Most interesting homes on the Sterling market: August 2009

Circa 1790 Sterling Village antique: 8 Waushacum Avenue.



Commercial opportunities in an antique mini-Mansion: 219 Worcester Road.





Wonderful rehab of a Campground Cottage.

August 2009 Most/Least Expensive homes on the Sterling market

17 Sandy Ridge Rd
Sterling, MA
$1,995,000
5 Bed, 4.5 Bath
8,473 Sq Ft on 1.59 Acres









21 Myrtle Street
Sterling Campground neighborhood
$85,000
3 Bed
1 Bath 1,016 Sq Ft on 0.07 Acres

Sterling as seem from above in the year 1639

The Chocksett region and the lakes of Washacum, 1639. (click on photo for larger image)

Between the lakes lay the royal residence of Sholan, the Sachem of the Nashawogg/Nashaway/
Washacum tribe.

Mary Had a Little Lamb - Newspaper article

Submitted by a reader, this newspaper article was found in an old family scrapbook. I'd place the article as coming some time in the mid 1870's when the Old South Meeting House was in despearte need of money and Mary Sawyer Tyler -by then in her 70s - helped raise money for the historic building. (click on the article image for a large, readable version.

A sample from the article:

From the lamb's wool a quantity of yarn had been spun, and Mrs. Tyler brought some of it to Aunt Tabitha's Bee, and sold it at twenty-five cents fo each piece; so that up to last week Mary's little lamb had earned sixty dollars toward paying for the Old South Church in Boston.
This is the true story of Mary's little lamb.

UPDATE: It appears that the article noted above was also printed in the March 24, 1878 edition of the New York Times in which it states that it originally ran in The Boston Advertiser. So, it is possible that the image above was cut from the Boston Advertiser or, perhaps, another newspaper in the region that also took it from the Advertiser. It was not, however, clipped from the NY Times as the Times version began with a different first paragraph.

FURTHER UPDATE: Additional investigation reveals that the article was later included in a privately printed book entitled: Wayside Gleanings for Leisure Moments.

Lafayette Visits Sterling... 1824

Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette) visits Sterling, Massachusetts


Reception at Sterling

The party proceeded thence through Sterling, where Lafayette was re-
ceived with every demonstration of joy, his approach to the village being
hailed with thirteen discharges of artillery, and the ringing of bells. He
here received the additional escort of two companies of light infantry under
command of Capt Caleb Dana of Princeton, (afterwards of Worcester,) and
Capt. Merriam of Sterling. The General was received at the entrance of the
village by the selectmen of the town under a spacious arch fancifully de-
corated with flowers and evergreens, appended to the centre of which were
the words inscribed in gold letters, " Welcome Lafayette, America's Adopted
Son, Brother and Friend of Washington."

"Our land in trouble found a friend in thee,
We'll not forget thee in prosperity."

He was then addressed by the chairman of the board of selectmen, Isaac
Goodwin, Esq., (afterwards of Worcester,) as follows :

Address of Welcome by Isaac Goodwin.

" Gen. Lafayette: — The selectmen, in behalf of the citizens of Sterling,
welcome your arrival at their village. The name of this town associates
with it the recollections of another transatlantic hero, who, like yourself,
sir, felt a sympathy from father's wrongs, and whose sword was unsheathed
for their redress. Lord Sterling, the gallant and the generous, now sleeps
in dust, but the memory of America's benefactors will survive the decay of
time. The multitudes that hail your march through this part of our coun-
try are not the assemblages of idle crowds, seeking to gratify a morbid curi-
osity, but, sir, the men around you are the independent possessors of their
fields, and the defenders of their homes. From hoary age to lisping child-
hood, our whole population are eager in contributing deserved honors to the
companion of Washington, the benefactor of our country, and the friend of
mankind."

