There are many historic homes for sale around Boston, but only one can claim to be the site of the world's first residential telephone connection.
The 4.958-square-foot house at 1 Arlington St. in East Somerville, on the market for $899,000 — down from the original $995,000 asking price — has a fascinating history as well as mahogany and cherry woodwork, original wood floors and brass chandeliers and sconces.
The 10-bedroom house was built in two phases: the 1858 Italianate main house built for the Tufts family and an Eastlake-style renovation and side addition completed in 1888.
In 1877, then-owner Charles Williams Jr., a Hub telegraph manufacturer who teamed up with his business tenant Alexander Graham Bell to build the first telephones, had the world's first home phone. It was connected via a dedicated line to his office at 109 Court St. with "1" and "2" as the phone numbers.
The home is on the city, state and the national registers of historic places.
The first floor living spaces still reflect the home's grandeur, with original doors, carved window and door moldings, and a grand front staircase.
The living room, to the left of the entryway, is a large space with restored oak floors, bay windows and two original fireplaces with cast-iron grates and carved wood mantels. Two brass chandeliers hang from elaborate plaster medallions, and original sconce lights ring the walls.
The formal dining room has elaborate wood floor patterns, a carved fireplace with an Italian tile hearth, and a large original walk-in pantry with glass cabinets. An adjacent library has tall windows and a carved wood mantel fireplace.
Original hinges and brass door knobs, some with carved lion's heads, add to the authenticity.
The house's exterior has much of its original detailing, with covered balconies on either side topped with iron brackets. There's a pedimented covered front porch and brackets under the roof. But the clapboard has been replaced by vinyl and the original facia boards need work.
The kitchen has two intact pantries, but its appliances need to be replaced.
The bedrooms on the second and third floors are good-sized, but bathrooms — two on the second and one on the third floor — need to be redone.
The electrical systems also need updating, but the heating system was replaced about a decade ago.
Despite its condition, the historic home is starting to connect with potential buyers. Several are considering converting it into a bed and breakfast, a use that the city of Somerville will allow, and the Lincoln-based Telephone Museum is interested in buying the house as its headquarters.
"It's taken awhile to attract offers because it has more space than many people require and it needs upgrading," said broker Thalia Tringo. "But the house has a lot to offer with its intricate wood detailing and wonderful room scale."
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