Fishhawk Lake-Buy Existing or Build Your Own-So Many Options!


 

 

Fishhawk Lake-Buy Existing or Build Your Own-So Many Options!

There are many choices to having property at Fishhawk Lake and they are all reasonably priced.

 

This home sits high up with seclusion and seasonal views of Fishhawk Lake.

$219,000

The home below is lakefront, located on Northshore Drive, the first entrance to the lake.

$259,000

 

Partial remodel just done…sits on the lake and has a creek beside it.

 

$239,000

Here are more photos of existing properties for sale right now!!

This home is located on Boxler Creek, which feeds into Fishhawk Lake.

 

$229,000

The home below is on another creek, Fishhawk Creek, which is one of our main watersources.

  

$219,000

 

One of our local builders has one for sale, brand new!

 

$185,000

Then there are vacant lots in various locations waiting for your plans!

 

               $24,000                                                                 $25,000

Below is a partially built home tucked into the woods…see you can do this, too! (This one sold for $98,000 and a 2nd lot went into private contract with the seller…we can get creative).

And all reasonably priced, so call me today!!!

 

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Realtor® Vernonia Realty Direct: (503)755-2905
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
http://activerain.com/blogs/gayleatfishhawklake

 

My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/
My blog: https://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/

Posted in Fishhawk Lake Real Estate, Lake Realtor, Listings, Real Estate Expert | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Check out my column….


Check out my column…I write a monthly article for Vernonia’s Voice on some part of my community at Fishhawk Lake and the surrounding areas. Last month I wrote about the Birkenfeld Store and live events that go on there. This month’s  latest issue, that came out May 10th is about the lovely piece of history in Mist Oregon and  will be online soon.  You can come to my door and pick up a copy or visit Birkie’s store, or go into Vernonia Realty, 953 Bridge St. and pick up the latest copy! It’s about a piece of history, a Victorian in Mist, built in 1870.

It’s for sale, $325,000 on almost 4 acres of gorgeous property with a creek, gardening, outbuildings and Americana–it could be yours!!!

MLS#10069763 

 

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Realtor® Vernonia Realty Direct: (503)755-2905
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
http://activerain.com/blogs/gayleatfishhawklake
 
Posted in Fishhawk Lake Real Estate, Listings, Living on a Lake in the Country, Localism, Pictures of the Lake and Surrounding Area, Vernonia Realty, Vernonias Voice | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fishhawk Lake Firewise Semi Annual Cleanup Look Who Worked!


 

Fishhawk Lake Firewise Semi Annual Cleanup Look Who Worked!

Fishhawk Lake-Firewise Community-You are NEVER TOO OLD to Make a Difference!

Fishhawk Lake is a Firewise Community

 

   thanks to the efforts of our local volunteers of which I am a committee member. As part of keeping our Firewise Community status, we do clean up twice a year of hazardous trees and wood, limbs, plants and other debris that could cause fires located too close to homes in our community at Fishhawk Lake.

The first one was May 7th. We had approximately 20-30 volunteers on a rainy, muddy Saturday morning–not a bad turnout!

Kathy Cardona, Firewise Committee Chairperson

I ended up working with three dear friends, Genny, Bob and  Father Rock (a retired priest). Their ages?  Genny is 70 this year, Bob is 73 and Father Rock is 80! We cut, yanked, sawed, hacked and pulled our way through all kinds of potentially dangerous wood materials which included limbing trees, downing “volunteer trees” hauling huge logs of dead wood as well as pulling out salmonberry, a common plant that can easily start a wildfire in this area.

 

Genny was EVERYWHERE. She used her axe for awhile, picked up huge piles of heavy limbs that she’d downed, and yanked on a tree while Fr. Rock sawed at it until it came down. She continued after lunch long into the afternoon and worked from 9am to about 4pm.

 

Bob started out with his chainsaw and worked on trees, branches, anything that was too thick for the rest of us to pull or cut. Then he got his bulldozer and hauled load after load to the side of the road for the chipper that would eventually be coming through to break down the materials. Then, he headed off to another site in our Fishhawk Lake community.

Father Rock had two of his favorite saws from his days of being an arborist. He literally sawed through trees and limbs for three and a half hours straight!

 It was a day to make anyone 30 years younger weary, but we did it and got a great deal of satisfaction out of a job well done.

Maybe Fishhawk Lake is the Fountain of Youth???