Lafayette responded, in substance, as follows :

"I feel grateful for my kind reception here. I rejoice in your prosperity,
and am happy to be once more among you. The name of your place recalls
the recollection of Lord Sterling. He was my intimate friend as well as
companion in arms. I venerate his memory, and when at New York, I had
the pleasure of calling upon his family."

The General then reviewed the troops, including the two companies of light
infantry, a company of militia in full uniform under command of Capt. Hol-
comb, and a company of artillery under command of Capt. Maynard.

Records of the Court of general sessions of the peace for the county of Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1731 to 1737

Sterling : — This town previous to its incorporation was "the
Second Parish of Lancaster," and was commonly called by its
Indian name, Chocksett. It was incorporated in 1781, and one
authority says it was named from Stirling, the capitol of Stir-
lingshire, Scotland; but there is reason to doubt this. Peter
Whitney in his History of Worcester County states that it was
named in honor of Lord Stirling, and there are strong reasons
for believing this to be correct. William Alexander, known in
history only as Lord Stirling, was born in New York in 1726.
He claimed the Earldom in Scotland and spent a large fortune
in attempting to gain title to the estates of Stirling, but was
unsuccessful. In the French and Indian war he was a member
of Gen. Shirley's military family. At the breaking out of the
revolutionary war he was appointed colonel of a regiment, and
subsequently was created a Major General. He fought with
Washington at the battle of Long Island, Brandywine and Ger-
mantown. As a patriot he fills an honorable place in American
history. Considering the date of the naming of the town, 1781,
it is far more reasonable that the people desired to compliment
the Patriot, Lord Stirling, than that they had in mind this Scotch
town of Stirling. The name was originally Easterling and was
anciently given to the money brought to England by honest
Holland merchants, "Easterling money," it was called. The
word was finally shortened to Sterling, and in time became the
name of the English money. In this way the word came to
mean, "good," "money" &c.

EDIT: My post regarding Lafayette make it clear that as of 1824, the people of Sterling, Massachusetts believed their town had been named after General Sterling.

A Gazetteer of Massachusetts: containing descriptions of all the counties, towns and districts... 1847

A Gazetteer of Massachusetts: containing descriptions of all the counties, towns and districts in the commonwealth; also, of its principal mountains, rivers, capes, bays, harbors, islands, and fashionable resorts. To which are added, statistical accounts of its agriculture, commerce and manufactures; with a great variety of other useful information.

BOSTON:
JOHN HAYWARD

1847. 

STERLING.

Worcester Co. This was for many
years the second parish of Lancaster,
and was first settled as early as 1720.
Its Indian name was Chockset. At its
incorporation, in 1781, it was named
in honor of Lord Sterling, of New Jer-
sey, an American general.

Sterling is a large town, bounded on
the north by Leominster, east by Lan-
caster, south by West Boylston, and
west by Princeton.

The surface of the town is hilly
and uneven, but there is very little
broken or waste land in it. The soil
is fertile, producing in rich abundance,
to repay the husbandman for its culti-
vation. The land is naturally moist,
and by the help of the rivulets, the
water may be turned over the sides
of most of the hills. There is but one
river in the town, called Still river,
from the placid motion of the waters.
In tlie central part of the town, there
is an uncommonly beautiful little vil-
lage, consisting of two churches, and
about twenty dwelling-houses.

The manufactures of the town con-
sist of leather, boots, shoes, palm-leaf
hats, straw bonnets, scythe snaths,
and especially of chairs and cabinet-
ware, of which a large amount is an-
nually made.

There are in this town many large
and well cultivated farms, and the
people generally are good farmers,
and find the business both healthful
and lucrative.

A church was gathered here in.
1744, and the Rev. John Mellen was
settled as pastor the same year. He
was succeeded by the Rev. Reuben
Holcomb, in 1779.

Sterling lies twelve miles north
from Worcester, ten south south-west
from the Shirley depot, on the Fitch-
burg railroad, and forty west by north
from Boston.

