Property Description

Booknoll Farm | An Exceptional Circa 1750 Hopewell Farmstead on 2.5 Acres 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 under permanent building restrictions, 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 1,000 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 – comes with electrical fully installed and the septic line already brought to the building for future plumbing, 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.

Property Features

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