Archive for September, 2009

Sept 09, 2009

Around 1752 Ebenezer Stiles  built the original section of the dwelling  located at 77 Glenbrook Road.  His son Ebenezer Jr. operated an iron works nearby.  During the Revolutionary War Cavalrymen from George Washington’s Army stayed at the house.  When retired businessman Jonathon Roberts purchased the site in 1867, he attached to the original building a house moved from another location and added a kitchen wing.  His wife Mary named the enlarged mansion “Glenbrook”.

 In 1881  the civic-minded Roberts founded the Morris Plains Library Association. It was the generousty of  his niece Altha Hatch Cutler who bequeathed the house and grounds to the Morris Plains Library Association in 1953.  The town has certainly benefited from this gift.

On the recreation front.  Dont forget sign ups for the 2009/2010 Morris Plains Basketball Season will begin on September 11th for Kindergarten through 8th Grade Recreation, 4th through 8th grade boys’ travel, and 5th through 8th grade girls’ travel programs.  Sign up at www.morrisplainssports.com website. The season will start in December and continue through February.  The cost for the Early Bird Rate for the recreation season is $45 per player (Max family rate of $100 for 3 players or more) and will be available through October 4th.  After October 4th the rate will be $60 per player.  The travel league rate is $135 per player. Don’t miss out on the fun and excitement of a great season.

In Real Estate news.  Currently there are 37 homes for sale in Morris Plains in the last week we saw one house sell.  This house was on the market for 46 days before a contract was accepted.   It was a 4 bedroom 2 and 1/2 bath salt box style home and sold for 610,000,  Another home has gone under contract  this was a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo in Foxwoods.  This home was listed for 146 days before it went under contract and was listed at 276,000

Remember to patronize our local merchants

Good morning everyone.  We got John off to Maryland last week.  It was a little emotional sending the youngest out into the world to say the least.  He was very excited and having the time of his life. 

School has started and with the nice weather all the kids are walking home so lets be careful driving around town while Boro and Mountain Way schools are letting out. 

On the real estate news front.  Seven homes sold in Morris Plains in August.  They averaged 45 days on the market before a contract was accepted.  The longest was on the market for 80 days and the shortest was on for 12.   The average list price was 448,000 and the average sale price was 429,000,for a list to sale ratio of 95.5 percent.  That’s not bad and just goes to show that houses that are well priced to the market will sell.  The least expensive home was a 1 bedroom condo in Fox Woods that sold for 245,000 and was only on the market for 12 days.  The most expensive was a 5 bedroom 2 and 1/2 bath split on Juniper that sold for 590,000 and was on the market for 50.  It just goes to show that more and more first time home buyers are coming in to the market.  I think we can expect  more young families moving into town

Ten houses came on the market in August.  The average listing price is 425,000.  There are 37 homes that are for sale in town.  I have a great Expanded Ranch at 9 Cleveland.  It has 5 bedrooms and 3 full baths.  it has a great back yard and finished basement.  You could not ask for a better location.  It is listed at 629,000 and you can see it on my website.  I have the address below if interested.  The mls number is 2708997

If you would like more information on the market in Morris Plains go to my web site at www.morris-plains-home-nj.com for all the latest real estate news or call me at 862 222 4737.

Thanks and Have a Great Day

Bob

Dear Neighbors

Did you know we have a celebrity in our town?  The home known as Silver Birch or what we all know as 6 Court Road was designed by the world famous architect and furniture maker Gustave Stickly.  The house was designed around 1920 for William C Parker.  (Now you know where the name for Parker Drive came from.)  Parker was a well known photographer who had a studio in Morristown at the time. 

               Stickley a furniture maker born in Wisconsin started a magazine that expounded the English Arts and Crafts movement of the late 1800’s.  Stickley believed that a house should be constructed in harmony with its landscape using only local materials in its construction.  Craftsman houses as they became known had open floor plans to encourage family interaction, built in book cases and benches and large windows to let in natural light.  These homes where known for their simple and elegant lines sturdy structure and natural materials.  The Craftsman was a reaction to the opulence of the Victorian style of architecture of the late 1800’s. 

                Frank Lloyd Wright was later to be influenced by this style of architecture.  The emphasis on the originality of the artist/craftsman led to new design concepts that later led to the Art Deco movement of the 1930’s.  Silver Birch, named for the many “Silver Birch” trees in the area  is one of eight of the most significant architectural and historical structures in Morris County that we have in town.          

                I hoped you enjoyed the little history lesson, I am starting up this new website that will be dedicated entirely to the real estate market in Morris Plains.  Besides letting you know what homes are for sale and how the real estate market is doing in town.  You will be able to learn the current value of your home; it will estimate what improvements to your home will bring the best value, and what items will detract from that value.  My site will also include a page for town news and announcements.  I have always thought we have a very nice town here and I think we should show it off a little bit. 

               It is also my intention each month to highlight an individual structure that has a significant place in the history of the town.  So please take a moment and take a look at my site, tell your friends and relatives it is http://www.morris-plains-homes-nj.com