MILL HOUSE
Mill House is distinguished by its unique blend of highly desirable characteristics that are difficult to find together in one property and are rarely available for purchase.
| Price: | |
|---|---|
| $2,650,000 | |
| ID: | 1060 |
| Acres: | 178 +/- |
| Address: | |
Agent Contact:
Richard Grist, 304-645-7674
MAPS & DOCUMENTS-CLICK LINKS TO VIEW
Mill House is distinguished by its unique blend of highly desirable characteristics that are difficult to find together in one property and rarely available for purchase. The historic Linder Feed Mill, with its massive virgin timbers, is an excellent example of 19th century timber frame construction, having been built early in the industrial age when large frames were starting to be assembled for specialized uses. The current owner and the builder worked together to achieve a balance between reclaiming the history of the mill while using modern design and construction techniques to create a comfortable home.
Today there are very few of these grand buildings left standing, their massive timbers and cathedral-like space will never be seen again as they are passing away from our landscape and history.
The 178-acre property is blessed with incredibly abundant natural resources, a wealth of water, thriving wildlife, and both mountain and valley habitats. It features a stunningly diverse and balanced landscape that is wild and scenic, yet accessible and usable. Mill House offers immediate enjoyment and is ready for a smooth transition to the next legacy of ownership.
MILL PROFILE
Originally Built: Linder Feed Mill Circa 1860
Original Location: Osceola, PA
Restored In: Wolf Creek, WV
Dimensions: Three Story - 36’ x 48’ - 4000 sq. ft.
Eave Height: 30'
Longest beam: 48 feet
Largest beam: 12” x 13”
Construction: Hand hewn – hand planed - mortise & tenon joinery
THE HISTORY OF MILL HOUSE
The Linder Feed Mill was built in the mid to latter half of the 1800’s. The timber frame was constructed with enormous white pine timbers that were hand hewn and utilized mortise and tendon joinery. The mill was operated by William Linder until about 1960. After the mill was closed, Joe Vandusen opened a small auction place in the west end of the building. F.C. Prindle operated a small leather business cutting out soles for shoes. The two businesses were closed by the late 60's.
When William Linder passed on, the mill was inherited by his son, George Linder, who over the years kept the building in good repair, using it for general storage.
Bud Gee purchased the building in 2015 from George Linder. Mr. Gee’s purpose for buying the old mill was to ensure its history and heritage was preserved; and the 150 year old huge timber frame was not just torn down and discarded. Bud Gee searched for a buyer who would take the building down and repurpose the materials.
Mr. Gee located the right buyer, Matt from Montoursville PA., who began taking the building down. Matt was acquainted with Don Polaski, owner of Antique Barns Company headquartered in Orford New Hampshire.
500 MILE JOURNEY FROM OSCEOLA PA TO WOLF CREEK WV
In 2015, Antique Barn Company and the Polaski crew finished disassembling the mill, individually tagging and cataloging each timber, and transported timbers, mill siding, and doors from Osceola 500 miles south to Wolf Creek, WV where the mill was reassembled for the new owner.
In 2015, Antique Barn Company and the Polaski crew finished disassembling the mill, individually tagging and cataloging each timber, and transported timbers, mill siding, and doors from Osceola 500 miles south to Wolf Creek, WV where the mill was reassembled for the new owner.
NOTE: Don Polaski, owner of the New Hampshire based Antique Barn Company, has an extensive knowledge of the 1800’s era timber frame structures. Mr. Polaski’s company specializes in the restoration, dismantling and re-erecting Timber Frame Structures. Orford, NH. Donald@antiquebarns.net https://www.antiquebarns.net/gallery/
Over the next 12 months, the new owner and the builder worked together to achieve a balance between reclaiming the history of the mill while using modern design and construction techniques to create a comfortable home.
ORIGINAL MILL LOCATION – OSCEOLA PA – Osceola PA
The Linder Feed Mill was constructed circa 1870 in the small village of Osceola, Pennsylvania, in Tioga County, (one mile south of the New York Pennsylvania state line). Oceola is 125 miles southeast of Buffalo (Lake Erie) and 100 miles due south of Rochester (Lake Ontario). Today, Oceola is a vibrant rural town with a strong sense of community and history. Post Office Zip 16902. The borough was named “Osceola” to honor the great Indian warrior, Chief Osceola. Tioga County was settled in 1795 and was incorporated in 1857.
The north side of the mill adjoined the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad, later becoming the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and finally the Wellsville, Addison & Galeton Railroad (locally known as the WAG). The WAG operated from 1954 to 1979 when it ceased operations.
Interestingly, WAG Railroad was known as the “Sole Leather Line”.
During the same period, a second rail line ran through Osceola. This railroad was the New York and Hudson River, Cowanesque Branch, later becoming the New York Central Railroad, and lastly, the Penn Central Railroad.
All traces of both railroads had disappeared from the year 2000 United States Geological Service’s Topographic Maps.
Bud Gee and Jim Doan, members of the Facebook page “History of Osceola PA Township”, were invaluable in providing information on the history of the Linder Feed Mill. Mr. Gee was the owner of the mill when it was dismantled.
Scott Gitchell, Managing Director of the Tioga County Historic Society, was a tremendous source of information regarding Tioga County, PA and surrounding areas.Tioga County Historical Society, 120 Main St. Wellsboro PA 16901, tiogachs@gmail.com, https://tiogachs.weebly.com/
HIGHLIGHTS
The current owner and the builder worked together to achieve a balance between reclaiming the history of the mill while using modern design and construction techniques to create a comfortable home.
