08/24/2015
For Sale
Unique Home Unique Location
White Mountians NH
This charming 1810 Antique Cape rests on seven acres within the White Mountain National Forest area. In a sleepy little town called Benton, NH. Benton, one of the largest towns in New Hampshire geographically yet one of the least populated as the land area is predominately National Forest. Population about 370.
A lovely year round home, a seasonal get away, ski or sports lodge, a wonderful writers retreat or great get away location. A peaceful, serene location within the White Mountain National Forest. Offered as a turnkey, move in situation. Applianced, furnished, with food and fuel reserves for three years.
Located near the western end of the scenic Kancamagus about 20 minutes west of the Lincoln/ Loon area and about 15 miles East of the Connecticut River Valley / Vermont border.
Access to four season activities, hiking various mountains and trails (only about 10 miles from the Appalachian Trail) fishing, hunting, four wheel trails, ski mobile trails, and winter sports etc. One and a half hours south of the Canadian Border also lets you escape for a weekend or a day trip for a pleasant cultural experience. Yet, with all this activity available in the area our location is quiet and serene. From the rear of the house or through the kitchen window you cannot see another house however far you look. All you see in the distance is a beautiful view of the National Forest.
Critters many times walk through the property as we are in a Moose crossing and many times we get a chance to see Deer, Fox, Possum, Turkeys, etc. as well in their natural habitat.
Something special to see, is the night sky filled with thousands of stars with no light pollution from nearby cities, it is truly a sight to behold.
The seven acres are subdividable and could generate two other lots if someone chose to build or sell some of the property. The frontage is 700 feet with the house nearly in the center with the land sloping gently to the rear. At the front of the house looking to the rear, the field on the right is clear and tillable as is most of the area to the rear of the house. To the left it is more wooded providing a natural area for the well which is located here. The well is spring fed and a pond could be formed from the outflow to generate some home grown electricity.
The property has been upgraded and remodeled extensively, work was done to establish modern conveniences yet maintain the beauty and charm of yesteryear. Beautiful hand hewn beams span the width of the house in a 30 foot clear span. The basic dimensions of the main house are 30 by 40 feet, with a full dry basement with walk out access. The second floor offers three large rooms. The kitchen and garage were added in the early 1940's with more conventional type of construction. The kitchen being 24 by 12 and the garage roughly 24 by 16
Putting a new dress on the old gal. This unique home has a lot of antique character and charm but has benefited from some upgrading and modernizing, the following is only a partial list. The whole house was lifted from its foundation and the sills replaced with pressure treated lumber. All floor joists were replaced and a plywood subfloor installed and finished with select random width wide pine, dried, aged and finished like the original floor. The basement floor, originally dirt, was excavated deeper by about 8 to 10 inches, crushed rock and drains placed and capped with concrete for a nice flat, dry finished floor. The rear of the foundation was excavated offering independent rear access from the basement. All new mechanicals were installed, Heating system, Wiring, Plumbing, Septic system and leech field, Water Heater, Well line and Well pump, etc. etc. Heat is by gas fired hot water, wood stoves and or thermostatically controlled gas radiant heaters. All three chimneys were rebuilt with new clay liners installed.
In the Kitchen and Garage area, a concrete footing was set with a four foot basement wall on which the restoration was completed. We also created rear access under the garage for additional storage which is large enough for a small tractor or mid size car. The floor of the garage was pine planking which was overlaid with plywood to finish and seal the floor. There is a trap door from the garage to the area below allowing for internal access as well.
The kitchen was remodeled, the three doors replaced with quality insulated exterior doors. One door leads to the garage, one to the rear deck and the other, the front entry. Wiring for a clothes dryer and plumbing for a washing machine were installed as well.
Going into the basement of this home with all the new construction you would think you were looking at a new home yet the old fashioned charm and character of yesteryear has been carefully maintained. We have given the old lady a new dress and she is better than ever.
Easy access to RT 93 to our East and RT 91 (Vermont) to our West is only about 20 -25 minutes in either direction. If you fly, there is a small airport in North Haverhill about 10 miles away.