Who Destroyed the First Parish Meeting House of Sterling?

From the Brooklyn Eagle, March 23, 1842:





From the Brooklyn Eagle, March 25, 1842:




Was this mystery ever solved?

June 2008 - Most Expensive

This "to be built" is located in the Hampton Rhodes area of Sterling on Stephanie Anne Lane (Lot 10). As with most of the homes in that area, I'm sure it will be stunning - may also come with a view.

4 Bed
4/1 Baths
5,200 sq. feet
$1,600,000

Evergreen Realty has this listing.

June 2008 - Least Expensive

The least expensive home in Sterling is still 29 Trinity Avenue in the campground area which offers 2 bed, one bath at $45,000 (down from $65,000). Estimated monthly payment for the mortgage alone with 20% down is something like $250!

Perfect for the starving-artist type who is handy.

Listing agent: Re/Max Associates

Reduced Again - 70 Heywood

70 Heywood Road has been reduced again. I blogged on it a while back and it has now been on the market for 1019 days.

Price Reduced: 04/13/06 -- $429,900 to $414,900
Price Reduced: 06/13/06 -- $414,900 to $399,900
Price Reduced: 11/07/06 -- $399,900 to $389,900
Price Reduced: 02/17/07 -- $389,900 to $379,900
Price Reduced: 03/24/07 -- $379,900 to $359,900
Price Reduced: 05/06/08 -- $359,900 to $349,900

Sterling Townhomes

Linda' s Way
The price might be appealing, but is the style?

List Price: $239,900
Bedrooms: 2
Full Baths: 1
Partial Baths: 2
Square Feet: 1,800




Patriots Way
These townhouses have a better balance and aesthetic.

List Price: $283,000
Bedrooms: 2
Full Baths: 2
Half Bath: 1
Square Feet: 1,650

Runaway Brook: 3.7 Acres $275,000

Runaway Brook is now listing some land on the MLS. This particular parcel - MLS ID# 70696574 - is listed at $275,000 for 3.7 acres. Another parcel is $355,000 at 2.3 acres.

I don't think anyone has a sense as to what the true market price for buildable lots is right now in Sterling. Until some of these lots at Runaway Brook - and others in Sterling - start selling, the price points are unknowable.

I've driven through Runaway Brook and it is beautiful. But for middle class folks who might want to step into 2300 sq. ft colonial in a nice development, one wonders what the sticker price is going to be given the land acquisition costs alone.

On Market: 915 days

Young 3 bedroom colonial. Country acre. Exterior and interior paint, carpet and new kitchen within the last 5 years. Separate fireplaces in family room and back to front living room. Glass doors divide livingroom and library.







Price Reduced: 04/13/06 -- $429,900 to $414,900
Price Reduced: 06/13/06 -- $414,900 to $399,900
Price Reduced: 11/07/06 -- $399,900 to $389,900
Price Reduced: 02/17/07 -- $389,900 to $379,900
Price Reduced: 03/24/07 -- $379,900 to $359,900

March 2008, Least Expensive

Currently the least expensive home for sale in Sterling, Massachusetts.

$65,000
2 Bed, 1 Bath
888 Sq. Ft.
3,309 Sq. Ft Lot

Listing describes: "Interior of home is neat clean and has some updates. Exterior and foundation need work. House has some new windows, newer 100 amp circuit breaker, newer hot water heater, newer propane heating unit, newer roof on main house. Cute corner lot"

On the Market: 593 Days

Description from listing:
"8 room multi level , 2 family rooms in lower level. 3 season room off kitchen. Heated 2 garage. New spetic. Super clean!!!! Shed on the property and pool will need a new liner. Lake wachacum, the towns lake for fishing and boating. Sellers consession of $5,000 towards capeting for lr&dr. More than $25,000 below assessed value!!!!!!!"


