Step back to a simpler time..... : December 2011

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Pennsylvania stone farmhouse, barn, and 68 acres for sale

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Please contact us via email for more farm sale information: pafarmgirl1@gmail.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE:

Old homes have souls, you know. They have stories all their own, memories of long ago times etched into their bones. A scraped floorboard, a bit of peeling paint on a door latch, a crooked stair, or a creaky hinge. Much like people, each moment, each memory adds character and flavor to their soul. Much like people, I believe they get better over time.
A man named Ben once shared a story with me. On a small adventure through the woods of Northeastern PA we traveled down a secluded woods trail. He stopped, looked up and pointed to show me a friend he had known since he was a boy. There before us, was a beautiful, towering pine. The tree was perfect, tall and symmetrical...until about midway up the trunk, instead of growing straight, it had a twisted and crooked spot. He told me this was his favorite tree because it had soul, it had something special. Something had happened in that trees life, but did the tree wither and die? No. It reached for the heavens and grew on proudly becoming taller than many others. He said over the years many times that tree's fate had been discussed. Should they cut it down because it leaned over the trail, was it safe? Always he championed the cause to save the tree, it was a symbol to him of "perseverance and guts."
I think this old house that I call home is like that. It has guts. Proudly it has stood through many lifetimes, many owners, and many changes. This house was here during the great battle of Gettysburg. Maybe you've heard of it? Sometimes I wish these old walls could talk, then again maybe not. Sometimes it fills my time to wonder what came before me and what will come after me. I am a small part of this house's story, it's life. It is not for everyone, but will be perfect for a special someone.

Some basic information

So if you are still reading, I'll assume you may be interested, or maybe you just need something to fill a space in your day. Welcome! The basics are as follows:

*68 acres m/l
*Approx 1730's brownstone farmhouse
*Matching brownstone barn built in 1834
*fields, small orchard, stream, creek, fenced pasture
*great hunting with secluded fields that would be great for food plots
*close to I-83 making this an easy commute to Harrisburg, Hershey, York, Baltimore, Philiadelphia
*groomed trails for horseback riding, 4 wheelers, or just a peaceful walk
*small community charm, with easy access to larger towns and cities
*10 minutes to Gifford Pinchot State Park for fishing, hiking, swimming, biking, etc...
*15 minutes to Ski Rountop
*25 minutes to Hershey for world famous Hersheypark, chocolate world, great outlet malls, etc...
*35 minutes to historic Gettysburg, a great place to spend some time!
*35 minutes to the home of the Pennsylvania amish, Lancaster county!
*15-20 minutes to Harrisburg, our state capital
*2 1/2 hours to Philly
*1 hour 15 minutes to Baltimore
*10 minutes to the PA turnpike
*farmers market and flea market less than 1 mile away for those relaxed Saturday mornings and fresh local produce.
Please contact us via email for more information: pafarmgirl1@gmail.com