 

More workers!

 

 

 

(And lunch was yummy thanks to these ladies)!

 

   What was interesting is that during lunch, while we were all looking pretty bedraggled, a man popped his head in to ask about properties for sale! I took him to my home and gave him my flyer of listings and my business card. He may not have seen me at my best, but he certainly knows that I get involved with my community!

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Realtor® Vernonia Realty Direct: (503)755-2905
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
http://activerain.com/blogs/gayleatfishhawklake   My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/
My blog: https://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/

 Fishhawk Lake Firewise Semi Annual Cleanup Look Who Worked!

Originally posted on ActiveRain: Fishhawk Lake-Firewise Community-You are NEVER TOO OLD to Make a Difference!

Copyrighted by Gayle Rich-Boxman All Rights Reserved.

Posted in Events, Firewise Community, Home Repairs/Resources, Localism, Resource List | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Fishhawk Lake Firewise Community Tips for Tree Safety


Fishhawk Lake Firewise Community Tips for Tree Safety

Our Firewise Community Status

 

Now that we have achieved the status of a “Firewise Community”, it is important that the members of the community recognize and help eliminate conditions that might foster wildfires. According to Luke Colvin, my go-to resource for safe tree removal and fire safe ideas around your home, some of the conditions that are recognizable by most homeowners are:

1.       Flammable weeds and brush

2.       Low hanging limbs of conifers

3.       Flammable materials stored in the wrong place- firewood, paint, oil and gas

4.       Growth of invasive species of plants that will become flammable later

5.       Crowding of indigenous trees, shrubs

Each of the conditions contributes to the potential for wildland fire damage

and most can be eliminated without professional help. However; in the case of trees that need to be removed or trees that need limbs removed, it is usually better to get help from a Certified Arborist.

 we love trees

Photo Courtesy of Arbor Care Tree Specialists

 

A Certified Arborist is a trained specialist in the art of pruning, maintenance and removal of all types of trees, from ornamentals to towering Douglas firs. An Arborist will evaluate your trees from the root system to the top of the canopy and determine what type of pruning, removal or emergency care is needed to keep your trees healthy and you and your property safe for years to come.

we love trees

Photo courtesy of Arbor Care Tree Services

 

 On my list of RESOURCES I have listed Luke Colvin with Arbor Care Tree Specialists,

 Arbor Care Tree  Specialists

Place page

86946 Youngs River Road

Luke Colvin, ISA Certified Arborist PN#6331A

President, Arbor Care Tree Specialists

503.791.0853 phone

503.325.2581 fax

http://www.arborcarenw.com

Care for Your Trees

is an arborist that I know and trust  who has extensive experience with wildland fire protection.

 Luke will be providing the chipping services during our next semi-annual Firewise Community cleanup day, Saturday, May 7th, 2011.

Douglas fir trees are prevalent in this areadouglas fir tree picture

and can be hazardous in ways not related to fire.  Their common failure modes during windstorms are “branch loss”, “root failure” due to root rot and  “trunk failure “ from internal decay and co dominant stems with included bark. Sitka spruce and Hemlock have similar failings. Luke can advise you as to a course of action where big trees are within striking distance of your house.

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Realtor® Vernonia Realty Direct: (503)755-2905
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
http://activerain.com/blogs/gayleatfishhawklake

 

My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/

Fishhawk Lake Firewise Community Tips for Tree Safety Gayle Rich-Boxman All Rights Reserved.

Posted in Home Repairs/Resources, Homeowner's Association, Localism, Resource List | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fishhawk Lake Is a Magical Place


 

Fishhawk Lake is a magical place. We are a place where you can let go of the angst of daily life, the noise, the busy chaotic traffic both in front of you and in your head.

Rainbow Over the Glory Hole on Fishhawk Lake

 

Spring at Fishhawk Lake

Fishhawk Lake in the fall season

 

 

Fishhawk Lake can be the avenue for steering your family toward making memories that don’t involve anything more technical than a fishing rod,

an oar,

 a set of binoculars or a camera, a bike, or simply your own two legs and all six of your senses (which includes your sense of wonder).

Fishhawk Lake mist in the trees on a spring morning

 

Fishhawk Lake offers you the chance to be in another world in less than two hours from the “city” or a plane ride if you live in California, Utah, New Jersey or Mexico! 

