Three pending sales: one from the deadwood pile, two from the fresh produce bin

Interesting that it’s the laggard at 78 Khakum Wood that hold the most appeal to me. Built in 1906, 3 acres in Khakum Wood; what’s not to like? Obviously, it was the price, but the children of the were clearly in no hurry to reduce its price — their parents had lived there for 60 years, so what’s the rush? — and they stuck to their “make-me-move” price of $6.3 million from the date of its May 25 listing, April 26, 2025 through today.

You can’t fault the listing agent’s diligence; she even ordered up one of those paid content “ads-that-look-like real-articles” that are so popular with our local papers. This one appeared in Greenwich Time back in June ’25:

Sponsor Content

Poised to make new memories

The Rothe family has listed their beloved Khakum Wood home for sale—on the market for the first time in more than 60 years

By Gretchen A. Peck June 27, 2025

Located in the idyllic private association of Khakum Wood, 78 Khakum Wood Road has made its market debut for the first time in more than 60 years. The Tudor-Revival nine-bedroom home was the second home to be built in the historic Khakum Woods Association. It was completed in 1906, with landscaping by the Olmsted Brothers. 

Annemarie Rothe’s and Kirsten Rothe Meberg’s parents bought the home more than 61 years ago. Danish immigrants, they appreciated the Tudor Revival-style architecture. They were just the second family to own the home. They acquired it from the first owners, the Gilbert family, who had combined former stables and staff apartments to create the grand 6,841-square-foot luxury home that endures today. 

Over the decades, the Rothe family owned the home, they decidedly maintained the architectural character and some of the original artifacts. “We have a pulley that’s in one of the bedrooms that was used in the former hay loft,” Rothe Meberg said. 

[Etc]

But how cool is this? From the current owners’ mother’s 2023 obituary:

Annelise Balsloew Rothe was born May 7, 1931, to Poul and Edel Balsloew of Hilleroed, Denmark. She died in Greenwich Hospital on July 21, 2023.

Annelise's early years were spent in Nazi-occupied Denmark, where her father was part of the Danish resistance. As a young child, she helped the resistance movement by delivering concealed, fake papers, which were stitched into her boots, for families fleeing Nazi persecution.

She graduated from Frederiksborg Gymnasium and studied psychology at the University of Copenhagen. After her studies, Annelise became a kindergarten teacher in a marginalized section of Copenhagen, frequently bringing some of the more disadvantaged children home to her apartment to feed and clothe them.

In her late twenties, Annelise moved to The United States, where she met the love of her life, Tyge E. Rothe, who was also born and raised in Denmark. The two married and settled in Greenwich, CT, and remained married until he passed away in 2004.

Of less interest to me, because price/location don’t seem to match, 159 Lake Avenue, priced at $5.475 million and going for more, is pending after 21 days. Shockingly, some buyers don’t share my opinion on the merits of this property.

Neither do they care about my distaste for 14 Upland Drive, $3.195 million, 18 DOM. I’m hurt.