Before Kristin Asinger and her husband, Tim, refurbished the historic Rufus Barrett Stone House at 11 Boylston St., they slept in one of the bedrooms to determine the comfort of the 112-year-old uniquely designed brick structure.

What the couple found was a relatively quiet, relaxing home with fantastic views of Old City Hall, the flowing Tunungwant Creek — and life in downtown Bradford.

“Every side you look out (of the triangular-shaped building) has a different view,” Asinger said during a tour of the three-story building, which is also referred to as Bradford Flatiron Airbnb and rented out by the couple regularly.

“Our very first guests said, ‘This is gorgeous here, you can see the mountains, you can see lights going on and you can see the creek.’”

In July, the Asingers purchased the building, which is just one of five structures in the city listed on the National Register of Historic Places, from Jim and Sandy MacFarlane.

“He used this (building) as his consulting business for the oil and gas industry, and they had an office on each floor,” Asinger said of MacFarlane. She said MacFarlane, who had obtained other employment in the area, hadn’t used the building for a few years.

Built in 1906 as a townhouse and law office of Rufus Barrett Stone, the structure owes its current name to previous “Flatiron Building” references as it had been likened to an antique flat iron.

According to information provided by Bradford Landmark Society, the MacFarlanes purchased the building in 2005 and renovated the historic structure to keep its Colonial revival style. Other owners in the past have included professionals with businesses, as well as the late Catherine and George Daggett, who were responsible for having the property listed on the National Register in 1982. The Daggetts also added a two-car garage on the back of the structure that has a second bedroom and a utility room above.

Asinger said she and her husband also refurbished the structure, but kept all of the historically accurate colors and design intact from MacFarlanes’ interior decorator, Mimi Cahill.

“We had (workers) start in July by doing a lot outside repointing of the bricks and scraping the paint from the windows” while using local contractors for most of the work, she said. Copper patina trim was also added to the outside of the building by local contractors.

Asinger noted she and her husband bought the building with intentions of using it as their Bradford home when they downsize in the future.

“We always loved the building and felt this would be perfect for that,” Asinger explained. “But then we asked, what will we do with it until then.”

The thought of renting it out as an Airbnb was not all that foreign to them, as they have stayed in such rental properties while on vacation. The concept is very popular and trendy, as many travelers throughout the world specifically seek Airbnbs, which provide space to “stretch out in, cook and relax … and get the feeling you’re living like a local,” Asinger commented. “It’s different, and many times it’s the same price or less than a hotel room.”

With that, the couple decided to rent the structure as an Airbnb beginning in November, and the results have been pleasing.  

“People have really taken care of our house, they leave it spotless,” she said of guests with whom they connect through Airbnb.com or by email. “And not only do I review them as guests, but they review me as a host” on the websites. The two-bedroom facility can sleep up to four guests, has high-speed WiFi, first-floor office space, a half-bath, a serviced kitchen, a newly renovated bathroom, lovely antiques and an artful interior, among other amenities. The smoke-free, no-pets facility can also be rented for meeting or rehearsal space for groups or businesses. In addition, it can be rented for any amount of time, from one day up. A fenced in garden at the back of the building is open to guests during warm weather.

“Location-wise, this is awesome,” Asinger continued. “I’ve asked (guests) what are the best three things here, and they say, ‘Location, location, location’ because you can walk to everything.”

Bradford Landmark weighed in on the history of the building.

Stone, who had been known as Bradford’s “Grand Old Man,” was a lawyer who “played an integral part in the history of the Bradford community.”

A private with the “Bloody Sixth” Massachusetts regiment during the Civil War, Stone later moved to Mississippi where he took up the study of law and was admitted to practice in 1872. His practice of representing a variety of people, including African Americans, made Stone a target of violence and death threats in the South, prompting him to move to Bradford in 1876. In addition to constructing the unique town house, which served as his law office on the ground floor with living quarters in the upper floors, Stone served on many boards in the community. He also helped found the former Bradford Evening Star in 1879. After selling the newspaper, it later merged into The Bradford Era.

Sally Costik, curator of Bradford Landmark, said she was pleased the historic building, which is significant because of Stone and the architecture, is once again being used in its original state.

“Rufus Stone himself was a fascinating person,” Costik remarked. “He founded so much stuff in the city.”  

For more information on the building, contact Asinger at kristinasinger49@gmail.com or find the property through Airbnb.com.