We offer you the chance to kayak, canoe or swim the width of Fishhawk Lake

and still have the energy to play tennis, hang out on the beach with your friends or take a 3 mile hike around the whole lake just in time for a barbeque, libation and games before sleep!

Fishhawk Lake can be a “working place”, as you can easily buy a home that has a 2nd story loft facing the lake  or sit out on your deck and conduct business with an atmosphere and a view that can’t be beat.  It’s a terrific venue for an at-home business, or if you’re a writer or someone who can do your work  functions on DSL and a phone.

 

Fishhawk Lake also has seasons, not only offering warm water to swim in and get cool on a 90+ degree day,

 

 

 but we have snow for winter fun, too!

 We are only an hour’s drive from the Oregon coast with all of the wonders that that can bring with kite-flying, art-seeking, walking along the beaches, or clamming/crabbing.

 

Fishhawk Lake is perfect for a weekender, fulltime, or investment property. We haven’t been hit by short sales and foreclosures as much as other communities. We are less expensive than coastal property and a shorter drive from Portland and the Portland airport than Sun River, Oregon. Many of my clients have explored both of these areas and ended up here at Fishhawk Lake because of the these benefits.

Savings! Values!

$$$$$

Fishhawk Lake embodies the spirit of those seeking that feeling of finding a “cabin on the lake”.

 

 I hear it over and over, “how come I’ve never heard of Fishhawk Lake until NOW?” People “discover” Fishhawk Lake and get SO excited–it’s great to watch!

Come see us and see what Fishhawk Lake has to offer you!

Fishhawk Lake article and photos copyrighted by

Gayle Rich-Boxman, Broker Vernonia Realty

      “Your Gateway to Fishhawk Lake”

 

 503-755-2905 richbox@centurytel.net

Posted in Buyer/Seller Questions, Catch and Release fishing, family memories, Fishhawk Lake Real Estate, Fulltime realtor, kayaking, Lake Realtor, Pictures of the Lake and Surrounding Area, Retirement, Vernonia Realty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

An Expert Realtor’s Opinion: When to Tell a Seller “Go or No”!


An Expert’s Opinion is what your client is looking for when deciding to put that property on the market. When to say Go and when to say NO can make a difference in someone’s pocketbook not to mention the value of TIME.

In the marketing of 2nd homes, vacation homes, retirement getaways, which is my niche here at Fishhawk Lake, “seasonal” used to be an inoperative word, because I sold homes and lots in November, December, January and February, regardless of the weather. When my clients would ask about when to list, it didn’t matter because the interest was always there and there were more buyers than there were decent properties to show them.

 

 (Partially built home and lot next door, sold in November of 2009)

 Log cabin sold to cash buyer

In 2010, that changed.

 

1. We saw a “season”, for the first time, much like other resort communities, or coastal properties. Summer was busy and after that, September especially.  There were some happy sellers…

But

But there were months in between where there was no one but tire kickers.

 

2. We saw a glut of properties for sale, both homes and lots.  Pricing was down, too. It took 8% longer to sell properties than the year before and I sold four more than the year before for LESS MONEY all told.  

3. There were a few foreclosures which we hadn’t seen up til now that brought those buyers that suddenly thought they could purchase a property at Fishhawk Lake for next to nothing. 

As a result of the drop in value as well as taxes (still) going up in Oregon, some potential sellers came to me and asked, Is this the right time to sell?

 

 This question has to be followed by an in-depth conversation. One has to look at the competition in your community or niche market.  In our neck of the woods, if your home isn’t lakefront and you haven’t remodeled your home in the last five years, and you bought it in the last three or four and you still owe a couple hundred thousand, and it doesn’t fit the description on the wishlists of my buyers, then I would STRONGLY suggest waiting. No harm no foul.

On the other hand, you get the fence-sitters who just need a nudge one way or the other.

I had a couple who were kicking the idea around of selling and wanted my guidance. Their home is lakefront, very cabiny with great visual appeal and they’d updated just about everything. They had a great view to boot. I knew right away that I could sell this and already had a lineup of clients I could show it to. I didn’t want to push them, but I was honest. They were contemplating retirement, weren’t using it as often as they thought, etc. and were leaning toward listing, even though they wouldn’t make a large bundle of money on it.  I met with them on a Sunday. On Monday, I sent them an e-mail saying that I had a client that I would love to show the home to once they listed, if that was the decision they wanted to make. This was all it took: they e-mailed right back and said that they were going to hold off because they really loved the cabin and just couldn’t emotionally part with it.  

