Pike County Living

Pike County's Stark Mansion is For Sale

This is a rare opportunity to purchase one of the most fabulous homes in Missouri’s Little Dixie. The Stark Mansion was built in 1869 by the Stark family who introduced many of today’s popular apples like- Golden Delicious. Situated on 86 acres in the rolling hills of Pike County. The mansion has been completely restored & renovated with a meticulous eye for detail. New hardwood floors throughout. 7 gas fireplaces. 4 bedrooms & 2.5 baths. Gorgeous front staircase. 2 front parlors with custom European chandeliers. Formal dining room featuring a punka fan from Natchez- one of the only two in the State of Missouri. The property features a brick barn & 2 car garage. New, geo-thermal systems make this showplace economical to heat & cool. The property features a lake, cropland, springs & a creek. The sale includes most of the fine contents of this mansion- antique furniture, china, glassware, collectibles & more. $1,200,000

Take a Tour HERE

Listed by Ted Wight, Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty 314-607-5555  tedwight@aol.com

Historic Pike County Farm

On Saturday I had the treat of visiting one of our neighbor's farm up in Pike County. This historic, Civil War era property belongs to a large St. Louis family. It has a lovely main house, guest cottage and a glorious old barn. The views of the Pike County Nobs are exceptional. It was such a pleasant outing and a nice break from the hectic Spring real estate market.

Peach Tree and Barn

Spring has finally arrived!   I love this ornamental peach tree at our farm and the way that it plays off of the color of the barn.  Recenly I discovered that this kind of peach tree is not really the kind that you buy if you want to eat the peaches, though I have eaten them and they are good.

Purple Dead Nettle

I went out to my farm in Pike County to show some property. It was a gorgeous day to drive in the country. This time the Purple Dead Nettle makes a brief appearance and dies down pretty quickly when the warm weather comes in. Check out this Overview of this plant....it is edible!

And here are some pics with the Hipsotmatic Ap

Stunning Country Home on 21 Acres- 2378 Highway JJ, Elsberry 63343

Nestled on 21 acres this simply amazing custom built estate will become your home away from home...Your own personal retreat. Lovingly constructed by Clydesdale Frames every aspect and detail was meticulously overseen throughout construction. The dramatic open floor plan boasts all-doweled post and beam timbered framework. With soaring vaulted wood ceilings the hand selected stonework throughout contrasts beautifully with the wide plank pine flooring for dramatic visual effects. Using Structured Insulated Panels (SIPs) and James Hardy cement board siding, this home is built to last. The open floor plan design with windows throughout highlight the scenic country views from anywhere in the home. The high end LG and Whirlpool stainless steel appliances make cooking and entertaining a joy to behold. Imagine relaxing on your own acreage, windows open, music playing throughout the house with no cares or worries. $1,200,000

Listed by Greggory Sharpe and Suzanne Hunn, Remax Gold II  636-444-9500

 

Watch the Video!  HERE

Easter Day on the Farm

From a snowy Palm Sunday to a glorious Easter!  I am excited for Spring and Summer!  We had fun with hats!

Snowy Picture of the Farmhouse

My cousin sent this picture of our farmhouse after the recent snow.  So pretty!  I can't wait for the thaw and to get out there for a good Spring cleaning!

Pike County Home for Sale on 3.8 acres

19513 Pike 266, Eolia, MO 63344

This newer home could be your perfect country retreat or primary residence. Located in picturesque Pike County. Rolling hills, lovely farms & historic homes. Close to the charming Mississippi river towns - Clarksville and Louisiana with restaurants, antique shops & more. You will be astounded by the views from this house. It is located up on a hill where you can see for miles. The home is open & bright with tons of windows. Soaring vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors & a large gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Open staircase & loft lead to the 2^nd fl. Upstairs there is a large master bedroom, full bath & an extra bedroom. Two bedrooms & a full bath are on the 1st level. The LL features a large recreation room with a walk-out & another full bath. Extra-large deck ideally for enjoying your views. 1^st floor laundry. Bonus rooms. The lot is 3.8 acres which includes a paddock for a horse & full fencing for dogs. 30X30 metal building with water & electric.

This home is located about 1.25 hours from St. Louis most of it is on a separated 4-lane Highway 61.