The historic Linder Feed Mill, with its massive virgin timbers, is an excellent example of 19th century timber frame construction, having been built early in the industrial age when large frames were starting to be assembled for specialized uses.
Today there are very few of these grand buildings left standing, their massive timbers and cathedral-like space will never be seen again as they are passing away from our landscape and history.
These time-tested, hand-crafted structures are then combined with modern, energy-efficient designs and materials to make beautiful and unique period timber frame homes.
Having a piece of history on one’s property is an exciting opportunity. Not only is there the chance to restore and renovate a 150-year-old feed mill into a modern home, but also the chance to preserve a part of American history.
In the age before the Industrial Revolution and the advent of the sawmill that would forever change the lumber industry, beams for barns, homes, mills, and other structures were hewn by hand. The Virgin (Old Growth) timber was felled by axes and crosscut saws. Once on the ground, the hewing process began as craftsmen squared up the logs using different types of axes.
The general layout encourages simplicity. The 1st and 2nd floors of the three-story timber frame are divided into 4 parallel bays, each bay with a distinct area and purpose: Living, Dining, Kitchen and Sleeping.
The owner created the home’s interior layout on graph paper using only a pencil and a scale. The design includes just four elements. It must be simple, functional, light filled and rustic.
Master builder Ryker Young, owner of Ridge Runner Construction, was chosen to construct the timber frame home. The unique and complex buildout took over a year to complete.
The design and finish of Mill House fits perfectly with its West Virginia surroundings. Quartersawn wide-plank white oak floors, tongue and grove knotty pine, and hand-laid field stone hearth are just some of the elements incorporated into the new home. The layout of the floor plan takes advantage of the biggest asset of a timber frame home: the open, cathedral-like space, while bringing in lots of light with its many windows.
The three exterior porches have been framed with large custom sawn native Hemlock timbers.
The gable end framing, along with its rough-cut hemlock siding, adds a unique feature to this casual, comfortable, rustic rural home.
At over 30′ to the peak, this immense 19th century mill is one of the tallest historic structures ever restored in the Wolf Creek area. Knotty Pine lumber is used throughout the interior for walls, ceilings, doors and other rustic-style millwork.
The interior living spaces within the mill frame are carefully designed to preserve the massive open space of the frame, with a simple background, highlighting the old timbers and joinery, and gathering the mysterious light, shadow, and three-dimensional design of the floating beams and columns. All new elements of the structure are constructed of simple materials, naturally stained or painted in subtle hues, so that only the mill frame itself is highlighted. The sleek form of the mill’s exterior is counterbalanced with a low concrete foundation cut into the limestone hillside, locking the timber frame into its meadow and wooded landscape.
The window style, size and placement plan was to keep as close as possible to that of the original mill. The completed home includes 32-two casement windows flooding natural light throughout the 3 story - 4,000 square foot frame.
The kitchen was designed for “all hands on deck” cooking plus easy going entertaining and is always a favorite gathering place for friends and family. The Viking five - burner gas range provides a shared point for two otherwise distinct work triangles. The old and new are fused by utilizing brushed stainless-steel appliances, granite counters, and tile splash backs to accentuate the warm colors and rustic textures of the timber frame.
A twenty nine-foot-long granite counter maintains continuity between the open kitchen and the larger family space. The counter will comfortably seat up to 20.
Located in the third bay, and made from a vintage repurposed lumber, is the hand-crafted dining table that easily seats 8. The tabletop and 8 dining table stools were purchased from the nationally known Black Dog Salvage Company in Roanoke, Virginia. The bases of the seats were fabricated from 19th century hand crank grinding mills.
The living area features an impressive native field stone hearth and soapstone wood burning stove. The sofa tables were made with reclaimed siding from the mill, coffee tables from the mill’s doors, and table lamps from cedar trees recovered down during the construction of the access road . The Hanging windows on the wall are picture collections.
The stove’s chimney has a stainless-steel liner that is sealed, protecting the home from harmful creosote, carbon monoxide, and smoke.
The west facing front rooms offer rich light, long views of Wolfcreek Mountain, as well as pastoral views.
The seven bedroom spaces are located on either end of the home. Five bedrooms on the first floor and two bedrooms on the second floor. The rooms’ walls were constructed using a mix of knotty pine lumber and drywall painted in warm colors, both showcasing the simplicity and permanency of timber frame architecture.
There are five bathrooms, three on the first floor and two more on the second floor. Tile floors, granite topped vanities, colorful tile backsplashes, and custom glass showers, offer a theme of simple style and understated elegance. The historic timbers fit comfortably in the private spaces.
Three sets of stairways connect the first, second, and third story. These forty two inch-wide stairways are patterned after those of the original mill utilizing 3” x 8” treads, wide heavy beams, wrought iron balusters, and custom handrails made of repurposed lumber from the mill.
The elevator services the 1st and 2nd stories.
