Marc Brown, the three-time Emmy winner and creator of the beloved ‘Arthur’ series, knows how to tell a good story. And, for the past 37 years, he and his wife, artist Laurene Kransy Brown, have had a storybook New England getaway to retreat to. The eight-acre sanctuary is located on Martha’s Vineyard, specifically within the the island’s Pilot Hill Farm enclave. Centered by an inviting farmhouse main home and also boasting outbuildings, the couple’s longtime estate is now up for sale asking $6.9 million.
Marc crafted about half the Arthur’s books on the tree-filled property, according to the Wall Street Journal, and it’s no wonder with all the meaningful design details and the calming grounds. The five-bedroom main house, built in 1735 and carefully restored by the sellers, stands as one of the oldest homes on the island. From hand-painted Siberian elm floors and gunstock posts to stone fireplaces and a Dutch door, the spaces are full of cozy character that spark the imagination. Turning the page to the two-bedroom guest house, it features a double-height living room with French doors.
Laurene worked closely with architect Gerrit Frase of Hutker Architects in Vineyard Haven to transform the two-stall horse barn and chicken coop into an art studio. The studio, filled with vintage cupboards, shelves, and wide work tables, is a true artist’s retreat. Marc’s space was on the top floor of the three-car garage, formerly a barn that served as a schoolhouse for children during World War II. “I love that children went to school here,” he told Martha’s Vineyard Magazine in a 2011 feature. “And, I love that cows once lived downstairs.”
Full of history and daily tales of nature, the estate also offers a pond, stone walls, a babbling brook, and perennial gardens for tranquil relaxation. The property is also surrounded by 100 acres of conservation land and home to lush meadows and trees, Mountain Ash being one of Marc’s favorites. Minutes away from Vineyard Haven’s shops, restaurants, and ferry, the home is a true-to-life fairytale that is ready for its next chapter.
Alexis Holden & Elle Lash of Tea Lane Associates holds the listing.
