108 chace hill rd sterling - additional information from seller v2
DESCRIPTION
108 Chace Hill Rd Sterling - additional information. If you would like to see this property, please call/text Kurt Thompson at 978-833-3569TRANSCRIPT
108 Chace Hill Road, Sterling MA
Offered by Kurt Thompson of the HomesJustForYou Team
Call/text Kurt at 978-833-3569 for more information or to schedule a
private showing of this exquisite one-of-a-kind home
Helpful Information from the seller:
108 Chace Hill Rd. was part of over a 200 acre parcel which was a large farm
with an apple orchard. When electricity came through the area, the company
bought some parcels of land while others were divided into house lots. When
108 Chace Hill was first considered for building, the owners very much did not
want to ‘clear cut’ the lot. A State Forester was called in to consult on which
trees should be cut and which should be left. Over time, his choice of tree for
variety and age has produced a lot protected from decimation by pests or
disease favoring one species of tree. Bartlett Tree Company has been
employed to advise and maintain the ecosystem of the lot. Careful cutting,
trimming, and tree services have been implemented to preserve its integrity.
The lot is backed by a 40 acre plot planted with Christmas trees. Each year the
owner and his family carefully hand prune and treat the trees to provide the
most natural healthy tree. Any work done usually occurs in the early spring. The
owner has publically stated that upon his death the acreage will go into a Nature
Conservancy Trust. He also owns a small unbuildable lot to the east. It does
not meet the 2.5 acre minimum frontage requirement.
The house is served by a septic system designed for 4 bedrooms, but rarely
used to capacity. In the 24 year history of the house, there has never been a
septic problem. The ‘front lawn’ is the leach field and has always functioned
well. Never has grease or inedible items been put down the drains.
The water line runs up the western boundary from the road to the house. The
electric is taken from the pole between 108 and 86 Chace Hill Rd. From the
pole, it heads up the hill to a point where it comes east underground to our
property. Cable and telephone wires run in the same underground access area.
The home is protected by a security system which includes smoke detectors.
The pool room doors may be ‘armed’ while in residence to prevent unnoticed
entry to the pool area. Local police have stated that the property is a ‘low risk’
property. Because there is a long entry/egress driveway and because Chace
Hill Road is easily ‘limited’, it is a discouragement to those looking for an ‘easy’
target. Though there is acreage behind the home, it is easily ‘ringed’ with law
enforcement personnel preventing a perpetrator from escaping on foot. Again,
because the home is set back from the road, it does not come to the attention
vandals looking for an easy ‘lark’.
Responding to one ‘false alarm’, the Fire Department took the opportunity to
deploy the equipment for training purposes. They wanted to be sure they could
position their equipment adjacent to the house as well as have water to fight a
fire. It was easily done. The nearest hydrant is about 380 feet away.
Hiking and jogging trails as well as fishing are located 1 mile away on the
shores of Wachusett Reservoir. Just 20 minutes away, one may ski or hike Mt.
Wachusett. Equipped with snow guns, Mt. Wachusett opens around
Thanksgiving and closes in late March.
The town beach, located on Lake Waushacum, is located ‘over the hill’ about
one mile away. The town center, over the ‘next hill’ is about 3 miles as the crow
flies. The elementary and middle schools are located about 3 miles away on
Boutelle Rd. Wachusett Regional High School is located about 10 miles away
in Holden. The school’s instrumental and vocal music departments are Grammy
Award winners which also regularly send students to Central District
Competition as well as All State. The Math and Science Departments send
students to local, state and even national level math and science fairs. They
have a mentoring program with local professionals who mentor students through
various science projects. The school boasts a wide athletic program with
something to appeal to everyone. Academics figure prominently in the school’s
focus with A/P courses regularly offered.
The grounds were laid out by Master Gardner, Barbara McPhee of Holden.
Care was taken to choose varieties resistant to drought and disease while hardy
for the climate zone. Over the years her choices have worked out well.