Ramblings about the house and barn

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      I invite you to step back to a simpler time.  Step onto the front porch, take in your new view. You see your beautiful brownstone barn, your horses grazing happily in the pasture. Listen to the birds playfully singing in the woods that surround you. Breathe in the fresh air and smell the many flowers that grow all around you. You can even hear the rushing water of the clear creek located just down the bank beside the house. Don't forget the hundred year old pine tree that proudly stands tall guarding your new home. Think of the lives that were lived here in the last 200+ years, the laughs that were had,
    Your new living room features a beautiful high wood ceiling. Notice the large bright windows with 14 inch deep sills. Original wood floors, and horsehair plaster walls. Warm your hands by the cozy Vermont soapstone wood stove before you enter into what we affectionately call the "fireplace room." Again you see the deep window sills, wood floors, but the most catching feature is the large fireplace. It features a stone hearth, and is literally large enough to walk into! Great for roasting marshmallows while sipping cider on a chilly winter night. This room would make a great den, family room, or maybe a dining room for all of those family get togethers.
    Next you enter your large sunny kitchen. Wood cabinets, and a window lined eating area. Did I mention the view? You see woods, flowers, a small orchard, a small winding stream, and pasture. Off of the kitchen is a half bath, and also directly off the kitchen is a mud/laundry room. Also located on the main level is a large over sized 2 car garage, and a workshop. Great for your tools and projects, or would make a great craft/hobby space.
    From the kitchen make your way up to the master bedroom via your private staircase. The master bedroom is a large bright sunny space with a view of the creek and woods. This bedroom is located in the most recent addition to the house and has large windows, a bathroom with shower, and a walk in closet. There is additional space on this floor, currently used as storage, but could easily be made into more living space.
    The other bedroom spaces are located up an old-fashioned "apple pie" staircase off the living room. As you reach the top of the stairs you enter a large open space which was used as a walk-thru bedroom for many years. It would make a great study or play space for children. There is a neat little "nook room" that is currently home to a computer area. There is a large full bathroom on this floor with a huge closet for linen storage. Off of the large walk-thru bedroom is a large sunny bedroom with wood floors and deep silled windows overlooking the creek. There is also a large attic which could be converted into another bedroom or two if you like.
    This house is filled with many nooks and crannies, and loads of charm. Like I said before, it has a soul and story all it's own. I have tended it for many years, and invite you to become the next part of the story.

The Barn basics:
  The barn was built in 1834 and is in the German bank barn style. It is brownstone like the house and features horse stalls below as well as a tack room. The lower level of the barn features wide aisles, and the setup could easily be changed to accommodate more stalls. The second floor of the barn is used as a hay/storage area. There is a fenced corral, as well as a large pasture currently set up with high-tensile electric fencing for horses. The stream on the property meanders through the pasture, so water for your animals is never a hassle. The barn has electricity.

The land basics:
The farm is comprised of 68 acres per survey. It is mostly wooded, but has a large pasture, and also plenty of groomed riding or four wheeling trails. The land is mostly rolling with some flat and also some steep, it is a nice mix. There are some awesome rock formations throughout the property. There are mowed fields completely secluded and surrounded by woods. These would be great food plot areas if you are a hunter. Whitetail deer, and turkeys have been harvested from the property throughout the years. There is also squirrel and dove if you are so inclined. Hunting has never been open to the public and hunting pressure has been kept low, so the wildlife flourishes here!
The house sits back a winding drive, far off the road, so you need not worry over your little ones, or a wandering dog. It is surrounded by mature flower gardens, and a small orchard. Hundreds of lilies iris, cone-flower hosta, lilacs, sedum, forsythia, wiegelia, butterfly bushes, etc. call the garden their home. There is a babbling little stream that is great to play in during lazy summer days. On the other side of the house is a forest covered hillside with a wide creek at the bottom.
Also on the property is a second home. The home is located far from the main home to afford you your privacy. Currently there is an older mobile home, but this could be replaced if you are so inclined. The benefits are that it is on a separate electric meter and separate septic and well. There are so many possibilities, maybe a mother in law cottage, or guesthouse, or maybe a rental property to provide income? Maybe even a bed and breakfast cottage? Maybe a caretaker residence?

Living Room

This is the living room and makes up the entire downstairs portion of the original structure from the 1730's

"The fireplace room"

This is the connecting room between the living room and the kitchen, we affectionatly call it "the fireplace room." We like to move the rocking chairs here in the winter--it is a great place to spend a chilly night by the fire. Our favorite is on New Year's Eve--this is the perfect spot for hot cider, and making s'mores--YUM!! It would be a nice formal dining room, family room, home office, den, or library.

Kitchen, laundry room, half-bath

Some upstairs photos *bathroom, computer area and guest room have recently undergone a new paint job! They look great! Will add some new photos later this weekend -5-24-2013

These are photos of some of the upstairs rooms. This is the guest or children's side of the house. The master bedroom, bath, and walk-in closet was added in 1992. Also included in this addition was an oversized 2 car garage, huge workshop with both 110 and 220 electric, and another attic area.