CHARMING HISTORIC FARMHOUSE NESTLING IN WOODS ABOVE PARADOX LAKE

The house was originally a farmhouse constructed plank by plank by a German musician called Emille Schenke in the 1880's. He was part of an orchestra in New York City, escaping to the North country in the summer to avoid the urban heat. He also made fine furniture in this house. Apples were grown on the lower slopes of the hillside. He and his friend Bernhardt a famous musician of that time originally shared the farmhouse across the road (still owned by Berhardt's descendants) but it was too small to support a growing family. The land was divided and Schenke built Hitor on his parcel. Old accounts say it was a musical h(e)aven, summer students assembling here for violin/voila lessons in the woods. Our driveway was called Beethoven Way!

It is a large house with high ceilinged rooms. We viewed it midwinter, and despite its chilly careworn appearance as an antiques showroom we were blown away with its potential as a home.

We have winterised the house, upgraded 2 bathrooms and added another. The kitchen equipment is close to gourmet standard. A deck was constructed above the house accessed by converting a window to a door onto a small bridge.

The furnishings reflect a classic English style. There are some interesting antiques,art, and artifacts including a triptych of paintings on old sail canvas by MaryJane Flower. Not to everyones taste perhaps but it softly reflects light into the greatroom.

The vast emptiness of the Adirondacks drew us to Paradox and finding an interesting house compelled us to acquire it. The opportunity for outdoor recreation,be it hiking, sailing , golfing, skiing or unwinding whilst reading a book in our screened porch appealed to us.

We are cocooned in our own green cell of tall trees enveloping us.

We revel in candlelit cookouts on the upper deck and after supper watch the sun across the lake die behind the High Peaks in spectacular glory.

From our swing in the woods we watch the woodpeckers chiselling out plump grubs deep inside the bark of old trees. Or chipmunks conspiring (successfully) to steal birdseed from our 'squirrel ' proof feeders. Early risers may catch a glipse of a whitetailed fawn deer in the driveway.

Wintertime brings us a white quiet, blanketing all sound. The windows in the huge bay of the greatroom panoramically display a kaleidoscope of images of the snowy mountains beyond,whilst we succumb to the glowing warmth of the stove and a chocolate toddy.