaring Twenties is what gave it local fame. The residence once served as a speakeasy and hiding spot for booze, said listing agent Reid Buckley of Buckley Waterfront Homes, an affiliate of Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.
Three brothers opened a speakeasy in the basement of the log cabin and stored alcohol on site, Buckley said. They moved booze around the region at a time when the country prohibited the production, importation, and sale of alcohol, from 1920 through 1933. The brothers eventually got caught, and the state confiscated the land.
For its current owners, the 1.7-acre site is simply a home. They preserved the original log cabin and incorporated a new residential structure. The residence, on the market for $3.99 million, comes with four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half bathrooms.
“Unless you need six bedrooms, I can’t imagine what someone might complain about,” Buckley said.
Outdoor enthusiasts can soak in the sun from the deck overlooking Luce Creek, the Jacuzzi, or the private pier with the boathouse. The state has banned new non-commercial boathouses because they block sunlight from underwater vegetation.
The owners first used the residence as their getaway during the 1970s and then moved in full-time during the 1980s. Now, they want to trade the four seasons for the year-round sunny weather in Florida.
They'll miss the great room with the vaulted ceilings and views of the creek, but they are ready to say goodbye, Buckley said.
Most of the shoppers view the house as a vacation spot, she said.