1880 Richardsonian Romanesque Manor Hits the Market in Lexington, Kentucky

$1,995,000 | Built 1880 | 8,116 Sq. Ft. | 7 Beds | 3.5+ Baths | 0.50 Acres

A grand estate cast in brick and stone, 431 W. Third remains an enduring icon on one of Lexington’s early prominent avenues. Built at the turn of the last century by businessman Richard T. Anderson, the home is Richardsonian Romanesque in style, reflecting the migration of Gilded Age sensibilities westward. As the son of a ”housejoiner,” Anderson & family had long been enmeshed in the architecture of early Lexington. Anderson was intimately involved in the creation of John McMurtry’s iconic Floral Hall (1882) and, as a director of Northern Bank, helped realize the bank’s still-standing headquarters at the corner of Short & Market. A progression of residences constructed by him each reveal homes more sturdy and more highly – ornamented than the last. 431 West 3rd, Anderson’s last, is his masterwork. The Richardsonian Romanesque style’s eclectic nature provides a canvas for self-expression. Stonework is a medium for personally-selected, symbolic mascarons and botanical elements.

Anderson, a lifelong bachelor, his widower brother, John E. Anderson, along with John’s son and daughter, were the home’s first residents. Animated by innumerable parties, club meetings, and charitable events, the residence was an enviable site in the society scene. The home passed to niece Minnie, and finally to great-niece Mildred Anderson Dunning nee Hart, who grew up and was married there in 1941. Once called the ‘richest little girl in Central Kentucky,’ Dunning nevertheless maintained a modest lifestyle, leaving the bulk of her inherited fortune to the Blue Grass Trust, Ashland the Henry Clay Estate, and Cardinal Hill. In the mid-1980s, Dunning, in a bid to downsize, sold the home to the first new family in a century.

The Cassidy’s purchased the house from Mildred Anderson Dunning, the great grandniece of Mr. Anderson, in 1986 becoming the second family to own the property. The Cassidy’s embarked on a 2 year renovation that blends period details with modern materials and updates to maintain the historic character. The house went through several phases of renovation throughout the years with the final renovation finishing the third floor. The home has a spectacular first floor for everyday living or entertaining and includes a chef’skitchen. Other details include 7 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, home office, Butler’s pantry and a 2 car-detached garage with space for an apartment above.

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Jimmy Turek • [email protected] • (859) 221-2575
Bluegrass Sotheby’s International Realty
Photography Credit: Tracy Durham-Beall