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OWNING A WATERFRONT PROPERTY is a persistent dream of mine, and I don’t much care, in my fantasy, whether it’s lake, bay, harbor, pond, or river (I’m assuming ocean is out of reach in this lifetime). It seems to me that the shimmering, reflective qualities of water, seen every time you look out the window, would be almost a guarantee of positive chi, full of life and ever-changing.
So I check out waterfront listings from time to time…you know, just for the hell of it. I was alerted to this one, on the border between Dutchess and Columbia counties, by a post on the blog Upstater. Since I was in the area last week, I took an in-person peek.
Property seen from the road: nice and private, with a detached garage
Entry door is on the side
Rear of house toward lake: needs more glass!
This property is all about the lake, and the lake is absolutely bee-yoo-ti-ful. The large lot, leading down to one of the town’s Twin Lakes (the one on which motorized watercraft are NOT permitted), is dramatically steep. The house is nothing to rave about, nor is the town — Elizaville, N.Y., a working-class hamlet with a post office, a laundromat, a deli, a diner, and not much else (besides the lakes).
Side yard
My verdict: overpriced for the area at an ask of 365K, but if you want lakefront, it’s worth further investigation. The house was unoccupied when I happened by, and I didn’t tour the inside. There was nothing visibly horrifying about its exterior condition, though, and my through-the-window shot of the kitchen, below, bodes pretty well.
The realtor’s listing is here.
THERE’S ONE AUGUST RITUAL my wasband and I cherish, and it’s something even being un-married cannot undo: our annual trip to the horse races at Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, followed by ‘taking the waters’ at Saratoga Spa State Park.
Every summer, I admire the amazing two-tone Italianate facade of the 1877 Adelphi Hotel on Broadway, a three-story arched loggia rendered in brick. This year we actually stayed there, and I was not disappointed. The Adelphi is a rare American example of High Victoriana in architecture and decor, with lush gardens, a romantic pool, and endless nooks, patios, and verandahs.
The races, though fun, are the least of it. The track is of the same vintage as the hotel, a real national treasure. It’s a very democratic scene; general admission is $3.
Not being much of a gambler, I conservatively bet on favorites to show, and thus increase my starting cash by enough to buy a beer by the 5th race.
Saratoga’s famed mineral waters — there are 18 naturally occurring springs — are what drew people there in the first place. Pavilions throughout town are often crowded with people filling jugs with water either clear and sweet or smelling strongly of sulfur, said to have various properties from aiding digestion to improving the complexion.
The historic 1933 spa complex at Saratoga Spa State Park, which once included a concert hall and restaurants, is now much reduced, but the Roosevelt Baths & Spa inside one of the Federal-style buildings is open for business.
There are massage and beauty services, which you can get anywhere, and deep, no-frills soaking tubs filled with mineral water drawn to just the right temperature for 40 minutes of muscle-releasing, soul-satisfying relaxation ($25), which you cannot.
THIS HISTORIC house on the Silvermine River in an area of Norwalk, CT, long known for its eclectic population of artists, writers, inventors, and others, is on the market because its owner, a self-described “Connecticut Yankee,” has decided on a lifestyle change and is downsizing to a bungalow in Savannah.
The house, she writes, “dates back to 1789 or 1844, depending on the researcher.” That’s quite a spread, but anyway, it’s at least 167 years old.
The Silvermine area, one hour by train from NYC, is on the National Register of Historic Places. This 4BR, 3.5 bath house is set on a bend in the river, with an extension spanning the entire rear of the house providing a river view in all seasons. The lot measures 1.14 acres.
The house used to be called “the Civil War families house,” because the wives and children of soldiers stayed together for support in that house until their men returned.
Character and charm are a given. The post-and-beam house has separate sitting and dining rooms, and original “pumpkin” pine wide plank floors and antique hearth in the living room.
The rear extension, remodeled with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river and surrounding woodland, has a tree-house feel.
The kitchen, with custom cabinetry and high-end appliances, was redesigned by the current owner in 2007. There’s 600 square feet of living space downstairs, with a second fireplace, that can double as an in-law or guest suite, with its own kitchenette, laundry and full bath.
Add to that two finished attic rooms, and a landscaped patio fashioned after the hidden gardens of Charleston and Savannah.
The full realtor’s listing, with lots more pictures and information, is here.
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