LOCATION
Google Coordinates: 37.672770°(N), -80.613033°(W)
Address: 450 Belleview Road, Wolf Creek, WV 24993
Elevation Range: 1620 ft. to 1984 ft. +/-
NEARBY TOWNS AND METRO AREAS
Union, WV - 25 minutes
Lewisburg, WV 40 minutes
Charleston, WV – 2 hours (state capitol)
Blacksburg, VA - 1.5 hours
Washington DC – 4 hours
Charlotte, NC 3.5 hours
Atlanta, GA 7 hours
New York City 7.5 hours
Charlottesville, VA – 2.5 hours
Columbus, OH – 5 hours
Lexington, KY – 5 hours
Pittsburgh, PA – 4.5 hours
Raleigh, NC – 5 hours
Roanoke, VA – 2 hours
Richmond, VA – 3.5 hours
AIRPORTS
45 minutes to Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg, WV (daily flights to Chicago and Dulles)
1 hour to Raleigh County Airport, Beckley
2 hours to Charleston, WV (state capitol)
2 hours to Roanoke Regional
3 hours to Charlotte, NC
DIRECTIONS
Driving Destination Google Coordinates: 37.672770, -80.613033
From Union, WV: 13.3 miles (approximate 25 minutes)
From the Courthouse in Union; travel US 219 North for 4 miles to Pickaway; turn left onto Rt. 3 West; travel 8.3 miles; just past the Wolf Creek Post Office, turn right onto Belleview Road; travel 9/10 mile; the driveway for the property is on the right.
HOME HIGHLIGHTS
- Soaring 4,000+/- sf three-story timber frame construction utilizing the massive frame from an 1800’s feed mill
- The Mill House was custom built in 2017
- The home is to be sold furnished
- Elevator serves the first and second floors
- Expansive kitchen area, granite counters, plenty of cabinetry, two food prep islands, and stainless-steel sinks
- The thirty-six-foot-long main kitchen counter serves as a gathering place and seats
- Appliances conveying - range/oven, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, dryer, washer
- First floor 1850 sqft - 5-bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, laundry room, family room
- Second floor 1850 sqft - 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen and family room
- The kitchen and all five bathrooms feature ceramic flooring with electric radiant heat and separate thermostats for each room
- Third floor 300 sqft – reading/office space
- Covered front and back porches, open air second story porch, TREX Composite decking
- Exterior siding: locally sourced rough cut native Eastern Hemlock board and batten siding, gray stain finish
- Well placed lighting fixtures showcase the post and beam design
- Roof is Standing Seam Metal
- Commercial 8’ gutters
- Foundation: concrete crawl space with Closed Cell Heavy Spray Foam
- 2’ x 12’ floor system with post support
- Anderson windows and doors
- Sprayed in foam insulation
- 65 KW Generac whole home standby generator
- Security surveillance system
- Underground “in conduit” electric service
- 2 – 500-gallon underground propane storage tanks
- 1000-gallon private septic system
- HVAC: 3 electric heat pumps - Zoned
- Native field stone hearth with soapstone wood burning stove
- Open concept design on each floor
- Walls: drywall and tongue and groove Knotty Pine V-groove
- Wide plank quarter sawn white oak floors throughout
- Tile floors, showers, and kitchen backsplashes
- Wide stairways with wrought iron railings provide access between all floors
- 12’ x 6’ storage room accessible from back porch
ROOM DIMENTIONS
Square footage +/-
First floor sq. ft. = 1,850
Second floor sq. ft. = 1,850
Third floor sq. ft. = 300
Total rooms = 18
7 bedrooms
5 full baths
First Floor Measurements +/-
Family Room = 27’4” x 24’7”
Bathroom 1 & 2 = 8’2” x 5’6”
Bathroom 3 = 4’11” x 7’7”
Laundry = 5’3” x 8’10”
Bedroom 1 = 11’10” x 12’7”
Bedroom 2 = 11’10” x 12’1”
Bedroom 3 = 11’3” x 12’8”
Bedroom 4 = 12’8” x 11’10”
Bedroom 5 = 11’4” x 11’10”
Second Floor Measurements +/-
Kitchen = 14’10” x 31’8”
Family Room = 21’2” x 26’4”
Bathroom 4 = 5’8” x 8’3”
Bathroom 5 = 5’9” x 8’3”
Pantry = 4’11” x 4’10”
Bedroom 6 = 11’6” x 12’8”
Bedroom 7 = 11’7” x 12’1”
Third Floor Measurements +/-
Loft = 18’8” x 12’7”
Porches +/-
Front First & Second Floor = 23’10” x 11’10”
Back = 17’4” x 11’11”
APPLIANCES TO CONVEY
Refrigerator and dishwasher – LG
Gas Range– Viking
Microwave - Whirlpool
Washer and Dryer – Speed Queen
Heat Pumps – Heil (3)
Hot water tank 50-gallon electric – AO Smith (2)
65 KW Whole Home Standby Generator – Generac
200 Amp Fuse Box – Square D (2)
Elevator – Inclinator Company of America
Soapstone Wood Stove – Intertek
Security surveillance system
THE THREE LOG CABINS
The property has two log cabins dating from the very early 1800’, which are complemented with a newer cabin built in the 1970’s. These fascinating and historically important cabins enjoy long views of distant mountains above and pastoral views below. All are situated on the property along the forests’ edge about ½ mile from the Mill House. The rustic cabins have been renovated and updated with modern conveniences.
The Lodge: built in 1800 and 1817
This 2-story 1710 sq. ft. Lodge is two connected 1800’s cabins resting on one foundation. The cabins share an indoor bathroom addition between them. Each section is accessible from the deck.