Mrs. McPhee handpicked the granite front ‘stoop’ and steps. From the New
Hampshire Quarry she made sure of the color match and size while inspecting
to be sure there were no ‘faults’ in the granite.
In ground sprinklers were introduced along with drip lines in the beds skirting the
house. These operate on a preset timer, being sure to observe the watering
hours of the town. At no time should the sprinklers be used in the evening.
With the generally falling temperature, the dew point rises and the dew falls.
Adding moisture to an already moist condition could cause a ‘fungal’
environment to exist.
The kitchen cabinets were custom hand made of solid birch. They feature pull
out shelves for convenience along with a pull out pantry. The kitchen desk and
the book shelves are also made of solid birch. The custom kitchen island,
housing the dishwasher, is topped with a custom made solid maple butcher
block top. The counter tops were chosen for their impervious quality. They are
made from quartz composite. They will never need cleaning or sealing.
The cook top contains ceramic heating elements which efficiently cycle through
temperature to insure that optimum temperature is maintained on the pan’s
bottom. The oven is a combination conventional/convection oven.
The bottom freezer refrigerator has built in ice maker. The water filter for it is
located under the kitchen sink.
The kitchen floor is tiled with an Italian Quarry tile of a rating of 7 on the Mohs
scale. The tile was hand chosen for not only its size, in keeping with the
proportion of the room, but for its hardness. One will not see cracking, chipping
or scratching with a tile of this hardness; most tile available is only in the 3-5
Mohs range. Most homeowners notice how quickly their tile scratches or that
‘odd tiles’ crack. This will be much less likely to happen with this tile.
The drapes throughout the house were custom made by Interior Designs of
Auburn. While many valences are of ‘standard’ length, these have been
customized to fit the room.
The family room floor is wall to wall carpet while the walls are wall papered. All
in- home IT is handled from this room. Connections for audio in the pool room,
living room and sauna are handled from this room. There is also a cable
connection.
The ‘fixed’ French Doors in the kitchen/ family area were chosen to preserve the
security of the pool room. It was decided two opening French Doors from the
pool room to the living space were enough access.
The back hall houses a storage area accessible from two halls to make the
storage of bulkier items more convenient. The large entry hall closet
accommodates outdoor wear.
The Pool Closet houses the equipment to control the pool. There is a
designated computer, functioning by custom computer program, which monitors
and maintains temperature, which days, times, and length of time on/off, and the
on/off of the water treatment equipment. The Ozoneator, ‘new technology’
when installed, is now used by many municipal water treatment plants in their
water treatment program. This technology allows them (and us) to use less
chemical in the water.
The pool itself, when the pool cover is kept on, maintains its temperature and
‘stasis’ with little fuss. Once per week residual algaecide is added to the pool to
control any algae growth. At that time, a residual bactericide, Bromine, is used
as a further hygiene additive. By using BROMINE rather than chlorine
chemicals, one AVOIDS the chlorine smell in the home. From time to time
water needs to e added to keep the water level at the appropriate level for the
skimmer to function correctly. This is due to normal evaporation.
Pool pump, filter and liner were replaced within the last 5 years. The filter
chosen was done so for ease of use and great filtering ability. Generally the
filter media needs changing but twice per year.
The pool deck is made of stamped concrete, again first of its kind in the area.
The color was mixed into the mortar, not sprinkler on the top so it is colored
throughout. No wear marks will develop. When the deck was sealed, a number
2 finish was used. It provided a nice sheen without being excessively slippery.
However, care should be used at all times and positively no running allowed on
the deck.
The aluminum, non-corrosive light fixtures as well as the stainless steel metal
reels, also non corrosive, which hold the banner lines were designed and
fabricated by the owner. He also hand turned the wooden reels on which the
line is wound. The light fixtures may be reached by the ladder hanging in the
garage.
Flat ‘outdoor’ speakers are mounted on the walls the wires of which terminate in
the family room allow.
Humidity in the room is control by a custom designed Bry Aire Commercial
Dehumidifyer. The statistics of the room and the size and temperature of the
pool, were fed into a computer and the correct machine for the room was
determined. The humidistat may be reached out the window to the left in the
second floor foyer.