Price Reduced: 08/10/06 -- $399,900 to $389,900
Price Reduced: 09/13/06 -- $389,900 to $379,900
Price Reduced: 12/11/06 -- $379,900 to $375,900
Price Reduced: 05/04/07 -- $355,000 to $345,000
Price Reduced: 06/30/07 -- $345,000 to $335,000
Price Reduced: 08/31/07 -- $335,000 to $325,000

Runaway Brook, Sterling, Massachusetts

Looks like the Lancaster / Sterling development of Runaway Brook (off of Chace Hill Road and Fitch Farm Lane) is nearing the building stage. I took a ride through it last weekend and some of the lots promise to be quite remarkable. Unfortunately - as it is with most Gary Griffin developments - details are hard to come by, but my guess is that completed homes will average in the mid-$500,000 range (lower in Lancaster, higher in Sterling).

This is the place-holder website for the development http://www.runawaybrook.com/

Here is a pic of the sign you will see as you enter the development.

November 2007 - Most Expensive

Most expensive home listed is this beauty at the end of Stephannie Anne Lane (also posted below as most expensive in August 2007).

November 2007 Least Expensive

Currently the least expensive home for sale in Sterling, Massachusetts.

$75,000
2 Bed, 1 Bath
829 Sq. Ft.
0.19 Acres

Described as such by the agent: "PROPERTY SOLD AS-IS, NEEDS EXTENSIVE WORK. FEATURES INCLUDE WOOD STOVE, UPDATES IN BATH, ENCLOSED 3 SEASON PORCH WITH SLIDERS TO DECK."

What's wrong with this picture?

Beautiful home offered by Sotheby's at $899,000. 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath, 3,555 square feet.

But I think I see something wrong here. Right in the middle of the front of the home, on the second level is a large window, and placed in it ... can it be?





Yes, it is an air conditioning unit.

Yikes! Almost $900,000 and no central air???

August 2007 - Least Expensive

RE/MAX Associates features this 2 Bed/1 Bath year round cottage, 42 Lakeview Ave. at Sterling Campgrounds for $130,000.

August 2007 - Most Expensive

Evergreen Realty features this hillside home at $1,725,000.

11 rooms, 4 Bdrms, 4.5 Baths at the end of Stephanie Anne Lane.

The Market - 4 Stephanie Anne Lane

This a 4/2.5 that sold in April, 2007 for $560,000.

Although marketed as 2,600 square feet, it was actually closer to 2,300, putting the price per square foot at about $243 dollars.

The construction was of high quality and in one of Sterling's nicest neighborhoods, but, still, the $243 number was a bit steep.

Lost Roads of Old Sterling

South of town, below the east - west Campground Road is a forested area now owned by the MDC. There used to be two roads that ran through the area more than a century ago. Below is a satellite image of the area with an 1870s era map superimposed atop of it.

Woodland Near Pond Cleared for Homes

A new private street has been built off of Chace Hill Road in Sterling. Named "Great Pond Way", the road and the homes to be built on it has forced the clearing of a woodland that ran between Fitch Pond and a century old expanse of apple orchards.


Pre-development topography



Pre-development map



Satellite image pre-development



Pre-development satellite image - hint of some road construction?



Road complete, homesites cleared - note apple orchards to north and east.



First homes built



On Great Pond Way



Entrance to the private development



Google map - Great Pond Way hugs up against Fitch Pond.

Early Sterling - from Kendall Hill

Panoramic view of Sterling, Massachusetts from somewhere just below the top of Kendall Hill (topographic map link), most likely along the (now) James Road ridge.




Trees are now the dominant landscape feature in Sterling, but a century ago the farmland was dominated by rolling hills and human structures such as rock walls, homes, barns, and civic buildings.
Enlarged - left



Many of these homes still stand today and can be identified with miles-high satellite imagery in the Bird Street area, for instance.
Enlarged - right

Aerial Map of Sterling - Google

Aerial photograph and interactive map of Sterling, Massachusetts.