LIMERICK – This historic, three-story Federal home in the village Historic District has been an inn, was featured in Traditional Home and Country Living magazines, and was a showroom and studio for an interior designer.

Highlighted as the Home of the Week in the Maine Sunday Telegram in 2008, the property later became the antiques “mall” it is being used as today. Fifteen rooms, about 5,200 square feet of living space plus a two-story, post-and-beam barn (its granite foundation was horse-drawn from Vermont) and a location near Cornish (also a destination for antiques-lovers) make it just about ideal for that purpose.

So, in an aesthetic sense, do the home’s period details, which include Rufus Porter-attributed murals in the entrance hall and in a second-story front bedroom; hand stenciling by “Paine”; and a stunning, 17-foot-by-43-foot, cove-ceiling ballroom at the top of the house. The ballroom hosted not only town dances, but also secret meetings of the Maine Militia.

The property could of course be transformed into a single-family home, and as such represents a great opportunity for lovers of antique houses with a history. The mansion was built in 1805 for John McDonald, a four-time Maine state senator who was a brigadier general in the War of 1812.

There are six bedrooms, two full baths and four ½ baths, and 10 fireplaces, the largest of them in what may be the original kitchen. Today, a kitchen needs to be added, and fireplaces are among the features needing attention. The must-see property’s condition is reflected in its very attractive asking price of $139,900.

The property at 43 Main St., Limerick, is listed for sale by Suzanne Roberge of Keller Williams Realty. For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Suzanne at 939-8068 or at  sroberge@kw.com.

Photos by Melanie Sochan, staff photographer.