$259,000

http://theseviews.canbyours.com/

Listed by Ted Wight of Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty, 314-607-5555  tedwight@aol.com

Elsberry Quarry for Sale- rock climbing and crystal clear water

Seeing is believing! A spectacular home site above the water filled quarry with a 360 degree view. Look to the East to see the Mississippi River bluffs and to the West across the rolling hills of Lincoln County. Truly awesome. All this perched 200 feet above the lake surface on the quarry rim. This property is primed for building ones perfect family retreat, with a drive time of 50 minutes from Central/West St. Louis County.  From kayaking to scuba diving, fishing to cliff diving this is a water sports enthusiasts dream.  Not to exclude the hiker, biker & ATV user, all will find this rewarding!  New over sized (32'x50') custom barn w kitchen, full bath and screen. $389,000 

Listed by Laurel Oserholt, Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty 314-725-0009

 

2013 Goals

• More videos! At least to make my blog more interesting. I am excited to buy a Swivl that will work with my iPhone to follow me and provide a microphone.
• $22 million in real estate sales
• $2 million in Pike County property sales
• Add a transaction agent to handle my paperwork after the property is under contract.
• Finalize my branding initiative
• Add more "meat" to this blog by researching  some aspects of the history of what I post. My journalistic approach is a little fluffy.
• Incorporate my real estate business.

2012 Achievements

Below are the goals that I set for myself back in January for 2013.  Let's see how I did!

• Increase my sales to over $10 million (Sales of $18,370,003. About twice as much as in 2011! 60% from my listings and 40% from Buyers. This is about 4% of the total transactions in the St. Louis and surrounding counties area. I hope that I will be in the top 20 this year in the St. Louis Business Journal.)

• Further create awareness of the Pike County area (Createdwww.pikecountyliving .com  I did sell two properties (lots of listings) in Pike County and one in neighboring Lincoln County. Wait until 2013!  I have some fabulous Pike County listings coming! )

• Host another Pike County ramble for the Landmark Association...this time up to Louisiana, MO (Done!  Great trip!)

• Improve my property videos to be even better (Well my video production did suffer from me being busy with sales and switching to an iMac. The iMac should make it easier. I also plan to buy a Swivl that will be a great video tool for my iPhone....it has a remote microphone and will move my iPhone to follow me as I narrate.)

• Get more publicity for my listings in local and national media (My Compton Heights mansion for sale was in the New York Times on-line site for "What you can buy for $800,000". The Ladue News selected by Bernoudy listing on 18 acres in Town and Country for their Decorator's Show House. HGTV did picture one of my Pike County listings in their new magazine. HGTV also contacted me about my water treatment and church buildings in Louisiana, MO for their show, "You Live in What?" I could not scrounge up before pictures, so they could not shoot the episode.)

• Create logos for www.stlouisstyleblog.com and www.pikecountyliving.com (I did have two separate designers create logos for my brand. I need to talk further with one of the designers to fine-tune the logo.)

• Hire an assistant/Buyer's agent (Licensed Realtor, Kelli Graf, started helping me in April 2012. She has been great and some of my clients like her better than me! I guess that is a good thing.)

Come back and see what goals I am setting for 2013!

Falicon- Clarksville, MO

Check out this old picture of Falicon that I just found in the book- Missouri's Contribution to American Architecture 1927.  the home of Edward C. Dameron. Built in 1897 by Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge and John Lawrence Mauran. Mr. Dameron is rumored to be the one who invented the train car coupler.

Southwest Missouri Horse Farm for Sale

Located on 78 acres in the rolling hills of Dallas County, Missouri you will find the ideal, state-of-the-art breeding/training/ boarding horse farm. The centerpiece of the property is an elegant, custom log home that is only 10 years old. 4,000 sq. feet of living space. 3 bedrooms with a master suite on the 1^st floor. The master bath has granite counter, Jacuzzi tub & separate shower. Elegant great room with soaring, vaulted ceilings and a large fireplace. Australian Cypress  floors. Gourmet kitchen with a Viking stove, granite counter & custom cabinets. Wine cellar. Large covered porch for you to admire your views & watch the horses. In-ground pool. 2 car oversized garage.  19 stall horse barn with a 90-130 indoor riding ring and 3 monitoring cameras. 100-200 outdoor ring. Barbless fencing.  Hayfields that produce 2000-3500 sq. bales. 3 bedroom, 1,800 sq ft. caretaker’s house and a guest cottage. Several other barns, turnouts, loafing sheds and other outbuildings are included.  2 lakes. Spring-fed stream with year-around water. Low taxes. Back-up generator. 45 minutes to Springfield, MO. $999,000

 

http://thishorsefarm.canbyours.com 

Listed by Ted Wight, Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty, 3143-607-5555 or tedwight@aol.com

A Day in Pike County

Yesterday I traveled up to Pike County with my mother and brother from New York State to do some real estate work, winterize the farm house and see the beautiful country side. What a beautiful day.....what a beautiful County!

