ZIP code 01585: West Brookfield has cornered the market on asparagus
The Telegram & Gazette is looking at the the real estate market in ZIP codes around Central Massachusetts. Today we are featuring 01585, West Brookfield.
WEST BROOKFIELD — A “bargain” awaits homebuyers moving away from MetroWest to this bucolic town where each year, residents gather on an its idyllic New England Town Common to celebrate the coming of asparagus to the New World.
West Brookfield — ZIP code 01585 — was first settled by Europeans in 1665, and was officially incorporated in 1848 when it split from Brookfield, which was originally settled as part of the Quaboag Plantation.
The town holds an Asparagus & Flower Heritage Festival each May, which offers lively family entertainment, sorted shops of sundries and a spirited tribute to asparagus.
The daylong event celebrates Dutchman Diederick Leertouwer, who, according to local lore, brought asparagus from his homeland to the New World when he settled in West Brookfield in 1794.
Leertouwer died here and was buried in the town’s Old Indian Cemetery on Cottage Street. Wild asparagus still grows in the area today.
West Brookfield is also the birthplace of Lucy Stone, a prominent suffragist and abolitionist who was born in 1818, and in 1847 became the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree.
Today its 21.1 square miles is home to roughly 3,833 people.
According to realtor.com, four single-family homes are presently for sale in West Brookfield. They range from a 2,362-square-foot three-bedroom home listed for $245,000 to a 3,220-square-foot four-bedroom home listed at $749,900.
James Lovett with Century 21 North East says homebuyers get a lot for their investment in West Brookfield.
“The price of homes in this area is a bargain compared to MetroWest,” he said. “It also offers lots of activities indoors and outdoors. It is central to access to Worcester and Springfield with Boston and Hartford close as well.”
Public school students here attend Quaboag Regional School District, which consists of West Brookfield Elementary School for grades K-6, and Quaboag Regional Middle/High School in Warren for grades 7-12.
Highest priced house
The $749,900 listing at 5 Birch Hill Road is presently the highest priced house in town.
Listing agent Lovett said this property offers seasonal views of Wickaboag Lake.
Further, he said, “This home is a staycation. You only have to go across the yard to your pool area and hot tub and get away from it all. The house is also beautiful inside and out and it’s a great place to have parties or family functions.”
Its four bedrooms and three baths in 3,146 square feet were built in 1986 on a 2.52-acre lot. It features a recently renovated kitchen, dining room and family room.
The backyard holds a deck, pool house, a heated inground Gunite pool, inground hot tub and fire pit.
What can you buy for $350,000?
The one home listed for under $350,000 is the three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home at 23 Central St. listed for $245,000.
This 2,352-square-foot home was built in 1832 on a 6,534-square-foot lot. Listing agent Joshua Hoffsommer with ERA Realty Services says it's available in “as is condition” and needs a little sweat equity to bring it back to life.
The kitchen has newer appliances and the furnace and electrical panel were recently replaced.
What are they saying?
Lovett said this is still a good time to buy or sell.
“The market today is changing. I believe it will remain steady in Central Massachusetts,” he said. “In the next six months, the higher interest rate may give buyers concerns but it will probably take some of the pressure off of qualified buyers when looking for a home and experiencing bidding wars. I believe the prices will become stable and sellers will still get a good price for their homes when they are ready to sell.”
Around town
The Lucy Stone Home is a historic archeological site on Coy Hill Road, which is owned by The Trustees of Reservations, a nonprofit land conservation and historic preservation organization.
The site is within the Trustees’ Rock House Reservation, a 196-acre open space preserve, which also holds a natural rock shelter once used as a winter camp by Native Americans, and walking trails.
Trails are also found at Pynchon’s Grist Mill Preserve. The 320-acre Wickaboag Lake offers a public boat ramp and a beach for swimming.
Other ZIP codes
ZIP code 01583: West Boylston a historical, natural gem that 'checks all the boxes'
ZIP code 01366: Petersham, community that cares about town, environment and each other
ZIP code 01757: Milford, birthplace of notables, offers diverse culture, 'excellent' schools
ZIP code 01510: Clinton much to offer, including a tie to New York hotel
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: ZIP code 01585: West Brookfield has cornered the market on asparagus
