About Willow Pond

Willow Pond has its own story and since I think it is interesting I will share it. The house was originally a small 1200 square foot cottage built in 1942. It was purchased by a couple around 1985 and apparently was in pretty bad shape. Chickens were living in the kitchen and goats were frequent inhabitants. The neighbors thought it would fall down or burn down. This couple took a ramshackle cottage and completely gutted and remodeled it until it was a precious little home. They then built a large pond across the driveway that was overlooked by the large front porch that ran across the front of the house. Around 1998, the couple began remodeling the house yet again. This time doubling the size, covering the beautiful front porch and returning many of the features of the house to their historic roots. The floor is wide plank pine, the tub and sinks are historic to the period, and many other things. The wiring and plumbing have been updated, but when you step through the door many features of the cottage are like stepping back in time. The wife is a historian and she wanted things to be as accurate as possible. Of course there are quirks that can only be found in an old house. Before adding on the founding was stabilized and extra piers added under the crawlspace, but some of the floors are still not level and they never will be. The quirks are minor and the charms are many. The kitchen is to die for, the front porch is over 300 sq. feet overlooking a precious pond, the yard is lovingly landscaped with beautiful flowers, the kitchen is a farmwife/chef's dream, there is a library, and many many more charms. I will do a post with pictures soon The barn is a massive monster approximately 2500 squ. feet, built around 1900. It is post and beam on a masonry foundation. It had been lovingly cared for over many many years but neglected over the past 10 or so years. It is in great shape, but does need a bit of work and a good coat of fresh new paint. The front of the barn boasts, a tractor bay, and large lean to, and 3 large corn cribs. The back side of the barn features a chicken coop and two large stalls, along with a feed/storage/tack room. The lean to runs from the front to the back of the barn. Going up the ladder in the tractor bay will bring you into a loft that spans the entire length and width of the barn with double doors on the far end. Every wall sits on a masonry foundation so the original beams are intact and solid. Some of the outside siding needs replacing, the floor in the tack room has bowed and needs replacing simply because it is difficult to walk on. It is still solid flooring. We love the barn and can't wait until it is all set up and repaired like we want it. We plan on painting it this fall so will be working on some repairs this summer. All of this sits on a little over 6 acres surrounded by wilderness. There are neighbors on the next road over and we have met a few. However, most everyone in this area of the county are large landowners, many of whom don't live on their land. We are surround on 2 sides by hundreds of acres owned by a doctor who lives in the city. Across from us is land owned by a tree farm for timber and since we are on a corner across the other road is the backside of another large landowner whose house is on the next road over. It is very quiet and very private. We live on the corner of a road that is 6.5 miles long and only 1 other person actually lives on this road. They live at the other end. We have tons of wildlife out here. That can be a good and bad thing. I love the flock of turkeys, but am not so thrilled about the hawk that flies over my pond every evening. The land is much sandier than we have had to deal with, but not so much sand that it won't hold moisture or nutrients. There is a ton of work to be done and there was a ton to do just to get us here. However, I think we will be happy here. I hope you enjoy our journey and adventure here as much as we do. Blessings, Kat