Longview on the River

Perched above a quiet bend in the river north of Milwaukee, this 1922 home of hand-laid field stone is a place to relax and reflect. Five minutes to Cedarburg. Thirty minutes to downtown Milwaukee. A small place with lots of character. (COVID-19 NOTICE: To avoid potential risks to my guests, my home will not be available for the remainder of 2020 and - for now - through 2021. This may change when the public health risks have been properly addressed.) My home was constructed in 1922 of hand-laid fieldstone. Over the years, the Mequon clay slowly caused the building to buckle and lean. I straightened, gutted and completely renovated it into a loft-like space over a 7-year period commencing in 2000. The name "Longview" derives from the serene views overlooking the river and surrounding wetland toward the eastern horizon. A long view is also embodied in the home's sustainable design features. This is my writing retreat. It's a place to step back from the immediate demands of day-to-day life and enjoy the view... both outward and inward. This is a clean, simple home in a unique setting. She has qualities that only come with time. Like a compelling companion, she has a depth of character rather than fancy finishes. You'll have my home to yourself. The upper level is an open bedroom suite with a vaulted ceiling and a full bath suite. The middle entry level has the kitchen, living/dining space and access to the enclosed porch overlooking the river. The enclosed porch has a daybed and trundle bed. On quiet summer nights, you can fall asleep to the creaking frogs and wake to the light of the morning sun. I have a studio space in the lower level, overlooking the river. It's where I do my writing and some prototyping work. In case you need to accommodate more than four folks, we may be able to arrange for you to use the full-size bed down there. You'll have access the additional full bathroom and laundry down there. There's a compelling river view on each floor. If you wish to tour the river, you can put in the two-person kayak and go for a paddle. I will give you as much privacy as you wish. Some folks like to have me check in periodically, just to be sure everything's OK. Others use my home as an intimate getaway, and I respect that. When I share my home with you, I'm sharing a bit of me. So I'm always open to good conversation. Sometimes guests want to chat about the sustainable design features. It's what I've done professionally for over thirty years, so I'm glad to share insights about what works and what doesn't ... especially for folks who are contemplating doing these things to a place of their own. I often go for extended sailing cruises during the summer, which is why I make my home available to others. I've taken guests out for a day sail when the weather is propitious ... but you'd need to bring a compelling story to share. For people who contemplate longer stays and don't mind, I'll be doing some chores in the yard. This is an eclectic little community in the country. A mile and a half from the I-43 freeway exit, it's proximate to Milwaukee (30 minutes) and Chicago (2 hours). Both Cedarburg and Thiensville are a five minute ride, 2-3 miles away. I especially appreciate being able to safely bicycle a quiet country road to a paved bike path (the Ozaukee Interurban Trail) a little over a mile from here. You can ride the trail all the way south to the Milwaukee Art Museum in downtown Milwaukee, or north to Port Washington or Sheboygan. I seldom use my car ... but then there's winter in Wisconsin. Unless you're inordinately athletic and ambitious, you'll likely need a car. There is an Ozaukee County Shared Ride Taxi for those who are passionate about public transit. You can also use Uber. With climate change, the winters are colder and summer is hotter. Over the years, I've found that the tall vertical massing of my home allows it to cool nicely at night. I've not had to use mechanical cooling (air conditioning). In the past, a window air conditioner has done the job on the few hot, humid days. So guests have the choice of passive or mechanical cooling. I don't watch much television, so local air channels (two public television stations!) and a connection for internet-based programming suffices for me. If you are anticipating a longer stay, you can access cable TV channels via one of the internet services, or access them via your present subscription.