221 Surrey Circle

Description

A SPORTSMAN'S LEGACY - Ideally located near BRUCE'S FIELD and AIKEN HORSE PARK with numerous other historic estates, training, & polo fields close by, this is property is very secluded yet has easy access to everything that makes Aiken so unique! Built in 1937 by DUNBAR BOSTWICK for his young family, SUNNY OAKS was one of the last of the winter estates to be constructed and was originally part of a huge complex covering 120 acres. Included was the POWDERHOUSE POLO FIELD & the AIKEN MILE TRACK, which provided 6 stables with 89 stalls, training tracks for steeplechase and harness racing, living quarters for trainers, and a blacksmith shop. A true Renaissance Man, Dunbar was a 1932 graduate of Yale where he distinguished himself as an accomplished ice hockey player. Also a private pilot, helater served on the Army Air Force's planning staff for the Normandy invasion, returning after the war as a Lt. Colonel with a Bronze Star. His love of breeding, training, and racing standard-bred trotters led him to create facilities promoting a variety of equine activities that could be enjoyed by all of the Aiken community. This vision, paired with the generosity of other Winter Colony families, has proved to have a long lasting influence on the economy and popularity of Aiken. In contrast to the involvement in his varied interests, his home was designed to be a comfortable place to relax with his wife, Electra, their 4 daughters, his large extended family, and many friends & business associates. It's exterior design is a simplified Georgian style...traditional brick exterior featuring symmetrical windows, shutters, columns, and dormers. Classic proportions are seen throughout the interior spaces with high ceilings, a wide entry hall, a gracefully curved floating staircase, generously sized rooms with a total of 5 fireplaces, and extensive crown and other decorative molding. In addition to light from the many full length windows and doors, there are 4 large skylights and 7 barrel shaped dormers that provide light to the upper level all during the day. Within the living space are 5 large suites: one on the main level for guests; upper level with a dressing room and separate his & hers baths, plus 3 more for family & guests. There are 5 smaller rooms suitable for a home office, an exercise space, or for seasonal storage. A second staircase leads from this area down to the kitchen & laundry area. Other features include: a covered patio off the LR that overlooks the expansive back yard; a covered side porch off the kitchen; a concrete partial basement/workshop/wine cellar/storage area with interior and exterior access; a simple 14' X18' greenhouse structure; and a 2 room playhouse/studio with a fireplace and water service. (Playhouse needs some work). Dunbar sold the property in 1965 to Burt Poston, a local attorney, and for the past 59 years, 3 more generations have been nurtured within it's walls. Most of the original fixtures and finishes remain intact to preserve the home's historical integrity, with the exception of the kitchen, which was thoughtfully renovated and enlarged in 2018. Part of the intrigue of the home is to consider all the prominent figures in American government and industry who visited regularly and had a distinct influence on the Aiken culture, ensuring that the generous contributions of the Bostwicks and other Winter families will carry on long into the future.