The School House, which was originally built prior to 1815, has undergone a complete renovation, painstakingly preserving its historic structure. There is a charming aura of history throughout the house that is coupled with all the modern conveniences. The appearance of the School House from the outside belies its spacious interior. From the outside, it looks like the one room school house it used to be. On the inside, however, there are two floors with generously sized rooms. On the entry level, the high ceilinged Common Room includes a well equipped kitchen, tables and chairs for dining and a comfy area for lounging. There is also an office/den as well as a full bathroom with a shower. Stairways lead to the lower level where there’s a large bedroom with a queen-sized bed, desk and a wide screen, wall TV. A sliding door leads to a full bathroom with a combination tub and shower. A washer/dryer is installed in a small room off of the bathroom.
The furniture throughout the house (a mix of modern and antique), the art works and oriental rugs are seamlessly blended together. The kitchen is fully stocked with cooking utensils, dinnerware, and an assortment of appliances. The stove is set in a center island.
High speed fiber optic internet is provided by Verizon FIOS (300 Mbps).
A blue stone patio allows for enjoyment of the property outside with a propane fired barbecue and table and chairs. Views of farm fields are the prominent vistas seen from inside and outside the house. All seasons at the house are distinctive. In the fall, the vistas of the multi-colored foliage are breathtaking; winter is serene; spring is noteworthy for early blossoms; and in summer nature shows off its bounty of flowering plants.
The School House is available for year-round rental. Pets are welcome, but there is an added fee of $15 per pet per night.
The property is located in northern Rensselaer County/upper Hudson Valley in a rural setting. The scenic agricultural landscape surrounding the house reflects the paintings by Grandma Moses, the renowned folk artist who lived in the area. It is just 5 miles from the village of Hoosick Falls. Grocery and drug stores, banks, restaurants, and a variety of specialty stores are about 6 miles away. The house is within easy driving distance of larger towns such as Bennington, VT, Saratoga Springs, NY and Williamstown, MA. Cambridge, NY (a 15-minute drive) offers an active community arts center with theater and musical performances (Hubbard Hall Projects), and surrounding communities offer a wide range of cultural and sporting activities. For example, Williamstown, MA (a 35-minute drive) is renowned for its summer theater, and the Clark Art Institute is highly regarded for its art collection and exhibits. Saratoga Springs, NY (a 55-minute drive) has thoroughbred horse racing and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the National Museum of Dance and the National Museum of Racing. Bennington, VT (a 35-minute drive) has the Bennington Museum, Bennington Battle Monument, and Bennington Pottery. Manchester, VT (a 45-minute drive) is known for its discount shopping outlets, including Orvis, the famous store/school specializing in fly fishing. The nearby Battenkill River is a must for trout fishing, and the Little Hoosic River also offers fine fishing opportunities. Antiquing is a popular pastime in the area which has numerous antique stores. Hiking trails are also plentiful within a half hour to an hour’s drive. There are several horseback riding stables in the area and numerous lakes for swimming. Nearby lakes include Lake Paran, N. Bennington, VT; Lake Shaftsbury, Shaftsbury, VT., Lake Lauderdale, Cambridge, NY; Grafton Mt. Lakes and Grafton Lakes, State Park, Grafton, NY. Canoeing, tubing, and kayaking opportunities exist both on the Hoosic River (with a boat launch just a few miles away) and the Battenkill River. The closest golf course, Dutchaven in Buskirk, is a 5-minute drive. Other nearby golf courses can be found at the Hoosick Falls Country Club; Mount Anthony Country Club, Bennington, VT; and Windy Hills Golf Course in Greenwich, NY. The closest ski area is Willard Mountain (a 15-minute drive). Other ski areas within a reasonable commute include Prospect Mt., Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA; Stratton Mountain, Bondville, VT; Mt. Snow, West Dover, VT. Late summer offerings include the two agricultural fairs: the Schaghticoke Fair in Schaghticoke, NY and the Washington County Fair in Greenwich, NY. Fine restaurants can be found throughout the area as well as plentiful, seasonal open-air markets.