The oldest standing home in Springfield has just hit the market. After an extensive restoration, the "horse farm" where Laura Ingalls Wilder once watered her horses on the way to her homestead in Mansfield could be yours for $1.2 million.

The home, located at 1260 E. Walnut St. in the 65802 zip code, was built by E. Stine for a cost of $6,200, according to a letter from March 1869. The house also comes with its fair share of stories. According to Realtor Richard Crabtree, who compiled the research on the house, the house is mentioned in the biographies of Wilder, the famed pioneer author of "Little House on the Prairie."

Wilder referred to the house as the "horse farm," where she would stop to rest on the way through Jones Spring in east Springfield on the way back to Mansfield. Crabtree says the house at 1260 E. Walnut St. was the only one on the street with horse stables when Wilder was traversing through Missouri.

"And then the next day, they apparently got on their horse and made their way to Mansfield," Crabtree said.

The house, which sits on 1.3 acres of land on East Walnut Street, was built for wealthy merchant Waldo Cornwell Booth in 1869. According to Crabtree, Booth owned a large dry goods store on the southeast corner of the square, and he went on to own the Old Coon Tobacco Company. He was also president of the school board. Booth lived in the house with his wife, Martha Thomas-Booth, and their four children.

Through the remainder of the 19th and 20th centuries, the house was owned by Springfield business elite such as Dr. William Park of Cranks Drug Store and the Kickapoo Transit Company. It was also owned by the Stonebreaker family, who ran Springfield Warehouse and Transfer Company and Inland Printing. The Dickey family owned the house until 1971, and the Tucker family owned it until 2018.

Crabtree said it's rare to have such a post-war jewel still standing outside of Kansas City, St. Louis, or Jefferson City. He compared it to Springfield's oldest-standing brick house, the Day House on South Avenue, which was built in 1875. That house is currently occupied by the Betty & Bobby Allison Ozarks Counseling Center.

"Walnut Street has always been of particular interest just because that's one of the last bastions of large homes that have been well-preserved outside of Midtown," Crabtree said.

Crabtree said the house maintains its original charm, but it has undergone a massive restoration by the current owners, Christy and Antonio Serrano. Crabtree said the house has new plumbing and electrical work across "every square inch" after falling into a previous state of disrepair. According to Christy Serrano, each pane of glass from every window was removed and put back in. She also said workers spent 40 hours per week restoring the home before they moved in.

According to the listing with Murney Associates, the Italianate-style house has four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms across 4,090 square feet of living space. There is an additional 1,461 square feet of living space in the carriage house, which has been adapted from horse stables. The property has only had six owners over 155 years.

More: Experts worked quickly to save artifacts from former Ozark farm. Now history is on display

The house features hardwood floors, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows allowing for natural light to flood the interior. The living room, parlor, and formal dining room each have a fireplace with original mahogany mantels. The kitchen is equipped with custom cabinetry, white quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances, and a large island. There is one half-bathroom on the main floor.

Two staircases lead up to the second floor, where a sitting room is joined by three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a laundry room. The primary bathroom has a water closet, dual vanities, and a walk-in shower. On the third floor, there is a spacious bonus room with the potential for storage or an additional bedroom.

The true "showstopper," according to the listing, is the newly-transformed carriage house. The original horse stalls have been transformed into an entertainment area complete with a fifth bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. Outside, there is also a sprawling patio and courtyard with a fountain.

Those interested in purchasing Springfield's oldest standing home should reach out to Murney Associates. For more information, see the listing on the Murney Associates website.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield's oldest standing home hits the market for $1.2 million