If you’re in Williamsburg, it’s an easy 15-minute ferry ride across the James River. Richmond or Suffolk? Less than an hour. To Smithfield, it’s a quick 25 minutes.
Where is the point of origin? Surry County, Virginia.
For Monica and Tim Calhoun, it’s also home. Monica grew up in Surry, as did her entire family, going back almost 200 years. Her great-grandfather built the local church they attend, and her late father, John C. Baker, was a general district judge and local attorney.
Though she moved away for college and lived in Williamsburg for a while, something about Surry kept drawing her back.
“There is a strong sense of community here and a simpler way of life,” Monica said.
“If you run out of gas, someone you know is bound to drive by and help you out,” Tim added.
Now, the couple is living in Monica’s family home in Tappahanna Hundred — a move that is filled with nostalgia as Monica remembers her life there as a child, and with happiness as she adds new memories with family and friends.
Located on 3.1 acres, the 3,000 square-foot home overlooks Gray’s Creek and the James River. The home was designed and built in 1971 by Monica’s late father, who envisioned the property as a permanent vacation style home.
Though a fire destroyed 80% of the home in 2009, it was rebuilt within a year. Except for the addition of a master bedroom en suite, the design of the home didn’t change.
Rows of windows and sliding glass doors line both the upstairs and downstairs of the home.
“You literally have a 180-degree view of water,” said Monica.
Views of Gray’s Creek and the James River take your breath away.
When not outside, the couple finds themselves admiring the view from inside the heated four-season sunroom. The open windows don’t obstruct the view and are a nice upgrade to screens, which were there previously.
Monica’s favorite thing about the home is the outdoor space.
“We have the deck if you want to enjoy the breeze and the view. We have a large patio downstairs where you can gather as a family around the fire pit, and the pier, which is where we do a lot of things like crab and fish.”
Enjoying a cool beverage on the pier at sunset is a must, and meeting up with boaters and friends at their boathouse is a lot of fun during the warmer months.
“It’s just a five-minute boat ride to the James River,” Monica said.
A side yard is also perfect for cornhole, badminton and volleyball.
“We’re a very active family,” said Monica.
The home has also hosted a number of weddings, including two of Monica’s daughters.
Indoors, the home is just as serene. The main floor boasts a master bedroom with water views and an updated master bath. A double-sided wood-burning fireplace separates the dining and living rooms and wood-flooring flows throughout the space.
The spacious downstairs features two bedrooms, a game room with a double-sided gas fireplace and a kitchenette/bar for entertaining.
For Monica and Tim, the house is the best of both worlds. They have the beautiful outdoor setting and the tranquil environment coupled with a caring community and short commute to local retail havens.
But it’s the view Monica loves best.
“I will never get tired of looking at this scenery.”
For more information about this home, visit the Long and Foster website.
