The Downer House at dusk, a brick Colonial Revival with a columned portico above a grand front stair on Meade Street

Circa 1903 · Monongahela, Pennsylvania

The Downer House 700 Meade Street, Monongahela, PA 15063

Beds: 6
Full Baths: 3
Half Bath: 1
Square Feet: 3,866
Acre: 0.34
Built: 1903

A distinguished historic residence where irreplaceable architectural character is matched by extensive investment in luxury renovations, modern infrastructure, accessibility, and meticulous long-term maintenance, offering the rare opportunity to own a legacy home that is as practical as it is beautiful.

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MLS # 1773642

“Million Dollar” Property

Highlights include

Stately Colonial Revival Built in 1903 with rich architectural details
Over 3,800 Square Feet Across 3 finished levels
6 Spacious Bedrooms & 3 Fully Renovated Baths Plus a powder room on the main floor
Original Features Fir & pine floors · Coved plaster ceilings · Custom millwork
Premium Upgrades New plumbing with Kohler fixtures · Waterworks cast iron tub · Kitchen ceiling with recessed lighting
Walk-In Accessible Shower & Stairlift For added accessibility
Flexible Third-Floor Bonus Room Ideal for home office or guest suite
Finished Basement For media room, gym, or play space
Major Systems Updated Central air · PVC and copper pipes
Wrap-Around Porch, Rear Courtyard & Two-Car Garage Flat rear access & private outdoor living space

Grand foyer with arched doorway and the front staircase — Grand foyer & front staircase

Columned wrap-around porch with brick floor — Wrap-around porch

About the home

Historic Charm, Modern Comfort

Perched above the Monongahela River, the Downer House is a grand Colonial Revival residence offering timeless elegance and modern comfort. Built in 1903 by local developer Samuel Miller Downer, this 6-bedroom home features over 3,800 square feet of living space across three finished levels.

Historic charm is found throughout: original fir and pine floors, fluted inlays, coved plaster ceilings, barley twist balusters, and custom millwork showcase extraordinary craftsmanship. Recent renovations include premium Kohler fixtures, a Waterworks cast iron tub, and a thoughtfully added walk-in accessible shower. A bonus third-floor room offers the ideal space for a private home office, guest suite, or creative retreat.

A secondary staircase with stairlift makes the home well suited to multigenerational living or aging in place. The finished basement adds flexible space for a media room, playroom, or gym, and major systems have been updated for peace of mind.

Outside, relax on the expansive wrap-around porch, enjoy the private rear courtyard, and take advantage of the two-car garage with flat rear access.

One family, forty-five years. Move-in ready.

Lovingly maintained by the same family for more than forty-five years, the Downer House is ready for its next chapter.

Photo gallery

Inside & Out

Select any photo to view it full size.

Exterior & Grounds

Front elevation at dusk from Meade Street, 700 Meade Street — Front elevation at dusk from Meade Street

Columned front portico and entry, 700 Meade Street — Columned front portico and entry

Side elevation and lawn, 700 Meade Street — Side elevation and lawn

Wrap-around porch, 700 Meade Street — Wrap-around porch

Wrap-around porch with brick floor, 700 Meade Street — Wrap-around porch with brick floor

Rear elevation and courtyard, 700 Meade Street — Rear elevation and courtyard

Two-car garage with flat rear access, 700 Meade Street — Two-car garage with flat rear access

Walkway from the garage to the house, 700 Meade Street — Walkway from the garage to the house

Rear grounds and stone garden walls, 700 Meade Street — Rear grounds and stone garden walls

Aerial view over Monongahela and the river valley, 700 Meade Street — Aerial view over Monongahela and the river valley

Aerial view of the neighborhood, 700 Meade Street — Aerial view of the neighborhood

Main Floor

Grand foyer and front staircase, 700 Meade Street — Grand foyer and front staircase

Front staircase with barley twist balusters, 700 Meade Street — Front staircase with barley twist balusters

Living room with marble mantel, 700 Meade Street — Living room with marble mantel

Formal living room, 700 Meade Street — Formal living room

Study with fireplace, 700 Meade Street — Study with fireplace

View from the study to the foyer, 700 Meade Street — View from the study to the foyer

Formal dining room, 700 Meade Street — Formal dining room

Dining room built-in and fireplace, 700 Meade Street — Dining room built-in and fireplace

Dining room window bay, 700 Meade Street — Dining room window bay

Kitchen and breakfast nook, 700 Meade Street — Kitchen and breakfast nook

Powder room, 700 Meade Street — Powder room

Upper Floors

Second-floor landing, 700 Meade Street — Second-floor landing

Second-floor hallway, 700 Meade Street — Second-floor hallway

Stair landing with leaded glass window, 700 Meade Street — Stair landing with leaded glass window