Shopping and conveniences, Woodsville, the closest town with general services offers, WalMart, Shaws, Ocean State Job Lot, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Cumberland Farms etc, A Dollar General is nearby as well and Dollar Tree is also locating there. Woodsville is on the Vermont New Hampshire border and draws from a broader population base throughout the region. We are about 15 miles from Woodsville to our west. The Lincoln/Loon /RT 93 area is East about 20 miles. Littleton a larger town with many other resources such as Home Depot and Lowes is 25 miles to our North and Plymouth is again about 25 -- 30 miles to our south. This gives you access to goods and services for whatever you may need.
Benton is a small quiet town. The town hall, which at one time was the old school house is only a short distance from the house.
We are at an elevation of about 1300 feet, the house was built in 1810 and the National Forest was established in about 1910-1911. Any privately held property owned prior to the establishment of the National Forest can be sold or transferred as any other private property would be. What you enjoy is the quiet, peaceful serenity of nature as it surrounds you with the natural beauty changing through the seasons. In the fall you see a magnificent display of color that changes day by day, then the white blankets of winter and the newness of green blades of grass, flowers and trees covering the fields in the spring all add to the natural beauty that surrounds you here.
The property is offered fully furnished and applianced with food reserves, fuel and wood for about three years. Most of the food is organic, non irradiated and nitro packed (beans, grains, honey, salt, etc.) so it offers maximum flexibility in that it can be cooked, eaten, ground for flour, sprouted or planted.
There is also a variety of equipment including a Small tractor with implements, mower, garden tiller, chain saws and other tools and equipment.
This is a turnkey, move in situation.
This property has been held in the family since the 1970's and is in a trust and can be transferred with the trust, those who understand the value of privacy and asset protection will see the added value and benefit. For those not interested in that benefit, it can easily be transferred as a conventional sale. If the property were to be shared by a small group of people such as for a ski club, hunting lodge or among friends the trust could also act as a vehicle to apportion incremental ownership as well.
This unique property would be ideal for a lovely year round home, a seasonal get away, a ski or sports lodge, a wonderful artist or writers retreat or a good location for someone who wants to get out of the city. Due to the size and nature of the property cabins, trailers etc, could be placed on the additional acreage as well.
For more details or questions feel free to contact us.
General floor plan
First floor, Large center room with grand fireplace acting as combination living, Dining area with two large bedrooms. A full modern bath recently remodeled with all new fixtures, accommodating today's comfort needs being fully functional yet modest in maintaining the antique character of the home, also a large country kitchen and attached garage
Second floor has three large rooms / bedrooms over the main house with additional loft space over the kitchen and garage area which is accessible through the garage.
Investment: With four season activity in the region the property could be used as a seasonal rental. Or it could be remodeled to have a separate second unit on the second floor. This would create two rentals or one rental and a unit for personal use. Certain provisions were made for this option during the restoration. Additionally the acreage (7 acres) is large enough to be able to subdivide and have two other lots as well.
Reason for sale: Our work demands relocation. This home has offered our family a serene, peaceful, retreat in all seasons for many years and would not be offered for sale except for addressing our current needs. The memories we have shared here with family and friends will always be home to us. We offer this unique home in this unique location so someone else may enjoy it as we have, these many years.
Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Location 263 Coventry Road, Benton NH
Offered At $320,000
Recent Annual Taxes $2150.00
Google Earth coordinates
Street View: 44°06'05.42" N 71°53'44.98" W
(the horse trailer that shows in this view was sold
As we had only used it for storage)
Ariel View: 44°06'05.78" N 71°53'45.26" W
Benton Vital Statistics
Population: 364 (2010 census)
(probably more deer than people)
Population density: 7.5 per sq. mile
County: Grafton
Elevation: 1,272 feet
Highest point: Mount Moosilauke, 4,802 feet
Government: Board of Selectmen
See more here NH video and NH stats
https://freestateproject.org/about/101-reasons-move-new-hampshire
http://www.tobentonnh.org/
http://www.city-data.com/city/Benton-New-Hampshire.html
http://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/benton.htm
https://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=CGN014-042
For further information
contact Dan Chaput
101 Reasons to Move to New Hampshire "101 Reasons: Liberty Lives in New Hampshire" is a documentary adaptation of the Free State Project's list of 101 Reasons to Move to New Hampshire, which was written in 2002 by Michele Dumas. Among the many advantages of moving to New Hampshire, these 101 reasons…