There is also a large fan located in the pool room. Sometimes it is more
efficient to pull the low humidity in from outside through an open window and
dump the high humidity inside. There are also two paddle fans located in the
room. These are left on at all times. Because the room is south facing and the
sides of the pool are 4 feet thick, the entire area acts as a ‘heat sink’. By
constantly circulating the air, the room thermostat may be left at 68 degrees
year round and still have the room temperature register a comfy 72 degrees.
Obviously more heat may be desired in winter. Two pieces of custom cut and
bound carpet are to be found in the pool closet. These pieces shield the hall
carpet from the pool room door to the bath room. This provides easy access to
the bathroom without having to dry off completely.
The walls are finished #2 cedar tongue and groove boards. They are treated
with 2 coats each side of exterior oil stain.
One will find banners hanging in the room. These are hung to help with sound
absorption. Changing them with the seasons adds to the decorating flexibility of
the space. Also, the room was wired for wall sconces. Those may be observed
by the cover plates.
French doors open off the pool room to the hall and to the formal living room
dining room. This feature invites one’s guests to flow from room to room
enjoying the ambiance of the area.
The windows in the hall are made of ‘shatter safety glass’. Should an accident
occur, these will shatter as required by code.
The hallway and room doors throughout the home are raised panel pine doors
finished in hand rubbed stain with polyurethane seal.
The back entry walls are finished in stained #2 cedar. The back door, and both
interior garage doors are insulated steel doors.
The back patio is finished in ‘blue’ cobble stone seated with gray sand
surrounded by blue stone. Blue stone has also been used in the walk way of
the raised garden bed. It is lined with weed blocker and filled with screened
loam and manure. It is watered by a spray controlled on a separate zone of the
sprinkler system.
The driveway was seal coated this spring (2014).
“Helmut Gutters’ were installed 3 years ago. They do a great job handing the
water coming off the roof.
The ‘bunny cage’ provides a safe environment for a small pet. It is completely
screened- in protecting a bunny or small animal from any wild creature. The
snug hutch stuffed with hay kept animals warm for many a winter.
The barn, raised in 2000, houses lawn equipment. It has stood through the
weight and wind of many storms including the ice storm of 2008.
The living room contains architectural molding as well as a 5 arm chandelier on
a dimmer switch. Also located are 2 halogen spot lights positioned to highlight
the table center piece. The ceiling plaster is custom finished in a ‘swirling’
pattern adding finish to the room. The hardwood floors add to the attraction of
the room. In the construction details, provision has been made to add a spiral
staircase leading down from the master suite to the living room. French doors
open onto the pool room for an enjoyable entertaining ambiance.
The downstairs bath includes a shower convenient to the pool. Shower, toilet
and sink are all colored matched. Further down the hall a 4 person infrared
cedar sauna adds to the spa atmosphere of this area of the house. Piped in
music with soothing heat is just the thing after a day of skiing at the nearby
mountain. A door opens off the second hall into the store room for easy access.
Carpets throughout the house are commercial grade unless otherwise noted.
The downstairs playroom features a billiard table waiting for your next game.
The walls are finished plaster with half wall wainscoting. The rug is a wall to
wall Berber. Many cabinets and shelves wait to organize your pastimes. The
far closet holds the cue rack and cues.
The workshop stands ready for your next project. The bulkhead provides easy
access for larger materials. The incoming water supply is located in this area
along with a whole house water filter and shut off for the sprinkler system.
The furnace, a system 2000, 85% efficient oil burner with boiler and hot water
heater for the pool, is a many zoned system. Outside air is drawn in to fire the
burner so no heat is ‘lost’ from the house. (Care should be taken to be sure this
inlet remains snows free during the winter months.). This furnace is designed to
send heat to the room called for. When the temperature is reached, it continues
to push the remaining heat through the system so none is wasted. There are 3
oil tanks available for convenient fillings.
