It's a neighbor to the North Andover Water Treatment Plant.

Yes, I saw that, and, on the other side, a country club

(Btw, not sure, but I don't think that is a euphemism. I think they take the lake water and process it for the tap). Not sure if it's noisy or ugly or whatever. )

I'm more curious about its unusual foundation...

Also seems very overpriced but what doesn't nowadays, LOL

But I wonder if that has something to do with not going on the water with power boats.

It was originally a boat house, right? Which would mean the foundation was built solid, like that of a bridge I would say.

There appears to be only one dock with boats on the pond, and they look like rowboats.

The foundation looks solid, llike maddie said. I love the parts that preserve that old boathouse feel. But how did you ever get past the red dining room???

Jojoco, I once had a red dining room. It was a very pinky red but all the same. And a red Wm Morris floral in my PR!.

But yes, I would paint the DR.

It's intriguing but not what I had in mind for downsizing, that's for sure. And probably a bad investment as no family would want to have those neighbors...

PS Pal, yes, reservoirs that do allow boating do not allow gas-powered boats for that reason. I would never buy on a motorboat lake anyway - ruins the peacefulness.

Love the green bathroom, and ofc, the entry hall. And I am probably one of the few people in the world that would be pleased with the kitchen. Needs enough for me to put my own stamp on it, but is a great start for an unfitted K, my fave.

A non powered lake would be a plus in my books but this lake would be a big No as there is no swimming, paddle boarding or other activities where humans contact the water.

Quite a lovely home. I adore the kitchen & the storage!

But I don't think I'd want to live literally on the water.

What a beautiful charmer. I love it all.

I want this bathroom when I come visit, please. It desperately needs a vintage cafe curtain, a sort of lace-y macrame-y kind.

It smells like Prell shampoo and (gold) Dial bar soap, with just a hint of original Old Spice.

Robo,

Yes, I saw that about the lake.

So I showed the place to DH and he pronounced it "ridiculous." So I guess that's a maybe. Tee Hee.

He made a great point. For all of the prominence of the water, there is no waterfront outdoor space .... no deck, porch, balcony or patio. And the town won't want you to build out over their water supply ...

PS LOL Jinx,the Prell!

I think the entry hall is my fave part, and I usually don't like grand entries.

You could have similar, but be in Switzerland. Chillon.

But, i do love the entry of the reservoir house. That wallpaper, swoon.

Love the views but I am curiously unmoved by the rest of it.

I don't get the doors that open out onto the water. Reminds me of the old line: our house is situated near a pond...why don't you drop in some time.

The Matterport, which is not as forgiving as photographs, gives me the impression that the house smells like a damp house. There's just something about the surfaces.

Jinx, My Godmother had a bathroom just like that, and I can smell the gold dial soap now!!! They lived on the coast, and the water was recycled from the bay, so it was AWFUL, imo.

Not a great house if you have sleepwalkers in the family...

Oh that is very nice all around! The green bathroom!

Love the views but I am curiously unmoved by the rest of it.

It was built as a boathouse. Perhaps for the country club next door. Maybe under eminent domain they lost lake access and sold off the boathouse when the lake became the town drinking water source? The living quarters were an afterthought and it largely shows. I like the lot, the setting, and the grand proportions of the entry hall. The rest needs work!

I couldn't find a cooktop or an oven, other than a possible toaster oven. I guess that is what you mean by it needing work.

I was also questioning why no waterfront deck? It seems odd but perhaps the town would forbid any construction where the pilings and/or contractors touched the water.

Thank you for the nice diversion.

I also loved the entryway and particularly the stairway and the details with the spindles.

I loved the view from most of the rooms.

It actually seemed much larger than the 3600 sf it says.

Realistically, being that "on " the water would make me kind of nervous but I would love to come visit a few times during the year

Very nice indeed!

Before I read the details at the listing, I thought it looked like a boathouse.

No closeup photo to verify, but it looks to me like there's a wraparound walkway at the waterline, which could be used for docking...?

One of the interior pics shows an outside stair leading down. You can kind of make it out in the aerial photo.

And the listing details state waterfront direct access.

That's on-the-water living! You better not walk out those french doors. But the entry is magnificent, the views the same. Maybe a tad isolated, but then again, that could be a good thing.

Does that lake freeze in the winter? Could be the dock was removed for the season.

Kitchen is 3 or 4 labyrinthine rooms. One has a stove

I am probably the only buyer who would consider that kitchen a huge plus! Love vintage unfitted kitchens and they are so easy to reno!

It’s both beautiful and scary to me. There are many lovely features. It likely is on very deep water which would explain the lack of a dock or possibility of having anything except a floating dock. I dont get the french doors except maybe they are non-functioning. I love water view houses, but it is just too close for comfort for me and that big chimney makes me wonder.

When we go to Maine next we will probably check it out - it's only about an hour SW of our beachhouse. But among other things I think it would be like owning a white elephant. Kind of already have one!

Thanks for sharing Mtn. I would have a hard time staying out of the water I think.

It would be fun for us to see what you would do with it.

What an interesting place. There are some very nice things about it; sure it needs some work.

It looks out-of-the-way but it actually is close to a lot of amenities (if you do a Google map view of the area, you’ll see.) However, it’s very different from the S. End Boston Pl. with the courtyard.

If you like any of the following, you might find this a nice place to live and entertain.

Quiet, wildlife, birdwatching, weather watching, gardening, listening to waves, sky watching. What a fantastic open view of sky and water. If you are an artist and paint or do quilting he would probably love all that natural light. Or if you write.