Well, there you are! Only a couple of hours of conversation, two e-mails and BOOM–a decision. And one that we could both live with comfortably.

In having conversations in the homes of these potential sellers, sometimes the decision was to wait.  What I feel most strongly about is that I offered options, I offered good strong advice and would make a suggestion usually GO OR NO and whatever decision they made I feel that we had a better relationship because of it. And they will list with me when that time is right.

 

 Some photos courtesy of:http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Broker, Vernonia Realty
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
Direct: (503)755-2905
My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/
My blog: https://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/

Posted in Buyer/Seller Questions, Fishhawk Lake Real Estate, Real Estate Expert | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wildlife Sighting at Fishhawk Lake…Another wonderful experience!


I just did something most people don’t get to do….especially “in their back yard”. Here at Fishhawk Lake,for the last two hours I have gotten to watch a bald eagle hang out in the windy trees with me sitting across the lake watching his morning unfold before me. 

I had first seen him at 8am and grabbed my binoculars, although, against the green trees, his gorgeous white crown and neck stood out to the naked eye (even though mine are not so good naked anymore). I had just gotten ready to take the dogs for a run and they were quite anxious, so I left Baldy in the trees.

A photo I took last August in our back yard at Fishhawk Lake. Baldy was in the trees across the lake from the boat this morning.

We returned about 40 minutes later and he was still in the same spot!  Happy, happy, his feathers were occasionally getting a bit ruffled when the wind kicked up, but otherwise, he’d just move his head slowly back and forth or duck down as the gusts blew.

My good camera died awhile ago, and my husband’s really sucks, so I decided to park my butt in front of our big picture windows and try out this new Celestron VistaPix IS70, which is a combo of binoculars, camera and video, but I’ll be damned if I know how to use it!

 It has a big viewfinder,

 SO much, but my husband and I haven’t taken the time to open up the manual and figure it all out. Got some shots, but I don’t even know how to download them–sad!!

Baldy in the trees at Fishhawk Lake on a March morning.  I had to include this even though it’s horrible, for proof!  (Taken with my husband’s very basic digital from FAR AWAY),

Anyway, Baldy looks somewhat young. He’s big, as they all seem to be out here, but he just looked younger in his coloring and feathers. He sat in that tree for over an hour, flew to a high branch around the corner to the left from his first spot, then he decided the creek  (Boxler Creek, a salmon habitat project) looked interesting just below him. 

(Salmon spawning every year at Fishhawk Lake)

Baldy headed down into the shallow water and puttered around, occasionally throwing water across his back, then he’d do a little shake and meander  leisurely through the shallow water. He walked very slowly, sort of picking his way in a small area near an old log lying in the water exposed, which he briefly stood on for a moment or two,then hopped back in the water. He would preen a bit, but not much, and I saw him shake his tail feathers, but just once. Then, I watched him (from way across the lake) make a head dive into the water as if he was going after something, but he came up with nothing. I was watching all of this with my other binoculars and then thought I’d give it another try with the Celestron. Unfortunately, while I was trying to recall how to get the LCD screen on again, he took off in flight down past the clubhouse to another part of the lake out of my sight.

 

Clubhouse at Fishhawk Lake off to the right of where our home is and where Baldy flew past.

But, for about two hours it felt like it was only he and I spending the morning together hanging out. An incredible experience that further emphasizes what a remarkable life I have and how blessed I am to be living our dream of being on a lake surrounded by trees, nature and the wonders that all of that brings to me on a daily basis.

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Broker, Vernonia Realty
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
http://activerain.com/blogs/gayleatfishhawklake   Direct: (503)755-2905
My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/
My blog: https://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/

 http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3&ThirdPartyClicks=ARS_linktous_120_02

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Live Events at the Birkenfeld Store


Live Events at the Birkenfeld Store

 

I recently interviewed Mike and Wendy Ingraham, owners of the Birkenfeld Store

whose variety of offerings for things to do in the  Birkenfeld community is ever-increasing, especially for Fishhawk Lake members .  Their ability to provide the best in live entertainment, just four miles down the road from Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club has added another great reason to buy property out here!  It happens every Saturday night unless they have a prior event that takes precedence.

