On the Market: Former 60 Minutes Host Morley Safer’s Cottage

The enchanting Connecticut estate features an English greenhouse and a standalone writer's studio.


Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

260 Middlesex Ave. Chester, CT
Price: $1,450,000
Size: 3,876 square feet
Bedrooms: 3
Baths: 5

A little peace and quiet in the countryside is more enticing than ever this year. The late reporter Morley Safer, who hosted CBS’ 60 Minutes for more than four decades, knew the power of a rural refuge when he purchased this seven-acre Connecticut estate. And now, for the first time in over 30 years, this sweet oasis of serenity could be yours.

Built in the early 20th-century, the mostly stone cottage combines a mix of architectural styles, including Tudor, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, and medieval influences. The eclectic blend incorporates elements from all around the world across the property—the yard alone features a Bermuda moon gate, an English greenhouse, an ivy-capped pagoda, and a Pétanque court (think bocce but French). Safer, shares listing agent Tim Boyd, “was an enthusiastic and expert Pétanque player and is credited with bringing one of the first courts to our area.”

The conservatory, shipped from the U.K. and installed across the pond in Connecticut, is another remarkable feature. Glass walls and ceilings create a magical sunroom and potting shed all in one, with a substantial stone sink and radiant floor heating making it a pleasant place to be in all year round. Through the greenhouse into the home itself, the primary bedroom is a haven for relaxation, complete with a huge walk-in closet and beamed and vaulted ceilings in the bedroom and ensuite bath.

Magical as it is, the stained glass-filled single-family isn’t the property’s only structure. A 3,000-square-foot antique barn with four parking spaces, as well as a standalone writing studio, share the lightly wooded parcel. The steps that lead up to the studio are heated, meaning any snowflakes slide right off and you can toastily spend this winter hibernating while writing the next great American novel.

For information, contact Tim Boyd, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, williampitt.com.

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

Photo by Caryn Davis Photography

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