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It was January, 1984, and I needed to find an affordable place to live in the Upper Valley. My new home had to be within reasonable commuting distance of my new job, which was going to be in Lyme NH, on Rt 10. I was 24, just out of college, and was moving to a new area, with a new job. where I didn't know anyone yet, and I needed to find a place to live. I had been working as a book editor, on a temporary basis, in Washington DC, and while waiting to hear from the Defense Department, about a mapping position, I interviewed for a job in New Hampshire doing digital mapping for a lot less money. I guess I'm different than a lot of people, in that I chose to take the lower paying job in New Hampshire. However, I would bet there are others in our area who might have made the same choice. The idea of living in an area with much more open space, fresh air and water, and with the Appalachian Trail and other trails nearby, appealed to me greatly. In a geography classs I'd taken at UConn, I had studied with great interest, the concept of "Quality of Life". Quality of Life took into consideration many attributes of a location, including air and water quaility, crime statistics, employment and amenities availability, transportation networks, and availability of fresh food, and other considerations. I could tell there was some serious quality of life going on here in the Upper Valley! NEW JOB, NEW HOME So, crazy me, I agreed to take the job in New Hampshire. Now I had to find a place to live, on what little money I would be earning. I soon found out my options were quite limited. My new place of employment directed me to the Dartmouth Office of Residential Housing. I drove the '74 Valiant Scamp up from my parents' house in Connecticut, one cold snowy January morning, and parked on West Wheelock street. I found the housing office, got my list of rentals, and started scanning for something that I thought I could afford. It was pretty grim. I couldn't afford much. Fortunately, there was a bedroom in a house with a family available in Plainfield. For $185 a month, including utilities, I also got my own bathroom, and use of the kitchen. I called New England Telephone and was able to only get a party line. A party line was something different to me, like a throwback to the "old days". I'd never lived in the north country before, and had a lot to learn, not just about party lines, but also bout things like 30 degree below zero temperatures, and their effect on an old Plymouth Valiant! It was colder here, and much snowier than where I grew up. Cars didn't start as easily, sitting in the wind and subfreezing temperatures for days on end. 1974 Scamp, My First Car, Shown Here in 1984. My car was ten years old, and it didn't take long for the road salt to take effect either. I'd never owned a car before, and I was fortunate, in that my parents had given me this car to help me get established in my new community. I soon learned and began to do basic car maintenance, like oil changes, and body work, in order to save money. My first spring in the north country was beautiful. A good friend from college drove up and hiked up the fire tower on Smart's Mountain with me. When I saw the view of the Connecticut River valley from the top of Smart's, I knew I had found my new home.... 1988: FOUR YEARS LATER.... AFFORDABLE HOUSING? After a few years of digital mapping, and a few surveying jobs, I found myself working for the US Postal Service. Between 1984 and 1988, I had lived in six different places in the Upper Valley, first in New Hampshire, and then Vermont. It seemed that every time I thought I was getting settled, my landlord decided to sell the house, or have his daughter move in after my lease ran out. I took out a new car loan, for a 1988 VW Fox station wagon, and began looking for some real estate I could purchase. I had always heard, and believed, that real estate was the best investment you can make. Why pay rent, when you can pay a mortgage over 30 years or so, and then have a great investment paid off, that you could sell someday? Plus, once you pay off the mortgage, it's like not having to pay rent anymore, though there are always property taxes, and maintenance costs associated with owning as opposed to renting. It's a personal decision, to rent or to buy, but I definitely wanted a place to call my own someday. When I checked with my local bank, I was disappointed to find out that the only way I was going to buy property was to get my car paid off, which I had just purchased. The monthly car payment affected my ability to pay a mortgage, so I worked overtime and paid extra principal on the car each month, and got it paid off relatively quickly, in about a year and a half, all the while watching the real estate ads and seeing what the market was like. 1988-1989 Once I paid my car off, I found out I could afford a home in the $65,000 dollar range. $65,000 didn't buy much, even back then. I looked at a house in White River Junction, that was within walking distance to my job, but the place needed way more work than I wanted to put into it. I almost bought a small piece of land in Sharon, on which to build. Unfortunately, I soon found out that it was all ledge, and would probably need to be blasted in order to put in a foundation. So much for that one too. Eventually, I put a deposit on a place in Strafford. It was a winterized camp, that came furnished. An old woman had lived in it, and even her antique telephone and kitchen utensils were still inside! One sunny Sunday, before the house closing, my parents visited and we had a picnic lunch on the property. It was very peaceful, with spring birds singing in the background. But then, all of a sudden, there was a real LOUD NOISE! It was as if an industrial saw was fired up, just a few feet away! I soon found out that a neighbor, just to the north, was in fact, just behind the tree line, where I could not see. We had come up from the south, and took a left on the right of way to the camp. If we had gone north a short distance further, we would have seen my neighbor to be, and his collections of fine rusting scrap metal, and large, loud machines. Fortunately, I was able to get my deposit back, and continued searching for my new home. 1990 Eventually, it became clear that what I was looking for was a winterized camp, as that was all I could really afford. I had always loved camping, and roughing it, so the idea had sort of a romantic charm for me My First Home, in West Fairlee Center. ca 1990. I settled on a small place in West Fairlee Center, with a nice wrap around deck, and a pleasant local view of the neighboring farm, with cows grazing in the fields. It would be about a 40 minute ride to work on a good day, but I loved the peaceful beauty of the place, and I could move right in after the closing and start living there. It would be a nice retreat to return to after a long day's (or night's) work in White River Junction. View from the Home in West Fairlee Center. 