The small cabin was William Burdette’s original pioneer cabin he built about 1800 on Flat Top Mountain. He moved to Wolf Creek and took the cabin with him. At that time, he constructed the larger second cabin and placed them both on the foundation where they now stand.
Burdette’s 1800 original pioneer cabin
This circa 1800 hand hewn log cabin (left side in picture) has an open design with a living area, kitchen, loft bedroom, and a private full bathroom. Heat is provided by a propane stove on the first floor and electric baseboard heat in the bathroom. Where the large picture window is now, there was once a great stone fireplace used for cooking and heating.
1817 Cabin
The “1817 Cabin” (on the right in picture), built circa 1817, makes up the righthand side of the Lodge. This hand-hewn cabin has a living area downstairs and a large bedroom on the second story. Heat is provided by electric baseboard units. This section has a window air conditioning unit on the second floor.
The bathroom on the first floor is accessible from the outside deck with a full bath and provides access to the hot and cold-water tanks for cabin. Heat is provided by an electric baseboard unit.
1975 Cabin:
1975 Cabin was built circa 1970 using traditional Appalachian craftmanship and modern methods. The native white pine and hemlock logs were sawn locally into timbers. The 257 +/- sq. ft. cabin is a studio space with loft bedroom. There is no water or bathroom facilities in this cabin, it is situated behind the Large Cabin. The loft bedroom is accessed by modern spiral stairway. A wood stove provides heat and sits on 5’5” oval stone hearth on the main floor.
1975 Cabin Dimensions:
Living area = 17’3” x 13’5”
Loft Bedroom = 10’3” x 13’5”
Covered Porch: 7’8” x 14’6”
The Lodge Cabin Dimensions:
1800 Cabin Dimensioins:
Living area = 18’6” x 9’11”
Kitchen = 10’6” x 8’7”
Dining nook = 7’5” x 5’5”
Loft Bedroom = 18’5” x 12’6”
Bathroom = 18’5” x 5’11”
Stairway = 7’7” x 3’2”
Hearth – 6’8” x 4’11”
Front Deck – 16’ x 22’
1817 Cabin Dimensions:
Living area = 15’9” x 17’11”
Bedroom = 15’9” x 17’11”
Stairway = 8’0” x 3’4”
Bathroom Section between the 2cabins: 14’3” x 6’0”
Front Deck - 10’ x 20’
Appliances:
Refrigerator – Frigidaire
Electric Range– Frigidaire
Hot water tank 38-gallon electric – Rheem
Cold water pressure tank – AO Smith
Jotul Stove with external thermostat – Propane
FOREST RESOURCE
70 years ago this healthy forest was a farm field
Today, there are around 125 acres of timberland interspersed with about 50 acres of farming fields. This dynamic forest is classified as “uneven age” and is composed of seedlings, saplings, pole, and sawlog size trees. Parts of the forest were once agricultural fields associated with the life of the homestead. The farm fields were abandoned sometime in the 1940’s and have returned to a valued forest of tulip poplar, maple, oaks, hickories, cedar and hemlock.
Example of an uneven aged forest
This well managed timber resource can provide a great deal of flexibility to the next ownership in terms of potential harvest revenue and can be managed to provide cash flow opportunities to offset holding cost and long-term asset appreciation.
Capital Timber Value and a forest-wide timber inventory have not been established by the owner at this time.
The forest’s predominately well-drained upland terrain has led to a resource dominated by hardwood species. Overall, the species composition is highly desirable and favors Appalachian hardwood types, consisting primarily of White Oak/Chestnut Oak, Red Oak Group, Poplar/Cucumber/Basswood, Sugar Maple/Soft Maple and a host of associate species. There is also a remarkable amount of Eastern White Cedar scattered about.
Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own sylvicultural legacy. Stem quality forest-wide can be considered good with the forest containing an abundant future sawlog and veneer source.
The timber component has been managed over many decades and consists of age classes ranging from 10 years to 100+ years old.
An emerging forest makes for excellent wildlife cover
There are mature timber stands found throughout the forest ranging from 85 to 100+ year old trees. There are acres of emerging to midlife aged trees ranging in age from 10 to 40 years old. This younger age timber stand is on the cusp of graduating to higher value sawtimber and veneer diameter classes over the next 30 years.
Diameters are well represented across the commercial and pre-commercial spectrum with a notable mature size class, as well as abundant pole size timber and growing stock.
Some trees are well over 150 years old and classify as “Heritage Trees”. These amazing trees have withstood the test of time and lend an air of grace and permanency to the property.
Tree roots and mycelium unseen beneath the forest floor make up 1/3 of the forest
The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. The Emerald Ash Borer and the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid are present, and most of the Ash trees are severely stressed and will die out over the next decade. There have been no forest fires in recent memory.
WILDLIFE
The owners have always considered the resident wildlife population a treasured component of the property. They have focused on the overall wildlife health, facilitated the harvest of game, developed wildlife viewing areas, increased carrying capacity, and increased species diversity. Years of progressive wildlife management practices have created an incredible wildlife habitat that is in harmony with the ongoing farming operations.
Broad Run, Wolf Creek, Bluestone River, Greenbrier River, and New River are major contributors to the local, and regional, ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. Broad Run and the surrounding aquatic plant life create a water supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the margins of the creek are fringed by wetlands, and these wetlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize the shore of the creek and banks downstream. The plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed and algae.
There are many animals that often live year-round, and at other times, in the water around the edges of Broad Run and wetlands including beavers, otters, minks, raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, hawks and redwing blackbirds.
