In the quiet town of South Windsor, Connecticut, a house with a story as rich as its woodwork has just hit the market for $1.45 million. The Ebenezer Grant House, built between 1757 and 1758, is more than just a historic property: it’s a living piece of American history. British prisoners once slept beneath its roof, a future president’s relatives walked its halls, and centuries-old craftsmanship still frames its entrance, according to reports. Now, after a jaw-dropping $1 million restoration, the home that once held Benjamin Franklin’s son under Revolutionary War confinement has been returned to its original glory, blending historical charm with modern elegance, according to Realtor.com.A home with deep rootsThe house was built for merchant Ebenezer Grant, a collateral relative of President Ulysses S. Grant. Ulysses descended through Ebenezer’s brother, Noah. According to the National Register nomination, Matthew Grant gave land to his son Samuel, who built a house on the site in 1695. That earlier structure is believed to have been incorporated into the rear ell of Ebenezer’s house, making the property one of the oldest surviving Colonial structures in the state.During the Revolutionary War, the house served as a place of confinement for both British general Richard Prescott and William Franklin, the loyalist governor of New Jersey and son of founding father Benjamin Franklin. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 because of its historical significance.A dramatic transformation
The histori house Photo credit: williampitt.com
The house last changed hands in 2024, when it sold for just $399,000, according to CT Insider. In the two years since, it has undergone a top-to-bottom renovation that left it looking unrecognisable, turning it into one of the most polished pieces of 18th-century real estate in the state. As a result, the asking price for the home, which sits on over 5 acres in South Windsor’s historic district, has more than tripled since it was last sold.According to the listing agent Jacob Wint, the house has undergone extensive restoration after it was sold in 2024 for $399,000. Among the updates are new electrical systems, all-new plumbing, asbestos removal and widened doorways, but it still aims to keep its historic aesthetic. The house retains exposed hand-hewn beams, original Georgian paneling and a central staircase with original spiral-turned balusters. The 4,480-square-foot house now has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms and one half bathroom.“What was done was to make it as original and as premium as possible. Everything was done aesthetically, but it was also done with longevity,” Wint said, as per CT Insider.Architectural treasuresAccording to the National Register nomination, the main doorway is an “outstanding example of Connecticut River Valley regional woodwork.” Its paneled double doors, fluted pilasters, fern-like carvings, denticulated cornice, rosettes and broken-scroll pediment give the composition what the document calls a “strong Jacobean feeling.” The example found at the Ebenezer Grant House is considered among the finest examples in the U.S., and is one of only two that remain.“Only one of two, I believe…The other one is in Deerfield, MA,” Wint says, as per the report.The home also bears a loose tie to the American presidency, courtesy of the family tree of its builders, which bears a very famous branch. President Ulysses S. Grant was a direct descendent of Samuel Grant, the man who built the home’s first structure. Though the 18th U.S. president was born more than a century after Samuel, he was, in fact, his great-great-great-nephew.Modern luxury meets historic charmWhile renovating the property, its owners were careful to ensure that all of that rich history was reflected throughout every inch of the dwelling, restoring and even adding authentic design details that have transformed it into the luxurious sanctuary that exists today.The four-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 4,480-square-foot home retains seven fireplaces, original Georgian paneling, custom woodwork, a central staircase with original spiral-turned balusters, oversized windows, and hand-hewn beams— all under a slate roof. The house itself was moved 25 feet back on its lot in 1913, but the stone steps at the front and two side entrances “are well over 250 years old,” Wint says, according to the report.The renovation, which included all-new electrical, plumbing, and zoned HVAC, treated the original architecture with care. “The kitchen was original from the 1800s, with hand-cut beams,” says Wint. “The owners completely gutted the space, preserved the beams, and pulled original floorboards from the attic for the flooring,” he said, according to the report.The fully custom chef’s kitchen now features professional BlueStar appliances, a Miele espresso machine, and a butler’s pantry with a two-zone wine cooler. A new powder room off the kitchen was built around the original chimney, and a later sunroom addition was removed entirely, replaced by an oversized stone patio with retaining walls built to look true to the period. Every bedroom fits a king-size bed, and the sightlines are part of the draw.“You can really envision what it was like living there back in the day, but still enjoy central air,” says Wint, according to the report.A rare opportunityOutside, the grounds include an authentic tobacco barn and historic outbuildings. The property spans 5.47 acres and has outbuildings and an authentic tobacco barn. Real estate tracking firm Redfin listed the median sale price for the property’s 06074 ZIP code at $406,129 over the three months ending May 2026. Redfin notes that average properties in the area sell for about 6% above list price and go pending in around 10 days, while hot homes can sell for about 11% above list price and go pending in around seven days.Wint sums up the result simply: “It’s essentially a brand-new house with historic charm dating back to the 1700s.”The property at 1653 Main St., South Windsor, is listed by William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.
