DESCRIPTION

COCHRAN HOMEPLACE – 24.99 +/- ACRES – Greenbrier County

The Cochran Homeplace is a picturesque country estate located on a quiet country lane just a few minutes from the heart of historic Lewisburg. The mix of soft grassy meadows and shadowed Black Walnut groves gives the rolling 25 +/- estate grounds an English countryside feel. Ancient Oaks and Sugar Maples scattered about the grounds provide an umbrella for the vintage circa 1897 home and attendant hand-cut stone and wood-sided outbuildings.

THE AREA

The Cochran Homeplace is located in one of the most picturesque area of Greenbrier County West Virginia. Long range views of the surrounding mountains and rolling hills add to the charm and grace the Homeplace has been known for since before the turn of the 20th centrury. Low taxes, clean water, clean air and friendly people.

Numerous and various species of migratory songbirds, blue birds and finches are found on the property. Their songs are easily heard as there is not much in the way of extraneous noises in the area. This lack of outside noise creates a very tranquil setting and is a rare find in today’s industrialized world operating at breakneck speed.

Lewisburg, which is the Greenbrier County seat, was voted the Coolest Small Town in American in 2011 and is just a 15 minute drive to the thriving downtown historic district. The downtown boasts a year round live theater, Carnegie Hall, several fabulous restaurants, antique shops and boutiques. There is also a modern hospital and all attendant medical facilities along with all the big box stores.

The farm’s location lies within the required driving time for physicians working at the hospital.

The Greenbrier County Airport, which has WV’s longest runway, is located just 20 minutes away and has regular flights to Atlanta and Washington DC. The world famous Greenbrier Resort is about 20 minutes’ drive and Snowshoe Ski Resort is about 2 hours’ drive. Roanoke is 90 minutes, DC is 4 hours and Charlotte is 3 hours away.

The charming village of Union, which is the Monroe County seat, is just a 15 minute drive. Banking, healthcare facilities, drugstore, grocery shopping and a great family restaurant are readily available. Some of the friendliest people in West Virginia can be found in Monroe County. Monroe County has a population of about 13,000 residents and does not have a stoplight and has more cattle and sheep than people. There are no fast food restaurants but there is the local restaurants, “Kalico Kitchen” and “Corner Cafe”, in downtown Union that is packed each morning for breakfast and then again for lunch.

LOCATION / ACCESS

Address: (911 not yet assigned)
Rt.2 Box 85
Ronceverte, WV 24970

Property is accessed by state maintained paved Hokes Mill Road {CR62}.

Coordinates:
LAT 37.7066539N
LON 080.4643774W

Elevation: 2,186’

TAXES, DEED, LEGAL INFORMATION

Greenbrier County
Irish Corner District (#8)
Map 18
Parcel 78

Deed Book 536
Page 899

Taxes 2013: $159.75

UTILITIES – SERVICES

Water: Well
Sewer: Septic
Phone: Frontier
Internet: Frontier
Electricity: MonPower
Postal and Overnight Courier Delivery
Garbage Pickup
Newspaper Delivery
Propane & Fuel Oil Delivery
School Bus runs

HOME DETAILS

The charming country home was built in 1897 and is clean and very livable. There have been many updates over the years including a kitchen renovation, added insulation, replacement windows, lowered ceilings and a bathroom-laundry room addition.

The covered front and back porches add extra living space and nothing is better than “sitting out” and enjoying the early evening sounds of crickets and seeing the lighting bugs flashing against a dusky sky.

Built circa 1897
Gross Footage: 1454’ +/-
Bedroom 1: 15×16
Bedroom 2: 12×15
Bedroom 3: 11×13
Den: 11×13
Kitchen: 13×13
Bathroom Full: 10×7
Bathroom ½: 6×10
Pantry 5×7
Laundry Room: 6×11
Total Rooms: 6
Attic: Full unfinished
Front Covered Porch 7×24
Covered Back Porch (with swing) 4×12

Foundation: Limestone and Locust Beams
Heating: Electric baseboard, wood stove, Passive Solar
Cooling: Passive (open windows) or AC window units, seldom necessary
Roof: Shingle
Flooring: Carpet, Linoleum

Items to Convey: To be determined at time of sale.
Items Negotiable: To be determined at time of sale.