There is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, pond skaters, water beetles, damselflies, tadpoles and various insect larvae.
The diverse tree species, coupled with the abundant water supply from the streams and creeks, create the perfect wildlife habitat. The miles of “edge effect” created between farm fields, creeks, hollows, ridges, and rock outcrops benefit all the resident wildlife. Bald eagles, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.
The hardwood forest provides an essential nutrient source and produces hard mast including acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts and black walnuts. Soft mast includes stag horn sumac, black cherry, tulip poplar seeds, maple seeds, autumn olive berries and blackberries.
BUTTERFLIES
The property is an exceptional habitat for all butterflies, especially the Monarch. The monarch is highly dependent on the milkweed plant and will always return to areas rich in milkweed to lay their eggs upon the plant. The milkweed they feed on as caterpillars is actually a poisonous toxin and is stored in their bodies. This is what makes the monarch butterfly taste so terrible to predators.
Of course, other butterflies visit the property, including the eastern tiger and spicebush swallowtails, silver-spotted skipper, and a variety of sulphurs and whites.
One other interesting insect to visit the property is the Black Saddlebag Dragonfly, a regular guest of the creeks and wetlands with all the frogs, salamanders, crawdads and turtles.
AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
During the period between 1850 and 1920, most of the property was cleared with hand tools and animal drawn equipment. Converting timberland into farm fields required a tremendous amount of back-breaking physical labor. Piles of field stone scattered about the edges of the abandoned fields are a lasting tribute to the early mountaineers who homesteaded the land. The property contains approximately 50 acres of long-ago abandoned farm fields that were once the anchor and heartbeat of the self-sustaining lifestyle of the original homestead. Past farming history included cattle and sheep grazing, production of hay, oats, barley and corn. The soil and elevation are well suited for establishing a vineyard or fruit orchard.
- With the advent of the modern farm tractor in the mid-1940’s, many farm workers were no longer needed and migrated to the large northern cities to work in the factories. This sweeping change resulted in the less productive and steeper areas of the farms were abandoned and were no longer being maintained. These areas eventually became today’s valued forests.
- There are about 55 acres of gently laying hayfields and of pasture. The hayfields would also be suitable for row crops like corn, wheat, pumpkins, etc.
- The property has been in continuous agricultural use for some 150 years.
- There is a considerable amount of fencing about the perimeter of the property.
- The property’s rich soil, blue line and intermittent streams, 4 seasons climate, and varied topography provide the necessary elements for a permaculture lifestyle.
- A few fruit trees are scattered about, some of which were part of the early homestead. Crops of black walnuts are produced each year from the abundant black walnut trees on the property.
- Honeybees will do well here and it may be possible to produce some maple syrup from the sugar and red maple trees growing on the property.
RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES
The property offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the nearby Greenbrier River, New River, New River Gorge National River Park, and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake.
Stargazing-Planet Observation Complete, or near darkness, can still be found on areas of the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.
Nature viewing is sometimes overlooked as one of the most enjoyable recreational activities. Wildlife viewing is not just for larger animals. Equal consideration is given to a diversity of species including neo-tropical songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, rabbits, chipmunks, dragonflies, owls, eagles and hawks. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, geese, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population.
Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby Greenbrier River, New River, and Bluestone Lake ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found for small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill.
Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Hiking
The gently laying land may be used for conventional and mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding.
Shooting-sports devotees find all the land and privacy needed to enjoy:
Paintball-Airsoft-Laser Tag-Archery tag
- Shotgun sport shooting including Skeet, Trap, Double Trap and Sporting Clays
- Rifle & Handgun shooting: bullseye, silhouette, western, bench rest, long-range, fast draw
- Archery and Crossbow competition shooting
- Plain ole’ plinking: Grandpa’s old 22 single shot rifle and a few tin cans make a fun day
All Terrain Motorsports
The Mill House property has internal roads and forest trails that are perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV, UTV, or dirt bikes. These exciting machines handle the wide variety of terrain.
Hunting on the farm is currently not a focus but could be a first-class experience. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, squirrel, raccoon, and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population.
WATER RESOURCES
Broad Run, a blue line stream that should have water flow year-round, flows through the southern side of the property for about ½ mile. A dashed blue line tributary stream lies within the southern side of the property for a distance of about 3/10 mile and connects to Broad Run near one of the property’s fields. The northern side of the property also contains a section of dashed blue line tributary stream for a distance of about 3/10 mile before it leaves the property and later joins with Broad Run. The dashed blue line streams should be active during periods of rainfall and snow melt.
MINERAL RESOURCES
All mineral rights contained in the owner’s title will be conveyed
BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY
The property was surveyed in September 2015, and a metes and bounds description from that survey is in the owner’s deed. The northern most boundary of the property runs with Belleview Road Route 3/4, and the southern boundary runs Route 3. Some other boundaries are evidenced by fence lines. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.
UTILITIES
Water: Drilled Well
Sewer: Private septic system
Electricity: Underground
Cellphone Coverage: Excellent in most places. 5G
Internet: Cellular Hot Spot, Starlink Satellite
ACCESS/FRONTAGE
The property has about 2/10 mile of frontage on Belleview Road Rt. 3/4 and about 1/2 mile of frontage on Rt. 3. The driveway for the property connects directly to Belleview Road.