Bedroom with fireplace, 700 Meade Street — Bedroom with fireplace

Bedroom sitting area, 700 Meade Street — Bedroom sitting area

Renovated bath with cast iron tub and glass shower, 700 Meade Street — Renovated bath with cast iron tub and glass shower

Renovated marble bath, 700 Meade Street — Renovated marble bath

Walk-in shower, 700 Meade Street — Walk-in shower

Secondary staircase, 700 Meade Street — Secondary staircase

Stairlift on the secondary staircase, 700 Meade Street — Stairlift on the secondary staircase

Third-floor bonus room, 700 Meade Street — Third-floor bonus room

Third-floor bedroom, 700 Meade Street — Third-floor bedroom

Third-floor bath with accessible walk-in shower, 700 Meade Street — Third-floor bath with accessible walk-in shower

Third-floor flexible space, 700 Meade Street — Third-floor flexible space

Lower Level & Garage

Finished basement with brick fireplace, 700 Meade Street — Finished basement with brick fireplace

Finished basement, 700 Meade Street — Finished basement

Laundry and utility room, 700 Meade Street — Laundry and utility room

Garage interior, 700 Meade Street — Garage interior

Floor plans

Three Finished Levels

First floor plan: foyer, living room, study, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room, and powder room — First floor

Second floor plan: four bedrooms and two baths — Second floor

Third floor plan: two bedrooms, a bath, and storage — Third floor

Basement plan: finished bonus room with fireplace, laundry room, and storage — Basement

Sizes and dimensions are approximate.

History

A House with a Story

Samuel Miller Downer helped shape the Mon Valley. As a roofer he worked on the first house in Duquesne; as a real estate man he helped develop Donora and many of the homes in Monongahela. In his spare time he brought streetcar service to town and served a term as Washington County Treasurer.

In 1901 Downer bought more than two acres on Belvedere Hill, laid out a plan of 25 lots, and kept three at the corner of Meade and Lincoln Streets for his own home. He built it in the Dutch Colonial subtype of the Colonial Revival style, the most fashionable choice in Western Pennsylvania at the time: a rectangular footprint with a centered entry, a columned front porch, dormer windows, and the gambrel roof that marks the Dutch Colonial form.

In more than 120 years, the house has been home to only three families of owners.

1901 Samuel M. Downer purchases the Abrams property on Belvedere Hill and subdivides it.
1903 The Downer family moves into the finished house on December 29.
1912 Samuel Downer begins his term as Washington County Treasurer.
1933 The Downers lose the house in the Great Depression; it is let to a series of tenant families.
1950 Druggist John B. Miller Jr. and his wife Marion buy the house and raise their family here.
1979 The current family purchases the home and cares for it for the next four decades and more.

Historical research by Beth Reiners & Carol J. Peterson, Pittsburgh House Histories.

Location

Small Town Feel with Big City Reach

Map of Monongahela and the greater Pittsburgh region showing the Downer House, downtown Pittsburgh, the universities, the airport, Southpointe, and nearby parks — Monongahela & the greater Pittsburgh region

Less than 1 hour to Downtown Pittsburgh & Oakland via the Mon/Fayette Expressway

Approx. 45 minutes to Pittsburgh International Airport

Everyday Essentials

Cox Market Monongahela: 4–6 min
Devore Hardware Monongahela: 4–6 min
Giant Eagle Monongahela: 8–10 min
Trax Farm Finleyville: 15–20 min

Healthcare

Penn Highlands Mon Valley formerly Monongahela Valley Hospital: 7–10 min
Jefferson Hospital: 22–30 min
UPMC Presbyterian Hospital: 45–55 min
UPMC Shadyside Hospital: 45–55 min

Commutability

Downtown Pittsburgh: 45–55 min
Oakland Carnegie Mellon & University of Pittsburgh: 45–55 min
Southpointe Business Park: 25–30 min
Pittsburgh International Airport PIT: 45–55 min

Shopping & Entertainment

Century Square Cinema & Southland Center restaurants Pleasant Hills: 20–30 min
Waterdam Plaza Peters Township: 22–28 min
South Hills Village: 30–35 min
The Waterfront Homestead: 40–45 min

Lifestyle & Recreation

The Back Porch Restaurant: 15–20 min
Mingo Creek County Park: 20–25 min
Round Hill Park: 28–32 min
South Hills Country Club: 32–38 min

Presented by

Paula Harnish

724-933-8500
pharnish@kw.com

Request a Private Showing Call Paula

Keller Williams Realty

724-832-1100
1921 Highland Avenue
Greensburg, PA 15601

MLS #

1773642