THE ROOT CELLAR

Adjacent to the main residence is a traditional 18’x16’ root cellar with the old 2 story English potting shed sitting atop the hand-cut limestone cellar. This structure could possibly predate the 1897 home. The cellar is built into the ground and stays at a constant cool temperature. This lovely building was once perfect for storing milk, eggs, butter and canned goods but could easily be re-purposed as a wine cellar. The second story loft is a quite space perfect for writing, painting or reading. Attached to the cellar is an open front 9×18 garden implement storage shed.

SUPPORTING OUTBUILDINGS & IMPROVEMENTS

*Shop Building: 24×16 – Block building with concrete floor, 8’ garage door, electric
*Storage Building: 18×25 – Chicken coop and milk can storage shed
*Storage Building 27×24 Firewood storage and separate tool room
*8’ high 50×70 fenced garden (awesome!)
*Fenced dog run
*Outdoor Clothes line (three lines)
*Regulation Horse Shoe Pitching Arena

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

There are approximately 15 acres of gently rolling meadows, hay fields, pastures, and garden areas. Cows and their calves periodically graze on seasonal grasses in the pastures. Much of the land would be suitable for growing corn or other small grain crops. Sheep also do well in this area and one might consider raising alpacas or llamas.

The soils and elevation would be well suited for establishing a vineyard or fruit orchard. There is only 100’ in elevation (2100’-2200’) change across the entire boundary. The perimeter of the property runs for over 4000’.

There is already a tremendous vegetable garden with rich soil fully fenced perfect for growing tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, squash, cucumbers, carrots, onions and any of the “Greens” (kale-collards).

*** There is an outstanding “Ramp Patch” located beside the Root Cellar.

The entire farm is fenced and cross fenced and the fencing is considered very good on most areas of the farm. A recently installed 4-board wooden fence supports the area around the house and outbuildings.

There are approximately 10 acres in 3 separate fields currently in hay production. These fields produce several 1000’ round bales each season. The hay fields have been limed and fertilized on a regular basis and are considered to be in above average condition. The rich, “sweet” soils are perfect for producing hay and this land could also be used in the production of corn, pumpkins etc.

Another 5 acres presently is in meadows and pasture and have been limed and fertilized on a regular schedule based on pH and soil samples taken as specified by the USDA.

Greenbrier County ranks 1st out of all the 55 counties in WV for the production of beef and 2nd t in the production of sheep.

FOREST RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE

There is about 10 acres of mature forestland, some of which could be considered “Heritage Trees”. These ancient trees, some 200-300 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes, fire and of course – woodpeckers. One extremely large Red Oak (Quercus rubra) growing in the meadows edge below the house has a circumference of over 12 feet. There are also several Black Walnut scattered about that are very beautiful and stately and produce an abundance of tasty walnuts in the fall of the year.

Some of the species found on the property are Black Walnut, White Oak, Tulip Poplar, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Hickory, Sycamore and Ash. No forest pests such as Gypsy Moth or Emerald Ash Borer have been found on the property.

The farm is home to a wide array of wildlife which includes a variety of song birds, owls, hawks, woodpeckers, ravens and wild turkeys. White tailed deer, raccoon, opossums, rabbits, chipmunks, coyotes and bobcats are a part of the resident wildlife population.

ACCESS- BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

Access to the property is excellent and is served by year round, state maintained paved highways. The property fronts directly on the Homes Mill Road for about 200’. An historic deeded private lane via Hokes Mill Road crosses the Boone farm for 252’ serving as access as well the direct road frontage. Public school buses run daily when school is in session.

There is not a recent survey of the property. The entire property is bounded by fence.

MINERALS RESOURCES

The Marcellus Shale underlies the property at a depth of 5000′+. The east coast Marcellus Shale Region is thought to contain enough natural gas to power the United States for over 100 years.

The owners have chosen not to lease the oil and gas rights and all the mineral rights the seller owns will transfer to the purchaser at closing. There are no known coal reserves underlying the property.