The picture below are from scenes at our farm. The lighting when I took the shots was so intense.

A view from a home in Louisiana, MO

And our historic farm house.

SOLD/CLOSED: 102 Water Street, Louisiana, MO OLD WATER TREATMENT PLANT

Welcome to Louisiana, MO....sculpture, Josh Cote.....fresh from Oregon.  He purchased some of the old tank buildings for Louisiana, MO old water treatment plant....right on the Mississippi River. This was definitely one of my most interesting listings....and now it has sold!  The other building is still for sale...see more HERE.

Here is the building

New Melle Area Country Retreat FOR SALE

Located only 45 minutes from Clayton, this is the ideal country retreat or primary residence. Set in the rolling hills of the New Melle area, you could not find a prettier area to relax & entertain. 28 acres including a 2 acre lake, woods & meadows. The 4 year old, custom home is charming, bright & open. 2,700 sq ft. 1^st floor master suite with a wood-burning fireplace & a luxury bathroom. 3 additional bedrooms on the 2^nd floor with 2 more full baths.  The great room features a beamed, vaulted ceiling, wood-burning stone fireplace & plenty of window to admire your views. Oak hardwood flooring. The country kitchen features custom cabinets, granite counters, walk-in pantry, wine cooler & high-end appliances. Hardie-board siding makes the exterior easy to maintain. Main floor laundry. 1^st floor powder room. Solid wood doors. Speakers throughout the home. Zoned heating & cooling. Great deer & turkey hunting. Close to Boone Valley Golf Course. 42’ covered porch that looks over the lake.

 

$1,250,000

 

http://1566sneak.canbyours.com

 

Listed by Ted Wight, Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty, 314-607-5555  tedwight@aol.com

Three Barn Farm, Pike County Missouri- A New Event Venue from Catering St. Louis

How exciting for Pike County!....check out the great job Catering St. Louis has done in transforming an old dairy barn into a catering venue.

Here is a link to find out more about booking this property:

http://www.cateringstlouis.com/privateEvents/loc_threeBarnFarm.php

Click HERE for a picture of the barn before it was transformed into a venue.

A Window View

I love this view through the window of our octagonal barn from the Dining Room of our farmhouse.  See pictures from a recent weekend when I entertained some friends for an overnight...HERE.

Sultan of Squash

Check out this ARITICLE about Jack Diffey in Louisiana, MO. featured in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

 

Fall @ Rockford Farms

The Fall colors are surprisingly lovely this year considering the drought. The farm house is so photogenic!

Osage Oranges

Osage Oranges are a fixture of farm living....at least in Pike County, MO.  It is interesting to read about them....click HERE.  I love the idea that they can repel spiders if placed under a bed.  They will slowly shrink and become the size of a golf ball. The chartreuse color is perfect. 

Beware...they have nasty thorns! I was clearing out a corral at our farm and decided to clip back an Osage Orange that was near a fence....it whipped back at me and I received several horrible scratches. Silly me to be doing farm work in shorts.

Three Barn Farm, Pike County Missouri- A New Event Venue from Catering St. Louis

Find out more HERE

New Art Commission at Rockford Farms

• Just finished and to be displayed in our farm house at Rockford Farms, Pike County Missouri. Artist and friend, Charlie Houska, was commissioned to create this masterpiece.

Morning Glories

I have been so busy with selling houses, sending kids off to college, vacationing and moving into my new house that I have neglected the farm. It has been about 2 months since I have been out here. Yesterday we had a family work detail and a dinner with some friends out at the farm. 18 people with beef brisket, pork tenderloin and grilled venison. So good!

Morning glories are one of my favorite things about this time of the year.

Custom Home on 115 Acres for Sale

I know that this property is not in Pike County....though country living enthusiast will enjoy seeing this fine Ste Genevieve property!