2020 AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE UPPER VALLEY Today I like to pretend I'm 28 again, looking for an affordable place to purchase and live in year-round. I usually look at real estate ads, almost on a weekly basis, just to see what's out there, and I always check the entry level market. What is out there for those new to the market and on a tight budget? Those who can save up a down payment and closing costs, and have the time, energy and desire to work hard and improve something over time, can be rewarded with a home of their own, though it could take months of searching, just to find it. Here is my list of interesting offerings at the low end of the spectrum, under $100,000 as of today, January 25, 2020. Yes, I realize I can be pretty optimistic! The first listing is in Hanover: $69,000 Hanover NH, 148 Goss Road on half an acre. This cute cabin is listed as seasonal, and is east of Etna, out near Moose Mountain, but still in Hanover. If I were interested, I would inquire as to whether there were covenants on this property. It could be a cozy, rustic starter home for a single person or couple. It might be possible to live in it in the warm months, while building a winterized addition, or separate home, (and a septic system) It has a lovely wood paneled interior, even though there appears to be no bathroom. It would be worth asking how far away a power pole is, and seeing if there could be a solar site on the property. A listing for the above house in Hanover can be found here: www.biggreenrealestate.com/displayprop/Hanover/NH/Home/4721828 The next listing is in Norwich: 2. $70,000 Norwich VT 1802 Beaver Meadow Road with 4.7 acres near the Sharon Town Line This listing is for almost 5 acres of land, however, there is an old house on the property, and it's literally right on the road, as you can see by the plowed snow against the house. It's possible the road was re-routed at one time. I remember when the owners used to come to this place every July 4th, and open it up, and spend a few weeks or months there every year. The place has been unoccupied for at least 10 years, and considering the appearance, it’s obvious why the house isn't emphasized in the listing. It is located near the Sharon town line, with a wooded, south(ish) facing hill behind the house. It’s a short walk to the Beaver Meadow chapel and schoolhouse. If I was young, and ambitious, I would see value here, and investigate whether the frame of the house is worth saving. IF it’s an old post and beam frame, it might be able to be sold, or re-used/repurposed. Eventually, I would want to clear land above the house, put in a driveway, and build a house up above, where there appears to be nice solar gain. Every time I drive by there, on a sunny afternoon, I look up above the house and see the sun streaming in on the trees on the hill, up in back. This listing can be found here: https://www.coldwellbanker.com/property/1802-Beaver-Meadow-Road-Norwich-VT-05055/M-4777260-NH_NNEREN/detail?src=list The following listing is in Canaan, New Hampshire: 3. $69,000 Canaan NH 115 Sugar Hill Road. Off-grid camp on 2 acres This cute little camp boasts a generator, an insulated ceiling, and a toilet. It sits on concrete posts, and has a southwest view from the front porch. There is a sleeping loft on one side, and a cathedral ceiling on the other. This camp was built in 2011, and seems like it might be worth a look. It's off of Grist Mill road, south and west of US 4. The listing can be found here: www.biggreenrealestate.com/displayprop/Canaan/NH/Home/4772978 The next place is in Strafford VT: 4. $89,000 Strafford VT, Camp on Miller Pond Rd, on 3.9 Acres I’ve been admiring this camp for years, and it is currently on the market for $89,000. This cute camp sits on piers, has gas lighting and a hand pump for well water. This cabin is currently off-grid, but is close enough to the road, that it shouldn’t be a problem to hook up to the electrical grid, if that’s what you want. It might be a good solar site as well. There’s 3.9 acres, a nicely cleared yard, a babbling brook…and room for a pony! There's more information and phots here: https://www.coldwellbanker.com/property/61-Miller-Pond-Road-Strafford-VT-05070/M-4770016-NH_NNEREN/detail?src=map&hdMlsNumber=4770016&hdMlsSource=NH_NNEREN The last offering is in Sharon Vermont: 5. 80,000 Sharon Vermont on 1.8 Acres This is a great location, if you like being near the White River, and don't mind being on Rt 14. It’s just a small place, with a couple of porches, close to the road, and it sits on a 1.8 acre lot. I think it was once used as a rental for students from the VT Law School. It could be a starter home for someone, and it’s conveniently located not far from exit 2, I-89. It just seems like it has a lot going for it, considering the price, lot size, location and accessibility. For the money, this one is the one I would choose from the five places listed here. Here is further information on this one: https://www.coldwellbanker.com/property/6336-Route-14-Route-Sharon-VT-05065/M-4761260-NH_NNEREN/detail?src=map&hdMlsNumber=4761260&hdMlsSource=NH_NNEREN *********************************** I like to think of the early pioneers of the Upper Valley, who came here from Connecticut and Massachusetts in the 1760's. Imagine if they could see what we term today as "roughing it"! I bet they'd get a good belly laugh! They'd marvel at propane powered stoves, heaters, and refrigerators. What would they think about solar panels, electricity, and the things they power? When I think of these things, I realize how much has changed, in so little time. Back in 1996, my wife and I sold the little place in West Fairlee Center, and bought our our current home, another small, former camp. Our home, a former camp. Photo is from a few years ago, after replacing the front porch, but before we put on a new standing seam roof. Thanks for rambling on down Old Roads Rivers and Rails of the Upper Valley, with me, Bob Totz.
