UPDATED:
Key Details
Property Type Single Family Home
Sub Type Detached
Listing Status Active
Purchase Type For Sale
Square Footage 2,819 sqft
Price per Sqft $452
Subdivision None Available
MLS Listing ID NJME2076634
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 5
Full Baths 2
Half Baths 1
HOA Y/N N
Abv Grd Liv Area 2,819
Year Built 1750
Annual Tax Amount $19,987
Tax Year 2025
Lot Size 2.355 Acres
Acres 2.36
Property Sub-Type Detached
Source BRIGHT
Property Description
Set on serene, tree-lined private grounds at the edge of Hopewell Borough, this circa-1750 homestead – held by only three families in well over a century – offers a rare combination of historic character, comprehensive modernization, and enduring privacy – just 15 minutes from downtown Princeton.
Bordered on three sides by a working horse farm and set approximately 410 feet back from the road, Booknoll Farm enjoys a uniquely quiet, protected setting – open field views, a meandering front-yard stream, and grounds layered with mature trees, gardens, and old stone walls. The result is a true countryside retreat – remarkably close to town, yet removed from it.
The main residence has generously proportioned rooms. Exposed structural beams and freshly refinished pine and oak floors carry the home's original character. A sun-filled eat-in kitchen, anchored by a fireplace, granite counters, wine fridge, and a new KitchenAid hyper-heat range with built-in air fryer, flows to a formal dining room and twin front parlors that serve as living and family rooms. Five bedrooms occupy the upper levels, including a primary suite with a modern 2025 ensuite featuring a custom shower and Kohler rainhead, and a handsome North-facing study – the writing room of former owner Keith Robertson, author of the beloved Henry Reed children's series.
Beyond the main house, a pergola frames long views across the surrounding fields to Mt Rose, while a tennis or pickleball court and multiple outdoor living areas give the property the texture and quiet of a country estate. A newly renovated 1,200 sq ft carriage house – once the home of Elisabeth Woodburn's internationally renowned rare-book firm, whose collection was famously called the “Library of Congress of gardening,” and which gave the property its lasting name – and is ideally suited as a guest house, studio, library, or workspace. A detached three-bay garage with Level 2 EV charging – and capacity for additional chargers – completes the offering.
Behind its historic finishes, the home has been comprehensively brought current: a new 2025 5-bedroom anaerobic septic, updated electrical, public water, new (2026) Samsung hyper-heat heat pumps, new windows (2018), exteriors freshly repainted (2026), refinished hardwood floors throughout, a remodeled living room and primary ensuite, a new backyard pergola, and integrated indoor/outdoor Bluetooth audio. All permits are closed.
Booknoll Farm sits within easy reach of the village it pre-dates: the cafés, shops, and restaurants of Hopewell Borough, the new Whole Foods ten minutes away, Princeton just three miles, and Princeton Junction twenty-five minutes – Manhattan in 43 minutes on Amtrak's fastest service, or roughly 50 on NJ Transit.
A setting this storied, this private, and this comprehensively renewed rarely comes to market. A named historic estate, ready for its next chapter.
Location
State NJ
County Mercer
Area Hopewell Twp (21106)
Zoning VRC
Rooms
Other Rooms Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom 2, Bedroom 3, Bedroom 4, Bedroom 5, Kitchen, Family Room, Bedroom 1, Mud Room, Full Bath, Half Bath
Basement Unfinished
Interior
Interior Features Exposed Beams, Kitchen - Eat-In, Window Treatments, Wood Floors
Hot Water Oil
Heating Other
Cooling Central A/C, Wall Unit
Flooring Hardwood, Other, Tile/Brick, Wood
Fireplaces Number 2
Fireplaces Type Wood
Inclusions Kitchen appliances: range (new April 30) as in photos, refrigerator, wine refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, Washer, dryer, window treatments, pergola, simplisafe security system, Level 2 car charger
Equipment Dryer - Electric, Washer, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Oven/Range - Electric, Built-In Microwave
Furnishings No
Fireplace Y
Appliance Dryer - Electric, Washer, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Oven/Range - Electric, Built-In Microwave
Heat Source Electric, Oil
Laundry Main Floor
Exterior
Exterior Feature Patio(s)
Parking Features Other
Garage Spaces 11.0
Water Access N
View Pasture, Trees/Woods, Water
Accessibility None
Porch Patio(s)
Total Parking Spaces 11
Garage Y
Building
Lot Description Level, Sloping, Stream/Creek, Rural, Private, Partly Wooded
Story 2
Foundation Stone
Above Ground Finished SqFt 2819
Sewer On Site Septic
Water Public
Architectural Style Colonial
Level or Stories 2
Additional Building Above Grade, Below Grade
New Construction N
Schools
School District Hopewell Valley Regional Schools
Others
Senior Community No
Tax ID 06-00016-00003 02
Ownership Fee Simple
SqFt Source 2819
Security Features Security System
Horse Property N
Special Listing Condition Standard
Nearby Locations
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Jennifer Watson
Home Buyer and Seller Specialist | License ID: 0225208936
Home Buyer and Seller Specialist License ID: 0225208936