Located in the heart of Ruxton on one of the larger properties in the community, totaling 3.91 acres, Cedar Top presents a rare opportunity to own one of the original Ruxton homes! The driveway connects two existing homes, 1919 Ruxton Road and 1740 Circle Road, both on the same parcel of land (but with subdivision rights possible). The main house (1919 Ruxton Road) was designed by architect Arthur Jerome Hooper, enjoys 5,419 square feet and was built in 1896 as a summer home. The house was then expanded in the 1920s when it became a full-time residence. Most of the home’s original features remain, including claw foot bathtubs, a dumbwaiter, vintage light fixtures, transom windows, and bas relief sculptures above two of the nine fireplaces, all adding classic charm and character to this tremendous home.

A paneled entry door with leaded glass arched transom leads into the vaulted foyer, providing passage to a powder room, a double closet, and into the living room which features a wood burning fireplace, door to the terrace and access to the adjoining sunroom. This inviting space, awash in natural light, features a full-width bay, extensive built-in bookcases, fireplace and a two-stop elevator with mahogany paneling. Glazed doors lead into the enviable library, also enjoying a fireplace as well as two walls of floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases. The adjacent dining room includes a full-width bay with two windows and provides access to the spacious kitchen with stainless appliances, an island and open flow into the adjoining family room with a wood burning fireplace, built-in cabinetry and door to the screened porch.

The second level features a spacious primary bedroom suite with a fireplace and private bath. A second large bedroom suite also shares this level as well as two additional bedrooms, two baths and a large sleeping porch. Three more bedrooms can be found on the third level as well as a bath and an attic. A slate patio off the living room leads down into the surrounding gardens and grounds.

A lovely 1414 square foot guest cottage also shares the grounds featuring a living room, dining room, kitchen, powder room, three upper-level bedrooms and a bath. Stunning gardens adorn the property, including Maryland Champion trees, prize-winning daffodils and many other gorgeous varieties of flora and fauna. A large in-ground, 10-foot-deep swimming pool adds additional outdoor entertainment. Truly a one-of-a-kind property, with only two owners since 1896, Cedar Top at 1919 Ruxton Road offers a wonderful, rare opportunity to own a spectacular original Ruxton home!

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On Walnut Hill: The Evolution of a Garden
Kathy Hudson (Hillside Press)

There’s just something about a good coffee-table book—the luscious photos, the poetic words, the feel of the thick, shiny pages. At a time of year when hostess gifts are in high demand, this chronicle of the Hubbard family’s five-decade quest to turn their two-acre property in Ruxton into a garden might be just the ticket. This isn’t just any garden, mind you, but a lush, pleasingly designed masterpiece that melds foliage and flowers with architectural elements such as rock walls and sculptures. But it’s the Hubbard’s story, paired with depictions of the garden throughout the year, that makes this book a pleasure for all seasons.

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I Feel Like Going On: Life, Game, and Glory
Ray Lewis, with Daniel Paisner (Touchstone)

Ray Lewis’s memoir provides a gridiron view of life, showing how football shaped his formative years in Lakeland, FL, and allowed him to lead the Ravens to two Super Bowl victories. Lewis writes in an engaging way—though this is very much his version of events—about turning the anger and pain caused by an absent father into motivation on the football field, being a murder suspect in the stabbing deaths of two men in Atlanta, and the injury that caused him to sit out much of the 2012 season. Fans will enjoy this inside peek.