A seemingly unassuming midcentury modern ranch house on the edge of Lake Michigan is drawing ample attention from eagle-eyed home hunters—thanks to listing images that prove appearances can be very deceiving.
Upon first glance, the three-bedroom home looks much like a traditional single-story bungalow, complete with a charming brick façade, covered porch, and red-framed windows.
But at the back of the Caledonia, WI, home, a very different reality presents itself: The dwelling actually dips down over the side of a hill, concealing a spacious lower level.
And what lies beneath in that basement story certainly has to be seen to be believed: an expansive private theater complete with tiered seating, professional lights, and a historical organ that takes center stage in the artistic space.
“It’s a world-class theater situated in the basement that was built around the organ,” says listing agent Frederick Cape, of Re/Max Newport Elite. “The theater is about 30 feet deep and even has a balcony.”
The lavish, one-of-a-kind music auditorium features chandeliers, a projection booth, and seating for 50. The furnishings were collected from nearly 50 different theaters across the country that were being demolished.
The focal point of the theater is the biggest Wurlitzer pipe organ ever built, which boasts five keyboards and four organ chambers.
Colorful crown molding adds a touch of Renaissance style to the space, along with grand columns that hold up the balcony seating. Enormous arches draped in vines cover the theater walls.
The home theater was the brainchild of Fred Hermes, who bought Detroit’s Michigan Theatre organ in 1955. He dismantled the original 5-ton, 28-rank organ with nearly 3,000 pipes within a week and rebuilt it at his Racine County property.
Hermes, an organist enthusiast, transformed the property into what eventually became known as the “Basement Bijou,” where he would show silent films to tour groups at his 1920s-inspired home theater.
While the theater is the centerpiece of the property, musical touches can be found throughout the main level of the home, including another organ that is nestled into an office space and a piano in the living room.
Historical decor items give the home a traditional style—yet the midcentury modern bones of the dwelling are clear to see.
A vaulted wooden ceiling and wood-paneled walls add an incredibly cozy touch to the great room, which also boasts a beautiful stone fireplace.
A spacious kitchen has custom cabinetry and an island with a cooktop.
The 2,568-square-foot property has a spacious open floor plan—another hallmark of the midcentury modern trend—as well as enormous windows in every room.
Embodying the indoor-outdoor flow that sits at the heart of midcentury modern design, the home merges effortlessly with its beautiful natural surroundings, not least because of the lush views that can be enjoyed from every room.
The property “also sits on 3 acres with frontage along Lake Michigan,” Cape says.
And while the listing agent believes that the “unusual” property would be best suited to “an organ society or just someone who loves music,” the basement space could also be transformed for other uses.