[quote=Casca]There was a beautiful vintage (1935) stone cabin in Pine Valley, that went for a song about a year and a half ago. I lusted mightily for it.[/quote]
Casca, I can relate. I’m definitely a sucker for early 20th century cabins/lodges. I have a neighbor down by our weekend (hopefully retirement) place in central Virginia who own a rustic lodge. I walked into this place, and totally felt like I was in a very well cared-for Maine fishing/hunting camp, circa 1915. Two-story main room with 25-foot native stone fireplace, canoes and other artifacts resting on the rafters and hanging from the walls. Four bedrooms, and a couple baths. A second-floor gallery surrounding the main room, bordering four more bedrooms with baths. Interesting note: original structure had no kitchen.
I was shocked to learn that the building had actually deteriorated to the point that it was being used as a farm outbuilding where hay was stored, and in which local children played and explored over the years. Fortunately, in the late 90’s, an ambitious out-of-towner bought the place and spared no expense in restoring it. What he could save, he re-used; what he could not, he replaced with architectural salvage or high-quality reproductions. The building was constructed, inside and out, of American chestnut from trees on the property. Prior to the mid-century chestnut blight, the region had one of the most lavish supplies of American chestnut trees in the country, and there are many large houses, barns and outbuildings in our area that were constructed from this great wood.
The property has a 1600 sf Craftsman cottage approx. 30 yards from the lodge, so it’s possible that a caretaker/ housekeeper lived there, preparing food for the lodge guests, which could explain the omission. In any case, the gentleman who rehabbed the place did not feel the need to add one (could have been he felt it would negatively impact the architectural integrity and character), and it came back to bite him when he put the property up for sale. The real estate market in the area was incredibly hot after 9/11 (people wanted a “safe” area within 3 hours of DC), but it took almost a year to sell. The buyers were able to use that to negotiate a much more reasonable price, and installed a compact kitchen in the lodge’s finished basement.
It really is a stunning place, but I don’t envy them the maintenance on the property and on the structure. And there are major energy efficiency issues. But I can’t help but be pleased that such a gorgeous structure was saved from demolition. A lot of that goes on there, and while there are people who recycle the chestnut and other woods, much of it is discarded or burned. Very sad.