Thanks also to coldwellbanker.com and biggreenrealestate.com for listing links, photos, and information.
5 Comments
Douglas Shane
1/26/2020 03:10:54 pm
Hi, Bob. Thanks for another interesting posting!
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Bob Totz
1/26/2020 04:46:48 pm
Feel free to share it, Doug!
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Marcy Bartlett
1/26/2020 05:14:53 pm
Hi Bob, love the place that seems to NOT have a toilet. Our family farm still has what I have been known to call a "gravity feed" toilet--aka outhouse. Great posting. Love the pics and sense of adventure that a starter home looks/feels like. We bought ours in Wilder in 1996 for $76k, but had to gut it to do a complete reno. Glad we did it though, and it's got our memories in it now also.
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Bob Tota
1/27/2020 08:05:00 am
Thanks for your comments, Macy.
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Bob Totz
1/27/2020 08:12:15 am
Oops....spelled my name wrong in the comment above, and there's no way to edit the comment! Ha ha. I'm usually pretty good at proofreading.
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AuthorI'm Bob Totz, retired VT postmaster, and historical geographer ARCHIVES:
October 2021
EXPANDED ARCHIVES: AUGUST 2021 1858 Johnson Map of North America MAY 2021 1795 - "Road Over the Mountain" - Part Two Historic Toll House For Sale 1795 - "Road Over the Mountain" Part One OCTOBER 2020 Finding That Special Peaceful Place AUGUST 2020 Kayaking on the Pompy JULY 2020 Pt. 2: What the Heck Are These Things? JUNE 2020 Bob's Bio... What the Heck Are These Things? Pt. 1 MAY 2020 Stone Walls and Spirits The View APRIL 2020 Sunny Brook Farm Relics: Pt 2. Sunny Brook Farm Relics: Pt 1. MARCH 2020 Signs of Norwich Pt. 2 COVID-19 Tracking Map Centertown and Valleyquest Signs of Norwich Pt. 1 "Imperfect Union" - Book Review Historic Centertown FEBRUARY 2020 King's Hwy Pt. 2 WRJ Museum at Post Mills Airport Chatauguay Vermont The Independent Farmer poem Traveling Along the King's Highway - Lebanon NH JANUARY 2020 Finding Parkhurst Cemetery In Search of Parkhurst Cemetery Affordable Housing The Old Stone Grill Two Rivers Trail-Kmart License and Registration, Please! Prohibition, Murder and Dr. Seuss Peace, Paris, & P.O. DECEMBER 2019 BLOGGER'S LINKS Welcome to Old Roads Love-Quail Hollow fun Dartmouth Cemetery SEPTEMBER 2019 E. Thetford Cemetery JUNE 2019
Taps: Meetinghouse Cemetery 4-Corners Borders Quest Old Iron Gate Stumbling Upon History Sunrise Walk MAY 2019 4 Corners Cemetery Strafford's Abandoned Foundations Art in Old Stonework APRIL 2019 Strafford Tpke Pt 2 Strafford Tpke Pt 1 White River Valley FEBRUARY 2019 Learning from Historic Maps of the Upper Valley Change in Lewiston VT JANUARY 2019 A Vermont Ski Waltz John Ledyard 1773 What is the Upper Valley? DECEMBER 2018 Dartmouth Green Music Video: Sometimes Music Video: Montreal Express Railway Disaster of 1887 |