$20.5 Million Massachusetts Estate on Boston’s North Shore Lets You Live the Great Gatsby Lifestyle

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions or personal experiences.

This place is understandably called Rock Edge, in the prestigious Prides Crossing neighborhood of Beverly on the North Shore of Boston.

Built in 1911, this $22 million home is currently one of the most expensive single-family listing in Massachusetts.  Cape Cod boasts the most expensive one, which I've attached below so that you can look at it after strolling through the gallery of photos for Rock Edge.

I most definitely think that The Robb Report, where I found the listing for this massive estate, said it best about 34 Paine Avenue known as Rock Edge in the coastal suburb of Beverly:

If the fictional Jay Gatsby lived in New England, surely Rock Edge would be his residence of choice. Not only is this waterfront home designed for extravagant parties, but the privacy is unmatched.

Listed by George Sarkis of Douglas Elliman Massachusetts, this Georgian Revival-style home is nearly 28,000 square feet.  It has 11 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, 14 wood-burning fireplaces, a seven-car garage, 1,500 square foot kitchen, and sits on more than 3 acres of park-like acres.

It's like you're entering the gilded age of The Great Gatsby when you enter through the gates and drive past a carriage house onto this estate.  Of course, the house is completely modernized and stunning.  Wait until you peek inside!

Cool history, too!  Rock Edge was built when the most affluent families of Boston built their summer cottages on the shores of Beverly’s Gold Coast.  While most of these grand homes on the Massachusetts coastline don't exist anymore, Rock Edge still stands overlooking a private beach with an enormous cabana.

This 17-room, three story mansion was built in 1911 by Mrs. Marion Appleton Coolidge Sargent, a Bostonian of notable lineage and considerable wealth. Mrs. Sargent retained the home until her death in 1924 when it was purchased by the Alger family of Michigan.  In ,1940, Rock Edge was acquired by its most famous occupant, feisty sportswoman and notable Blue-Blood, Eleanora R. Sears. Linked to many fabulously wealthy gentlemen of the day, it is quite possible that Ms. Sears entertained admirers Harold S. Vanderbilt and the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII of England) at Rock Edge. Her active lifestyle and active social life at Rock Edge is chronicled by author Peggy Franck in her book, “Prides Crossing: The Unbridled Life and Impatient Times of Eleanora Sears.” Ms. Sears owned the home until her death in 1968. It was then purchased by the current owners.

Linda Zarifi of Zarifi Design is the current owner, and fully modernized the home while preserving its grandeur.

So let's tour this legacy estate, then we'll stroll through that $30 million Cape Cod home.