PING: "blaze" in Gorham

[KBCraig]

I saw on the frappr that we have someone going by "blaze" in Gorham. I'd like to talk to you about the area; reply here, or give me a shout by PM or email.

Oh yeah: the "frapper" is now "Frappr", and has a new domain:  http://www.frappr.com/nhunderground

Kevin

[aries]

Hmm I'm not blaze but I live fairly close to Gorham and I've been there many times if you want to ask me anything... 

[KBCraig]

Hi, aries!

I'm aiming for the Berlin area, so just general "stuff" to know about which towns might be more desirable. I figure Berlin, Milan, Randolph, maybe Shelburne, maybe Stark. Gorham is too pricey, and I don't like their "keep it pure for the tourists" outlook. No dogs on the common, at any time? feh!

Berlin is a city with a council, manager, and mayor... I don't really care for that. Stark doesn't have zoning, which is a plus. Anything else you'd care to toss in within reasonable commute of Berlin? Thanks for the help!

Kevin

[Fluff and Stuff]

Hi, aries!

I'm aiming for the Berlin area, so just general "stuff" to know about which towns might be more desirable. I figure Berlin, Milan, Randolph, maybe Shelburne, maybe Stark. Gorham is too pricey, and I don't like their "keep it pure for the tourists" outlook. No dogs on the common, at any time? feh!

Berlin is a city with a council, manager, and mayor... I don't really care for that. Stark doesn't have zoning, which is a plus. Anything else you'd care to toss in within reasonable commute of Berlin? Thanks for the help!

Kevin

Gorham is too pricey    Seriously, though, I thought Jefferson, NH was nice.  Heck I thought Berlin was pretty good and it is very cheap.

[Pat McCotter]

WMUR's NH Chronicle had a piece on Stark Village as the site of a WWII POW camp. Also a book: Stark Decency: German Prisoners of War in a New England Village

New Hampshire Historical Markers

Camp Stark German Prisoner of War Camp
Route 110
Stark, NH

Marker Number: 150
Name and date established: Stark 1985

Description: In the spring of 1944 a high fence and four guard towers transformed a former Civilian Conservation Corps Camp on this site into New Hampshire's sole World War II prisoner-of-war camp. About 250 German and Austrian soldiers, most of whom were captured in North Africa, lived in Camp Stark while working in the surrounding forest where they cut pulpwood vital to wartime industry. The camp closed in the spring of 1946 when the prisoners of war were returned to their homeland. Several maintained the new friendships they had formed with local New Hampshire residents.

Location: Located on the south side of Route 110, about 1.6 miles east of the Stark Covered Bridge.

[KBCraig]

There's a hunting camp for sale in the area that used to be a POW camp.

[aries]

As far as berlin/gorham goes, Berlin is indeed layed out like a city, but being so small (10,000 people and FALLING, it used to be 16,000) it's a bit akward to get around in my opinion. Between the two towns you have all the modern amenities, a wal-mart, shaws, etc. Both places and I think Milan as well are rigged for high speed internet, digital cable, the works. Berlin has a municipal government complete with ordinances, zoning rules and any other fun stuff that comes with the technicality of being a "city."

Stark for the most part does NOT have any of these things, including the high speed internet (a major turnoff for myself). You'd be travelling to Berlin/Gorham (the towns sort of fade into eachother at some point, but each is distinct), for your things. Randolph and Shelburne are almost the suburbs or Gorham, so to speak. If you have kids they'll be going to school in Gorham, and spending a lot of time there. If you have kids and live in Stark, there is a small elementary school in Stark, and a highschool in Groveton.

One drawback to all these towns, in my opinion, is the lack of a movie theater! None of them have one, you'd have to go to Bethel ME, Littleton NH or Lancaster NH. If that doesn't bother you, they have most everything else you should need to get by. Berlin also produces quite a pungent smell on some days, because there is still a mill or factory in operation there. During warm windy days, when the conditions are right, I can smell it from the hill that my school is on, in Whitefield.

Location wise, Randolph is the closest town to the interstate, about 45 minutes or so away, Jefferson is closer if you look into that. Since Lancaster is the county seat, yet Berlin is a city, you will have to deal with town government locally and state/county government in Lancaster.

All of the towns are pretty friendly, accessible and not bad places to live. Stark is probably the most "out there" and doesn't have many businesses or commercial places at all.

http://ci.berlin.nh.us/
http://randolph.nh.gov/

[KBCraig]

Gorham is too pricey   

For those of you who didn't get it, TN-FSP is poking fun at my definition of "pricey", since Gorham is cheap compared to the southern part of the state.

But seriously... Gorham housing has a 30-100% premium compared to the surrounding towns. Is it worth it? I dunno, I've never been there. But just looking at the houses online, I can't see paying extra to live there.

I'm moving from a low-cost area, so to avoid taking on a big mortgage, I have to find similarly-priced housing. I have about $50-70k equity in a house that will sell for $100-120k (it would sell for $120-150k in the Berlin area, or $250-300k in southeastern NH, on the MA line). When we move, I'll have a maximum of 12 years until mandatory retirement. I don't plan on "total retirement" (I'll keep working), but I don't want to still have a mortgage when I start drawing a pension. So, I'll use my equity and take a 10 year mortgage. That will leave us  with more economic freedom, no ties to a particular job, and time to be active.

Kevin

[Russell Kanning]

We just drove threw last summer .... I don't see why Gorham would be worth more money. The area just north of Berlin had nice houses in a quieter setting. Milan was nice .... they say it funny up here.
The river north of Berlin was my favorite that I have seen in NH. They even have nice falls in town. The mountain just that you see looking south from there is nice too .... a real mountain.

[KBCraig]

First on our list of "if we were moving right now" properties is this one:

http://pcre.com/bin/web/real_estate?ZKEY=&acnt=AR170918&action=HOME_SEARCH&inwindow=&hs_action=VIEW_DETAIL&listing_id=REASEQ16810621&start=50&grp=ALL

The commercial building would be perfectly sized for a grooming shop and assorted pet accessories. Easy access, good parking, and a nice house.

And since you mentioned the river, the view out the front and across the street is of the river.

[Kat Kanning]

Seems like a reasonable price.

[Fluff and Stuff]

First on our list of "if we were moving right now" properties is this one:
...

I like this one.
http://pcre.com/bin/web/real_estate/AR170918/HOME_SEARCH/Berlin/1134593114.html?ZKEY=&acnt=AR170918&action=HOME_SEARCH&inwindow=&hs_action=VIEW_DETAIL&listing_id=REASEQ16385214&start=0&grp=ALL