MAYVILLE — While so much of Cape May County has reached catastrophically expensive prices when it comes to housing, there are still parts of the county where deals can be found, if one looks for them.
In the case of the home at 15 Fourth Ave. in Mayville, one doesn’t even have to look very far: it is just off the very beaten path of Route 9, yet feels like a refuge from the crowded summer season.
Mayville is a small-but-resilient corner of Middle Township. It’s technically part of Cape May Court House today, but the name predates even the township’s incorporation in 1723.
Named after Dutch sea captain Cornelis Mey, known for “discovering” the cape in 1614, Mayville has quietly endured for centuries — its historic homes and old churches tucked just out of sight from passing traffic.
Interestingly, Cape May Court House wasn’t named until after 1764, when the courts were built — some 40 years after Mayville first appeared in English records.
This quiet legacy is felt in the surroundings of Fourth Avenue, where homes sit on spacious lots and the pace of life feels just a little more relaxed. Yet despite the old-world atmosphere, the home is relatively new and thoroughly updated.
The home was built in 2012 and has been carefully maintained since then with tidy upgrades to the floors and finishes, and the original cabinets and woodwork kept in good repair.
It appears to be an old-fashioned, symmetrical two-over-two farmhouse with three deep gables on the top floor, a side wing designed to look like the additions put on older homes from the early 1800s, in keeping with the style, and an attached garage.
The proportions were captured perfectly, so that at first glance it might be hard to guess the actual age. Once inside, however, the comfort and convenience of modern technology is felt immediately.
A long porch welcomes visitors to the front door, and offers a place to sit out the bad weather while keeping an eye on Fourth Avenue.
The door opens into a high entry hall with a sweeping staircase outfitted in carved wood posts and wrought-metal balusters. Behind the central hall is the long and sunny living room and kitchen, offering space for dining, movies or playtime.
The kitchen is decked out with light wood cabinets surrounding the south-facing window, and with stainless steel appliances and work surfaces echoed in the cool tones of the countertops and tiled backsplash.
A unique feature above the peninsular counter is a pot rack that’s part of a ceiling light, combining two functions and saving space.
There is ample storage in the pantry and cabinets, but the overall style here is spotlessly neat, allowing the eye to focus where it should: outdoors.
French doors open from the back room to the deck, which has a partial awning, room for dining and a view of the fenced-in .62-acre lot and swimming pool.
This backyard is ideal for children and pets, and still offers plenty of space for a new garden or specimen trees if desired.
From there it’s easy to see that the house is part of a quiet neighborhood of similarly spacious lots, although it’s refreshing to see that not every house was built at the same time.
Mayville remains a tidy little hamlet that’s been making subtle adjustments over the decades and feels all the calmer for it.
The second floor features five bedrooms: of these, the primary bedroom has an ensuite bath and a private deck overlooking the back. The other four share two large bathrooms, and the laundry room is conveniently nearby on this level.
The sixth and final bedroom is back on the main floor, offering easy access if that’s required for someone who finds stairs troublesome.
Another full bathroom on this floor brings the total to four, and there’s a bonus room here as well: whether it’s an office, a playroom or another sitting room is part of the adventure that this home presents to its next residents.
With more than 3,000 square feet of living space, that’s a lot of adventure for the price.
The attached garage is large enough for three cars, hobbies and storage. Best of all, it has a loft for even more storage or workspace.
A utility room houses the home’s central air conditioning and heating, making this a very comfortable home for a large family in a quiet location that is still conveniently close to schools, shopping, jobs and entertainment.
Fourth Avenue might be easy to overlook for drivers heading past on Route 9, but that might be the best part about it.
By VICTORIA RECTOR/For the Star and Wave