It is dance music with no cover charge and starts at 7pm and goes til 10pm. The styles can range from a solo artist to 6-piece bands. The genres range from 50s oldies, to classic rock&roll, to country and blues music–a little something for most of everybody. 

Along with music you can indulge in wine or beer and their regular menu offers snacks, burgers, grilled sandwiches. Mike and Wendy usually add two dinner specials on music nights with the whole menu selection ranging  from $2-$14.

This got started last year thanks to the interest of two bands; Lock Stock&Barrel and the Linda Meyers Band, who were all instrumental (pardon the pun!) in getting music back to the old “dance hall” venue that this building used to be, on its 100 year anniversary. Lock Stock&Barrel are self-described as “red dirt country” and mostly showcase their own music, sort of an outlaw country style.  They have a new CD and Big Red Dodge is one of their singles with a video on YouTube or Facebook. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-3yHuNpatg

Why is it that these talented musicians want to come “way out to the middle of nowhere”? It’s because as an audience, we deliver!!! As Mike and Wendy put it, “…it’s the crowd, the attentiveness and friendliness that the audience shows. It overwhelms them”.

Because of the intimate venue that The Birkenfeld Store offers, it allows  the musicians to feel really close to the audience and this heartwarming, open and friendly atmosphere typifies what Birkenfeld and the Fishhawk Lake community are.

A couple of the locals, Fishhawk Lake fulltimers: Chris McCue and Paul Huck 

Another plus for the musicians is that they get to stay overnight at the Birkenfeld Store, so they have an early evening and don’t have to face a ride home if they want to stay and go back to their homes the next day.

During the summer months, Birkie’s or The Birk (we locals call it both)

have performances outdoors on their various decks, overlooking vast greenery with mountains in the background and gobs of uncluttered skies.  They try to start this in June for Father’s Day if weather allows and it goes til August.

A live event in 2010

The Ingrahams’  “bouncers”, Skully (in foreground) and Jaeger

 

A group of us from Fishhawk Lake had a private catered Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Birkenfeld Store and my husband and I attended along with roughly 20+ other people. We had a scrumptious dinner (I had prawns that were fabulous). 

My husband (on the right) with another Fishhawk Lake member

Then we got to enjoy live music by Kimberly Hall and Timmy B who played a variety of music from The Eagles to Bonnie Raitt and took requests. We all had a great time–the wine was good, too!

Kimberly Hall and Timmy B

 

Fishhawk Lake members enjoying food, libation and entertainment on Valentine’s Day

A couple from Fishhawk Lake on the dance floor for a slow one….

For more info about The Birkenfeld Store and musical events, visit:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Gayle-C-Rich-Boxman/1662082612#!/pages/BIRKENFELD-COUNTRY-STORE-AND-CAFE/49285213302

You can also call The Birkenfeld Store for more details:

(503)755-2722

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Birkenfeld-Blues-Revue-and-Festival/119285396719

Photos and article by Gayle Rich-Boxman

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Broker, Vernonia Realty
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
http://activerain.com/blogs/gayleatfishhawklake
 
Click below to get free food to animal shelters:
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A Victorian Home In Sale Pending in Mist Oregon…A History of the Home Part II


This Victorian home in sale pending in Mist Oregon has much history which has been compiled by its current owners/sellers.

 In Part 1, I talked about the Magnussen family who homesteaded and originally built this beautiful structure in 1870. Part II goes on with the history as told by Louise Green, current owner/seller:

Their daughter, Anna was the first school bus driver in Mist. The bus consisted of two horses and a wagon with canvas over the top. (Photo courtesy of Mist-Birkenfeld Historical Society calendar  2000, Louise Green supplied the photo)

We know of only three families who have lived here before us; the Magnussens, Garlocks and Ruby and Cap Serby.

When we moved into the house, we already had ideas of what we would do to make a lovely home from this sagging, rotting big bundle of potential.  The first winter here was wicked.  We had raised the house immediately to build a new foundation and an early snow gave us harsh reality (about 20” deep and long-lasting).  We had black plastic all around the bottom of the building and it was mighty chilly. The water pipes froze and broke. Orin [Louise’s husband] spent many hours under the house cussing and soldering pipes just to have it freeze up behind him. I used much of my days crawling under with him to bring “that wrench, you know what one”, as well as packing buckets of water from the frozen-over creek.

Part of the time the electricity was off so I cooked on an oil stove in the living room. Got rid of that sad old stove before we did much else.