ZONING
There is currently no county zoning in Monroe County. All prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact the Monroe County Health Department for answers regarding installation of septic systems and water wells. Further information on county zoning may be answered by contacting the Monroe County Commission.
PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY
There are several fields totaling about 55 acres that intertwine with the nearly 123 acres of forestland. The homes are nestled near the edges of fields and forestland. A few small brushy areas are scattered among the fields. Parts of the property now in timber, formerly were fields associated with the life of the homestead. The farm fields were abandoned sometime in the 1940’s and have returned to a valued forest of tulip poplar, maple, oaks, hickories, cedar and hemlock.
(This summary is an estimation of current property use as determined from aerial photography. It is made subject to the estimation of property boundaries and any errors in the interpretation of land use type from the aerial photography utilized.)
DEED and TAX INFORMATION
Deed Information: A portion of the property in DB 297 Pg. 39
Monroe County, West Virginia
Acreage: 178.059 acres +/-
Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Monroe County (32), West Virginia
Wolf Creek District (9)
Tax Map 11 Parcel 18.1; Class 2
2022 Real Estate Taxes: $4528.76
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Monroe County School District
Public Elementary School:
Mountain View Elementary School
Public Middle School:
Mountain View Middle School
Public High School:
James Monroe High School
Higher Education:
Monroe County Vocational Center
FOREST FARMING
The most common crops are medicinal herbs and mushrooms. Other crops that can be produced include shade-loving native ornamentals, moss, fruit, nuts, other food crops, and decorative materials for crafts. These crops are often referred to as special forest products.
Here are some specific examples of crops:
- Medicinal herbs: Ginseng, goldenseal, black cohosh, bloodroot, passionflower, and mayapple
- Mushrooms: Shiitake and oyster mushrooms
- Native ornamentals: Rhododendrons and dogwood
- Moss: Log or sheet moss
- Fruit: Pawpaws, currants, elderberries, and lowbush blueberries
- Nuts: Black walnuts, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, and beechnuts
- Other food crops: Ramps (wild leeks), maple syrup, and honey
- Plants used for decorative purposes, dyes, and crafts: Galax, princess pine, white oak, pussy willow branches in the spring, holly, bittersweet, and bloodroot and ground pine (Lycopodium)
SELF SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID
Just as 150 years ago, when the first mountaineers settled the area, the property can be self-sustaining in times of necessity – even without electricity.
- Fresh water for drinking and cooking can come from mountain springs or a drilled water well (hand drawing water from the well using a cylinder well bucket).
- The creeks and forest can provide fresh food (deer, squirrel, rabbit, and turkey).
- The existing agricultural land can provide vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats and barley.
- Bee hives can provide honey and beeswax for candles and pollenate the fruit trees.
- The forest can provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (walnuts, beechnuts and hickory nuts).
- A vineyard could be created to provide jellies, jams, juices and wines.
- Livestock can be raised including dairy cows, chickens, geese, turkey, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs and cattle. Milk, cheese, eggs, meat, wool, leather, fur, feather pillows and down comforters can all be produced.
PERMACULTURE FARMING
The three core tenets of permaculture are:
- Care for the earth: Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply. This is the first principle, because without a healthy earth, humans cannot flourish.
- Care for the people: Provision for people to access those resources necessary for their existence
- Setting limits to population and consumption: By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles. This includes returning waste back into the system to recycle into usefulness. The third ethic is sometimes referred to as Fair Share, which reflects that each of us should take no more than what we need before we reinvest the surplus.
Permaculture design emphasizes patterns of landscape, function, and species assemblies. It determines where these elements should be placed so they can provide maximum benefit to the local environment. Permaculture maximizes useful connections between components and synergy of the final design. The focus of permaculture, therefore, is not on each separate element, but rather on the relationships created among elements by the way they are placed together; the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Permaculture design therefore seeks to minimize waste, human labor, and energy input by building systems, and maximizes benefits between design elements to achieve a high level of synergy. Permaculture designs evolve over time by taking into account these relationships and elements and can evolve into extremely complex systems that produce a high density of food and materials with minimal input.
The design principles, which are the conceptual foundation of permaculture, were derived from the science of systems ecology and study of pre-industrial examples of sustainable land use. Permaculture draws from several disciplines including organic farming, agroforestry, integrated farming, sustainable development, and applied ecology. Permaculture has been applied most commonly to the design of housing and landscaping, integrating techniques such as agroforestry, natural building, and rainwater harvesting within the context of permaculture design principles and theory.
RIPARIAN ZONES
In earlier times, before the environmental and societal values of riparian zones (RZ’s) were discovered, the RZ was commonly called a “swamp”. These enchanting areas are biologically rich and wildlife diverse, being akin to the world’s largest swamps found in the Florida Everglades and the Amazon River Basin. The mighty RZ works to provide “ecosystem services”—non-monetary benefits like clean water, clean air, carbon sequestration, and recreation for everyone.
These areas are the best of both worlds. Here you can watch for deer, squirrels, raccoon, and turkey while exploring for butterflies, turtles, frogs, crawdads, songbirds, salamanders, newts, and a host of other aquatic invertebrates, migratory birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
The RZ’s are a very productive part of the environment; more productive of vegetation, in fact, than some agricultural soils. This vegetation serves important purposes. It shelters and feeds many wildlife species that cannot survive elsewhere. Almost 35 percent of all rare and endangered species depend, in some way, on RZ’s. More common riparian zone species provide enjoyment to many by serving educational, research and recreational needs. Waterfowl and many furbearers such as beaver, mink and muskrat provide both consumptive and no consumptive recreation and are dependent on the zones. Many fringe RZ’s provide the food that young fish need to survive. By slowing the flow of water, RZ’s help keep banks from eroding and they trap and settle suspended silt before it smothers fish eggs and covers the insects and other animals that fish eat.
