Hot Home News: Steve Martin, Dave Thomas & George Washington's Brother

Online, June 16, 2013 (Newswire.com) - This week's Top 10 homes spotlight at TopTenRealEstateDeals.com includes a look at Steve Martin's fabulous Caribbean Home, a West Virginia estate that dates back to George Washington's brother in the 1700s, Dave "Wendy's" Thomas' Lake House, and House Beautiful Magazine's very first feature home in 1896.

George Washington's Brother

George Washington's youngest brother was Charles Washington who was the owner of extensive properties, one of which he called Happy Retreat in the town he designed, now known as Charles Town in West Virginia. Happy Retreat was built in the Palladian architectural style, sometimes referred to as Classical Revival, by first constructing the wings connected by an enclosed walkway. The main center section was designed to be added at a later date. Unfortunately Charles died in 1799, just three months before George died, and never got to see either Charles Town or his manor completed. In 1837, Judge Isaac R. Douglas purchased the Washington property and completed construction of the estate. Today the manor house sits on 12.22 acres, is 6,322 square feet and contains 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and 5 fireplaces. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now for sale at $899,900.

House Beautiful's First Home

House Beautiful was originally published in Chicago in 1896 to showcase the many beautiful homes in the area. Having recovered and rebuilt after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 and the success of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, industry in Chicago was rapidly growing and in turn producing great wealth for many of its citizens. What better way to show off wealth and success than to display it by building elaborate homes, a signature of the well-to-do. The house chosen as the focus of the first issue of House Beautiful was a grand 3-story Tudor in Chicago's Evanston neighborhood. It just sold for $2.25 million.

Dave "Wendy's" Thomas Lake House

Dave Thomas opened his first Wendy's restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in 1969, across the street from a popular children's science museum, cooking the food he loved the most - hamburgers. During the years of building the business, Dave was rarely at home to bond or interact with his family during his children's formative years which put somewhat of a wedge between them. By 1995 Dave slowed down enough to realize it was time to do something to repair family relations. He bought Round Island in lovely Buckeye Lake just a short drive east on I-70 out of Columbus. It seemed the perfect place to enjoy his children and grandchildren. There was a 1920's cottage on the island which he restored and made larger, adding a playground and swimming pool. Dave's former Buckeye Lake home is now for sale at $1.3 million.

Steve Martin's Caribbean Home

Steve "Wild and Crazy Guy" Martin has had a fabulous career. From writing comedy, plays, music and books to stand up comedy to stage and film actor and musician, Martin has been showered with awards for excellence at every turn. If it's creative, he not only does it but excels. Steve recently listed his stunning St. Barth Island home for sale at $11,587,869. Located high in the hills of Lurin, St. Barthelemy, the sprawling 28,191 square foot tropical colonial-style home sits gracefully above the Atlantic with fabulous views from its half-acre of land.

Real estate is never boring at TopTenRealEstateDeals. Check out today's most entertaining and unusual real estate news stories of the week. News such as America's top ten bargain mansions, Monaco's $250 million penthouse and haunted homes you can actually buy.

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