By Danielle Rexrode & Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Just outside of downtown Catonsville, in the shadows of majestic trees, stands a cluster of stone buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Known as the Historic District of Charlestown, these beautiful buildings house some of the community’s most prized homes.

Old-world charm
"I live in the Historic District of Charlestown and love it here," says Irene Boffen, who moved there three years ago.

She lives in a charming one bedroom apartment, which, she says, is just the right size for her. "It meets my needs. It’s a wonderful size and is ideal for me. I even have a hide-a-bed in my living room for when my daughter visits from Seattle," she says.

Boffen says she loves having everything she needs on campus, and living in the historic district puts her at the center of everything. "I live very close to the chapel, and I rarely have to leave campus. We have carpeted sidewalks. It’s snowing outside, but who cares! I can get anything I need without going outside in the cold weather," she says.

Historic architecture,modern amenities
Just outside her door is a bustling 110-acre campus that has all the features of a small town: a variety of restaurants; a fitness center and indoor, all-season pool; classrooms; a medical center; and a pharmacy that delivers.

But one of the most common reasons people choose to live in the Historic District is its proximity to the stunning, 84-year-old Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, modeled after Sacre Coeur in Paris. "I go there often to pray and meditate, in addition to going to church services," says Shirley Costello, who lives nearby.

"All the apartments in the historic section are quite unique," says Steffany Byers, Charlestown’s retirement counselor. "They allow you to take advantage of modern amenities while enjoying a home with the fine distinctions of historic architecture."