Riparian zones add visual diversity and offer an opportunity to see many different plant and wildlife species seen nowhere else on the property.
CARBON SEQUESTRATION
The property is capable of offsetting the Carbon Footprint of the owners as well as many, many more citizens of the World. It’s not a well-known fact that a sodded farm field produces oxygen for our environment at a far greater rate than the same area of trees. One acre of trees with full canopy coverage produces enough oxygen for about 12. The same acre in just grass cover produces enough for 70 people!
The farm is a tremendous producer of Oxygen and Carbon Sink. Carbon Sequestration is the act of processing carbon dioxide through sinks and stores and releasing them into the atmosphere as oxygen. With 125 +/- acres of vigorously growing forest, and 50+/- acres of agricultural grasses, the farm could be generating about 6,000 tons of life giving Oxygen a year. Pretty cool!!
This natural process allows the owner (and family/friends) the opportunity to potentially enjoy a carbon neutral footprint.
Note: The burning of one (1) ton of coal results in release of 2.57 tons of the carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities.
The leasing of “Carbon Credits” to environmental mitigation companies is a rapidly emerging financial opportunity for the property owner to receive income without placing any burden to the land. The leases can be for as little as one year.
The owner will convey all rights, benefits, privileges and credits related to carbon sequestration in the above ground and below ground biomass, and the soil.
THE UNRIVALED RECREATION TERRITORY
The Mill House is most fortunate to be in one of the most popular outdoor recreation destination areas in the U.S. More than two million visitors tour the region annually, climbing rocks, paddling streams, white water rafting, hiking, biking, and running on miles of scenic trails.
The Boy Scouts of America has established its national Jamboree site here because of its unrivaled access to outdoor recreation. Winter attracts another clientele—skiers bound for the slopes at Winterplace, a drive of one hour, and Snowshoe Mountain, a drive of two-and-a-half hours.
The Region enjoys more than its share of singular shops, pubs, and restaurants. Exceptional eateries and retail destinations are located in the state capitol at Charleston, Fayetteville, and historical Lewisburg, ranked one of the most livable small towns in the U.S.
The area is perhaps best known as one of the most popular rock-climbing destinations in the world. Thousands of climbers annually scale the more-than-60 miles of a cliff on the gorges of the New, Gauley, and Meadow rivers. It includes some of the most scenic sport climbs in the western hemisphere. The American Alpine Club maintains an ecologically integrated campground for climbers less than a mile from the “Endless Wall” frontage.
Hikers, paddlers, and bicyclists are also drawn to the region in increasing numbers. The Endless Wall Trail has been described as the best hiking trail in the U.S. national park system. Whitewater rafting has long been a mainstay of tourism on the New and Gauley rivers, though kayaking has grown tremendously throughout West Virginia, outpacing the growth of the pastime nationally.
The region is also renowned for golf, and more than a score of courses are within a two-hour drive, including 3 Championship Courses at the Greenbrier Resort, home of a LIV tournament. Glade Springs also has 3 courses. The Oakhurst Links, the first course in the U.S., is just over an hour’s drive.
Access to the area is easy. The US-19 expressway travels through the heart of the region, and Interstates 77 and 64 are a drive of 45 minutes. I-79 is a 90-minute drive and the state capital at Charleston is a 2-hour’s drive.
Amtrak passenger stations on the Chicago-New York route are located at Beckley, Charleston, Alderson (15 minute drive), and White Sulphur Springs (45 minute drive).
Public airports that offer jet service are located at Beckley, Charleston and Lewisburg, though local small airfields accommodate small planes and helicopters.
THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK
The New River Gorge was a vast and largely unsettled wilderness until the C&O railroad was built on the eastern side of the river in the 1880’s. The railroad opened up the rich coalfields and virgin timber stands of the region. Early “mountaineers” settled the area and soon were carving out mountain farms and raising families.
The 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve was officially named America’s 63rd national park, the U.S. government’s highest form of protection, in December of 2020ains. The NPS-protected area stretches for 53 miles from Hinton to Anstead.
The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is rich in cultural and natural history and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities.
New River Gorge is home to some of the country’s best whitewater rafting and is also one of the most popular climbing areas on the East Coast.
The New River, which drops 750 feet over 66 miles, with its Class V rapids, has long drawn adventuresome rafters and kayakers to this whitewater area. The New River, which flows northward through low-cut canyons in the Appalachian Mountains, is actually one of the oldest rivers on the planet.
Rock climbing on the canyon walls, mountain biking and hiking on trails that flank the river, and wildlife viewing—bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, great blue herons, beavers, river otters, wild turkeys, brown bats, and black bears—are all popular activities within the park.
“THE GATEWAY TO WATER RECREATION”
SIX RIVERS AND TWO LAKES
Mill House is fortunate to be in the heart of a biological, historic, and recreational mecca. This vast watershed includes the New River, Greenbrier River, Gauley River, Cherry River, Meadow River and Bluestone River, as well as the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake and 3000-acre Summersville Lake.