Words can not describe this fabulous country property only a little over an hour from St. Louis.  A 10 year old custom home on 115 acres with a horse barn, woods and pastures. Check out the property link below:

http://countryretreat.canbyours.com/

$875,000

Listed by Ted Wight, Dielmann Sotheby's International Realty, 314-607-5555  tedwight@aol.com

669 Wilson Road, Silex....almost in Pike County....SOLD/ CLOSED

Recently my listing in Silex, MO closed.....just west of Troy MO....almost in Pike County.  A newer log cabin home on 16 acres. Purchased by Chesterfield family for a weekend retreat. So peaceful and lovely....you need a hobby farm!

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Luv Luv Festival at Overlook Farms is Coming Aug 10-12

Overlook Farm Hosts Third Annual Luv Luv Farm Festival Clarksville destination’s signature event promises to impress with exclusive tastings and demos from top chefs, a BBQ competition, live music and local craftspeople Clarksville, Mo. – July 5, 2011 – Overlook Farm, a 325-acre working farm bordering the grand Mississippi River in Clarksville, Mo. and including a stellar farm-to-table restaurant and two historic inns, is preparing for its Third Annual Luv Luv Farm Festival, to be held the weekend of August 10-12. The 2012 festival promises to dazzle guests with culinary delights and demonstrations from this real working farm. During the full weekend of activities, chefs from around the region will participate in multi-course dinners, cooking demonstrations and a BBQ competition, preparing extravagant and inventive fare (including vegetarian/vegan options). Foodies and festivalgoers will have the opportunity to visit and dine with chefs while sipping fresh-from-the-garden cocktails, touring the beautiful farm grounds, enjoying live entertainment and perusing the works of local artists and craftspeople. "This is not your typical BBQ festival," says Overlook Farm proprietor, Nathalie Pettus. "We have grown the festival this year to include all aspects of the farm and offer something for everyone. This is a culinary experience like no other in the region." A charitable component has also been added to this year's event, with a silent auction and fundraiser being held to benefit Chefs4Students (www.Chefs4Students.org). Chefs4Students is a non-profit organization that raises scholarship funds for culinary students in need of financial support. "Chefs4Students is an organization near and dear to my heart," says Overlook Farm's new chef, Michael Polcyn. "There are a lot of amazing, budding chefs that could be superstars with the right education, and Chefs4Students helps them get there – it's a win-win for the entire culinary community." In addition to Polcyn, this year’s lineup of talented chefs also includes: • Chris Desens, Hickey college of Culinary Arts, St. Louis • Wes Johnson, Independent Chef, St. Louis • John Stuhlman, Moonrise Hotel, St. Louis • Julie Ridlon, Julie's Catering, St. Louis • Scott Smith, Overlook Farm, Clarksville, Mo. • Dave Nelson Chefs4Students, Steamboat Springs, Co. • Ben Welch, Culinary Services, St. Louis The festival kicks off on Friday evening, August 10 and runs through Sunday, August 12 with a full schedule of events, outlined below:

Friday, August 10 • Multi-course dinner prepared by guest chefs: o $65 per person, excluding alcohol, tax, and gratuity o Reservations recommended • Live music featuring Reno Spring Ramblers and more from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Saturday, August 11 • BBQ Festival and Cook-off beginning at 11 a.m. on the event lawn o Festival sampling and cocktails available o BBQ competition judging at 4 p.m. and winner announcement at 5 p.m. • Silent auction benefiting Chefs4Students from 4 to 6 p.m. • Farm demo tent from noon to 3 p.m. including chef cooking demonstrations, farm animals and local artisans • Live music by Adam Johnson and the Black Tie Affair in the courtyard from 6-11 p.m. • Multi-course dinner prepared by guest chefs: o $65 per person, excluding alcohol, tax, and gratuity

Sunday, August 12 • Bluegrass festival featuring area musicians from noon to 4 p.m. • Chef’s band featuring Chef Mike Polcyn and Friends

The Eagles Nest, Louisiana Missouri

The Eagles Nest at 3rd and Georgia Streets in Louisiana Missouri has added a bakery. They are serving up fresh breads, cookies, croissants, pies, cakes and ice cream!

Summer Garden @ The Farm

Last weekend I snapped some pics of my garden at our farmhouse....before the 100+ degree heat set in this week. So pretty and relatively easy to maintain...as long as you are okay with a weed or two. The old farmhouse is looking great.... a little tuckpointing, front porch repair, interior woodwork painted and new shades!

Pic

Here is a picture of me getting ready for last weekends luncheon and tour. For some reason I sweat up a storm out at the farm...the doo rag is not for style, though real purpose!