We could tell as we took old linoleum off some floors that there had been brown and orange carpet on the living room floor, seven, yes seven layers of various types of floor covering in the bathroom downstairs. (We had indeed found us a neat old home).

Most all of the walls and ceilings were layered with old newspapers and vintage wallpaper.  Good reading if one is Norwegian!  We did save and use some of the newspaper that when decoupage was just what we wanted to use as background for the Magnussen family pictures.

Lars Magnussen (bottom left) with a Western Red Cedar cut on his property in Mist, OR circa 1890

(Photo courtesy of Mist-Birkenfeld Historical Society calendar 2000, photo supplied by Louise and Orin Green)

As described on the back of the calendar: “Magnussen hand-sawed and hand-planed lumber from [this] tree which he used in additions to his house.  Some lumber may have been used when he and others built the Mist Church in 1892 [which also still stands]. Origin of photograph unknown as well as the others in the photo [two men inside the tree, one on top of the horse].”

Louise goes on to explain:

We have renovated the home with the goal to honor the hand sawn lumber in the house, its handmade front door and the old windows with bubble in them.  All in all we have tried to re-dress this grand old farmhouse using as much that was useable and adding only items that enhances her age, giving her more years and more history.

Foyer:

Window leading upstairs, a personal touch:

Guest bedroom:

Upstairs bath with original window:

Some outside beauties, a pond, arbor, flower garden:

Gardening areas abound:

On 3.92 acres, there is much room to play, garden, have a horse, whatever suits you!

There’s also a big garage and shop.

Speaking of history: in the base of the column closest to the side door is a  time capsule.

The black walnut tree, magnificent oak tree, two maples at the driveway, the lilac bush and snowball bush are original to the grounds.

At $325,000 this home and acreage are a real find and a part of history that could be yours!

  Gayle Rich-Boxman
Broker, Vernonia Realty
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
Direct: (503)755-2905
My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/
My blog: https://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/
 
 

 

 

 

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A Victorian in Mist…a Little Bit of History Could be Yours


A Victorian in Mist,Oregon is a delight to behold. It’s the first Victorian home I’ve listed and getting to know the history of this gorgeous property was equally as much fun as it was to take the photos on that perfect blue-sky day last fall.

69355 Highway 47, Mist Oregon $325,000

MLS#10069763 

Built in 1870, the current owners have much history to share with new owners, both written and in photos that will go with the home.

 

Here is what Louise Green, the seller, shared with me about this wistful (Mistful?) property.

The old Magnussen place was built from local fir and some cedar in the 1800s. Lars Magnussen came here as one of the first pioneers of the Nehalem Valley.

 He brought his bride her from Norway and they raised their four children here. The pictures of the family are all located on the wall in the dining room.

Mr. Magnussen made a small washhouse/canning room down beside Messner Creek [located at the back end of the property].

Legend has it Mrs. Magnussen’s mother in Norway had lost her life in a stream while washing clothes, so Mrs. Magnussen insisted that a stove be put in the washhouse with a pump to bring water from the creek before she would use the washhouse.

    

Messner Creek (beaver dam) 

  

Back of the property

Inside the house where the kitchen still is, Lars built the family a wooden bath tube that also had a wood cover so it could also be used as a table.

  

When we moved here in 1985 we had to replace all of the foundation (long cedar logs), which was “powdered” wood.  While under the house, we discovered a hole in the ground about 5’ deep and 6-7’ square. It was a mystery to us just what the purpose was. So, I asked around and found two stories.

The first story seemed realistic: when Indians attacked, the family would go down in the hole through the living room floor and sought protection there as well as use of the cedar trough-like structure going to the outside to fire back at the Indians.

The next story probably “holds more water”: It was said the Magnussens built a vegetable storage under the house and the trough provided air circulation.

Maybe both?

  

Part II The Green’s first winter, coming soon.

Gayle Rich-Boxman
Broker, Vernonia Realty
Specializing in Fishhawk Lake Recreation Club
“Your Gateway to the Lake!”
Direct: (503)755-2905
My website: http://www.lakehomesatfishhawk.com/
My blog: https://fishhawklakerealtor.wordpress.com/

 
 

 

  
 
 
 
 

 

 
Posted in Listings, Real estate, Real Estate Expert, Vernonia Realty | Tagged , , | 1 Comment