It faces north and has an incredible view of the lake/reservoir. You’d be able to watch incredible lightning and snow storms coming in. And get yourself a spotter scope or some good binoculars and you can watch ducks and hawks as well as other birds. And it looks like you could take a shower without having to close any curtain.

The reason it doesn’t have a dock or a deck because it actually has one but it’s got a roof and walls. In the additions the porch steps are facing east, and I would go there to drink my coffee in the morning. Some of the rooms have windows that open widely and others have doors that you can open widely. You could even fashion or put up some screens or have some screens put in if you want to be on a deck but not really be on the deck.

I’m going to guess it does not have a cellar, but a sort of crawlspace. If that is not well ventilated you can get it to be. That could be addressed.

The photos that were taken appear to be taken in the late afternoon in October. The water has a cold dark teal color because of the time of year, angle of the sun and the time of day. I might have to be handcuffed not to launch a boat, however. And who’s going to tell if you find your body slipping into the water at 2 AM on some moon last night in August. I wonder if you could ice skate or icefish when the lake freezes.

In my opinion it really isn’t a very good reason why canoes, enclosed kayaks,rowboats and small unpowered boats couldn’t be used. (Or even a small boat with an electric motor.) A lot of reservoirs allow people limited recreational use and their Unnal filtration plants that will filter out lots of cooties and weird things. Sebago Lake in Maine is a huge water supply For the greater Portland area and beyond. They allow swimming, boating and fishing. Like Auburn and Auburn Maine allow similar recreation or at least did I haven’t checked lately. In Framingham Massachusetts lake Cochituate allows recreational use. There’s a big race at Sephora in New Hampshire that also allows boating and Limited recreational use. (Excuse the Random capitalize letters, I don’t know why Apple can’t figure out how to get the voice recognition to not keep putting a capital letter every time you begin in the middle of a sentence. Very annoying.)

It looks like the same owner/s have lived there for a long time and they probably didn’t do a whole lot of cooking. It would be interesting to ask around or find out about the ownership history.

It looks as though the heating system or at least the thermostats are of the older Honeywell mercury round wall-mounted type. Functional but they harken back to the 50s and 60s, but technology has moved on. The windows look OK, But you’d want to know about the insulation. Imagine the wind coming off that lake and the house facing north and with a lot of exposure to the west and east.

The roof looks like it could probably use something – – and a lot of mixed roofing types there. On the south facing entryway above the fan window some of the exterior woodwork looks like it might want to be looked at when you get the new roof put on.

It cracks me up that there is no shortage of sinks ;-)

You could have fun with a drone. It looks like you could bicycle into town very easily. Great place to fly a kite – – I mean a really nice kite.

The driveway is a disaster. That is easily fixed with some cash.

No attached garage if that bothers you. Maybe only on rainy or snowy or icy days :-)

I kind of like some of the kitchens and the galley kitchen with those draw pulls.

He will probably want to get the fireplaces and chimneys inspected to be sure everything is in perfect order. I know some good chimney people – – not personally, but by having them work on our chimney. They know what they’re doing and they are really good and hard-working. Industrious.

If you want a deck, you can make an outside patio (or deck) area with grills, outside fire pits or fireplaces with interesting plantings and seating. At that location, you’re almost in the water, so you can move to a sunny side yard and have a patio / deck experience. Closer to the water you can put up a hammock or two – – a nice Pawleys island hammock would be great.

Again remember that the water and area have a cold looked at them and I think that can influence any buyer. So remember that the photos were taken late in the day in October. I’ve been around bodies of water during that time of year and that’s exactly how they look. He says oh it’s reminding you to get your firewood ordered and stacked, your car winterized, and start ordering fruitcakes before the rush.

Speaking of fruit, it looks as though there may be some orchard there perhaps some fruit trees such as pear, peach and apple. There’s plenty of room for this kind of thing.

I think it’s a very interesting area and the interesting place. Boston and Maine I’m not that far off, nor is New Hampshire. I’m not that familiar with Andover but there’s some culture there and there’s probably a variety of interesting lectures, programs and workshops to be had by anyone who wants to partake. Peruse the yellow pages, newspaper and school catalogs.

PS I like the green tiled bathroom but not the shower curtains. Some of the stuff gives me a feeling of summer cottages for which I have a particular soft spot. Alternatively you can get a place on salt water. I’ll start the wild lupines now and I think I’ve got a rowboat/sailboat in which you might be interested. (Although I don’t read you as a small boat person, so far.)

excuse typos

PS city water and sewer, so no worries there.

Petalique, Thanks for your thoughtful post! Funny you recall my crush on South end maisonettes. I look around at my house and its belongings (and look around at my kids, none yet out of college), and I think it is just too soon for pied a terre type living, even keeping Maine. Doesn't mean I might not decide to do that on a whim anyway.

I like to look at all the possibilities so I am ready to strike when it is time. All else equal, I don't want to own three houses at the same time. Especially already having a very very high tax bill on the two homes we own and the new limits on deductions. (arrrgh).

As far as this house,on top of its shortcomings (and timing) it is more than what I want to spend or think I need to spend. And I'm more apt to over-invest in a liquid and highly desirable market, where odds are you get it back. But this home is well above the median for the area, and would have narrow appeal. I think that makes it too risky, esp since our horizon on this home may be short; no way of knowing what time will bring. I want to be near our kids if possible and DH wants warm weather. All of those decisions are probably 5+ years off.