Because the house is south facing much benefit is gained from the passive
solar exposure. The four foot thick walls of the heated pool further add to the
‘heat sink’ effect of the sun gain.
Next to the furnace is the new radon remediation system.
The Double D electrical panel along with the security system is located on the
far wall.
The guest wing features two bedrooms with full closet with built in shelves. The
rooms easily hold a double bed with bureau and desk without feeling crowded.
The walls are plaster finished or painted, with commercial carpet on the floor.
The guest bath features large linen closet to service the whole floor. The double
mirror vanity gives each guest a place to store their bathroom items. The
overhead vent has a heat feature to take the chill off cold winter mornings. Full
tub and shower complete the bathroom fixtures. Tub and surround, toilet and
sink are all color matched.
The laundry area features a set tub as well as space for a sewing area. The
yellow painted walls add a cheery touch to the space. Many cabinets make for
great storage. The efficient HE washer rests on a custom made stainless steel
drawer, great for storing extra supplies. The second floor wash/dry area makes
laundry much easier and more efficient to handle.
The walk in cedar closet with vinyl flooring, features not only hanging space, but
shelves as well- perfect for all your storage needs.
The master suite features sitting room, master bed room and sink room and
shower/jetted tub room.
The sitting room overlooks the front lawn- perfect for quiet reading, late night
office work or exercise. With pocket doors, it is easily closed off from the
bedroom or opened to provide additional space.
The master bedroom features his-and-hers mirror door closets. With built-in
shelves, it makes it handy to store lots of items. The nook between the closets
was designed to accommodate an average dresser opening up the floor space,
giving it a ‘clean’ feel.
The sink room features his and her sinks with custom shell designed bowls.
There are built in cabinets as well as handy ‘tip out’ mirrors. A built-in vanity
makes morning toilette a pleasure.
The shower/tub room is separated from the sink room by a pocket door. One
may access this room from the master suite or from the hall. It contains toilet,
bidet and jetted tub/shower. All bathroom fixtures are color matched.
The 3rd floor boasts a built in library with accompanying cabinets. The 3rd floor
foyer is just the place to settle with a book. With plenty of storage space handy,
the third floor lends itself well to a 4th bedroom or office. On overhead fan adds
to the air circulation in the area. Should you require more space, the unfinished
attic on the other side has been plumbed ready to accept heating for the area
when necessary.
The whole house fan is located ‘behind’ the stairway. On those hot summer
nights spent in the family room, simply open the windows in the family room, be
sure the other house windows are closed, open the doors to the stairs, turn on
the whole house fan and soon the house will be cool. The fan size was chosen
by calculating the cubic footage of air in the home and choosing the CFM
necessary to move the air in a reasonable amount of time to cool the house
down.
This area is also the access for the fans in the pool room. Should there ever be
a problem, the fans may be lowered to the floor for repair or replacement.
There is also a sub panel located on the 3rd floor. Plans exist to ‘lift’ the roof
from the garage and built an apartment over the garage. The design of the
hallway access of the master bath as well as the electrical supply was laid out
with a thought to a ‘some day’ apartment.
Plantings on the grounds include, rhododendron, yew, holly, astilbe,
Andromeda, elephant Hosta, variegated Hosta, heirloom lilac (purple), white and
pink peonies, bleeding heart, vinca, pachysandra, euonymus (burning bush) ,
boxwood, blueberry, witch hazel, elm, oak, maple, shag bark hickory, and horn
beam to name just a few.
The resident has been a member of the Sterling Garden Club for some time.
Sterling is a town which has long been known for its apples. Many home
developments are located in ‘old orchards’. Additionally, Sterling is home to
Mary Sawyer, of “Mary had a Little Lamb…” The town square is home to a
bronze replica of ‘Mary’s Lamb’. Many a local child has climbed on its back.
Mary’s great great grand daughter, Diane Malone, still resides in town and with
her husband Rick, operates Clear View Farm. The farm is located just down the
road from the old Sawyer ‘Homestead’.
RE/MAX Property Promotions, 975 Merriam Ave., Leominster MA
Office (978) 847-0800