These bodies of water are major contributors to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. There are many animals that live year-round, and at other times, in the water and around the edges of rivers/lakes. These include beavers, otters, minks, raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, king fishers, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, owls, hawks and redwing blackbirds.
Great fishing can be enjoyed with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers. Year after year, the New River produces more citation fish than any other warm water river in WV
The New River is the second oldest river in the world, preceded only by the Nile. Amazon ranks third oldest.. Interestingly, only these three ancient rivers flow north in the world.
NEW RIVER GORGE BRIDGE
The New River Gorge Bridge arcs 1700 feet across the chasm of the New River Gorge like a rainbow of dusky metal, spanning more than 3,000 feet. Now a national historical landmark, it was designed to complement the gorge while completing a vital expressway through the Appalachians. When it opened in 1977, it was the longest such bridge in the world, a marvel that cut drive time across the gorge from forty minutes to less than a minute. It is among the most photographed landmarks in West Virginia.
The New River Gorge Bridge is a work of structural art, weighing in at 88,000,000 pounds. The Bridge is the third highest bridge in the U.S., at 876 ft.
“Bridge Day” is on the third Saturday of October each year. On this one day a year, the famous New River Gorge Bridge is open to pedestrians. A wide variety of activities draw thousands of people. Visitors experience great views, vendors, BASE jumping, rappelling, music, and more. Bridge Day is not only West Virginia's largest one-day festival but also the largest extreme sports event in the world. New River Gorge is the only national park in the U.S. that permits this extreme activity.
THE SUMMIT – BOY SCOUTS HIGH ADVENTURE BASE
As a result of unrivaled access to recreation, the Boy Scouts of America established its national Jamboree site on more than 12,000 acres at the Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, also known as the Summit. The organization has since invested more than $450,000,000 in the acquisition and buildout. The Summit also hosts the national leadership center for the scouts as well as one of its five high-adventure bases. More than 50,000 scouts and leaders from more than 40 countries attended the World Jamboree in 2019.
SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Snowshoe Mountain Resort is one of the most popular ski resorts in in the east-central U.S. The resort, at 4848’ elevation, includes two ski areas, two terrain parks, and 57 downhill slopes. While the area is still best known for winter activities, today the resort has extensive mountain biking trails, a popular golf course, wedding and convention areas, several summer outdoor activities, and hosts a Grand National Cross Country racing event. About 480,000 skiers visit the area each year.
LOCAL AREA
Lewisburg, which is the Greenbrier County seat, was voted the Coolest Small Town in America, combining the warmth of a close community with the sophistication of more urban locations. The thriving downtown historic district offers year-round live productions presented at the State Professional Theatre of WV, Carnegie Hall, distinctive dining venues, antique shops, award-winning galleries/boutiques, a year-round farmer’s markets.
Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is a modern hospital with all attendant medical facilities, along with the many big box stores.
The county and city host several fairs & festivals throughout the year including The WV State Fair, a professional 4-weekend Renaissance Festival, Chocolate Festival, Taste of our Town Festival (TOOT), antique car shows, Jeep Rally, Airstream Rally, WV Barn Hunt, LIV Tour @ The Greenbrier Resort, and numerous fun parades.
Carnegie Hall, Inc. is an integral part of the Lewisburg community as well as the region. The venue annually serves more than 75,000 patrons with live performances by artists from around the world, arts in education programming, classes, workshops, fine art exhibits, and more. Carnegie Hall, Inc. is one of only eight Carnegie Hall’s still in continuous use as a performance venue.
Lewisburg is fortunate to have the modern Robert. C Byrd Medical Clinic (300 employees), the WV Osteopathic Medical School (678 students) and the New River Community and Technical College. The town enjoys the Greenbrier Country Public Library, an incredible, ultra-modern public facility.
The area is a strong economic generator with a solid workforce employed in county/state government, tourism, hospitality, medical, education, retail, construction, wood products, mining and agriculture.
The world-renowned Greenbrier Resort, with 800 rooms and 1600 employees, is in the sleepy little town of White Sulphur Springs. The 4-Star resort has a subterranean casino and is at times the home to the NFL Summer Practice Event, Tennis Exhibitions (Venus Williams, John McEnroe etc.). Several other area golf courses are available in the area – including Oakhurst Links, America’s first golf course, where guests play using old style hickory-handled clubs and ground-burrowing golf balls.
A picturesque train ride from White Sulphur Springs connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other locations. By car, DC is 4 hours away and Charlotte is only 4.
DIRECTIONS
From Union, WV: 13.3 miles (approximate 25 minutes)
From the Courthouse in Union; travel US 219 North for 4 miles to Pickaway; turn left onto Rt. 3 West; travel 8.3 miles; just past the Wolf Creek Post Office, turn right onto Belleview Road; travel 9/10 mile; the driveway for the property is on the right.
REGIONAL INFORMATION
STATE INFORMATION
- State of West Virginia
- West Virginia Explorer
- West Virginia Government
- West Virginia State Parks
- West Virginia Tourism
- Wonderful West Virginia Magazine
- WV Department of Natural Resources
- Virginia – Commonwealth of Virginia
- Virginia is for Lovers
- Virginia Museum of History & Culture
- Virginia Museum of Natural History
- Virginia National Park Service
- Virginia Recreation
- Virginia State Parks
Contact Foxfire
304.645.7674
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