Little Silver's Hilltop Estate

1411

A Seamless Blend of Old and New

By Marion Lynch
With breathtaking views, historical charm and all the modern conveniences, 19 Hilltop Drive offers luxurious living that’s far above the rest.
At 181 feet above sea level, the 5,400 square foot home sits on two acres at the highest point south of the Navesink River to Cape May.
“This is a special home,” says Mario Venancio, sales associate with Gloria Nilson & Company Real Estate. “It incorporates the old grand construction with all of the amenities of today.”
Built in 1906 by Ashbel and Randolph Borden of Shrewsbury for Ruth Leland Brooks, wife of William Brooks, the home was surrounded by acres of land that now make up the Fox Hill neighborhood nestled between Branch and Prospect avenues.
BIZ-19 Hilltop Dr - View of Monmouth BeachThe Brooks family sold the home to Charles Doelger, who lived there for a short time, and then the home sat vacant from 1923 to 1935.
According to the a report in the Red Bank Daily Register dated August 8, 1935, the Greek Revival-style home, known as “Sky High,” was purchased by Theodore D. Parsons, a prominent Red Bank attorney who later became attorney general for New Jersey. Parsons and his wife Margaret raised their family at Sky High, then surrounded by eight acres of land. The home, damaged during its vacancy by “hoodlums and vandals” according to the Register, underwent extensive renovations by Quackenbush and Nevius of Shrewsbury.
Nearly eight decades later, the home again underwent extensive renovations, this time by builder Sal Martelli. Those improvements, Venancio says, blend the grand old elements of the home – like 11 foot ceilings, rounded windows, and a butler’s pantry – with modern amenities like a luxurious master bedroom suite, expansive closets, a gourmet kitchen and “Ritz Carlton-like” baths.
BIZ-19 Hilltop Dr - FR open floor planThe most recent improvements left the home’s integrity fully intact, says Venancio, and used natural construction products that are appropriate for an early 20th century home. The exterior looks exactly the same as it did more than a century ago, while the interior offers everything needed for gracious modern living.
The current homeowner added a contemporary flair to the home, Venancio says. “The wallpaper, light fixtures and window treatments are stunning.”
Unlike many historic homes that have been improved over time, it’s impossible to distinguish the original construction from the modern. And unlike the homes built a century ago, there’s an open floor plan and bedrooms that can accommodate large beds and furniture.
With five bedrooms, three full baths and two half-baths, the home provides plenty of space for family and friends to stay and enjoy the views of Monmouth Beach to the east, the Navesink River to the north and the open spaces to the west. With an open floor plan, it’s home-made for entertaining.
This hilltop home is perfect for the homebuyer looking for “a house with character, without a project,” Venancio says. With its proximity to the train and the Parkway, the restaurant scene of Red Bank and the beaches in Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach, 119 Hilltop Drive offers the gracious living of a bygone era mixed with every modern comfort and convenience.
The home is offered for sale for $1.799 million. Listing agent Mario Venancio can be reached at 732-881-4306.