New Lease on Life (October 31, 2011)

Today we finally received, from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, a countersigned, 25-year lease on the Elbridge Francis Dodge House, at the southern entrance of Bradley Palmer State Park in Hamilton. More than a year since the state first offered us the house, and more than four years since we first learned about resident curator programs, we are officially members of the club. Next step: a “C of O” (certificate of occupancy). Before we can move in, we need heat, hot water, electricity, a functioning kitchen and bathroom, and sanitized, resurfaced walls and floors. We currently have none of those things, but we hope to tick them all off the list by June 2012, so we can continue our work as live-in caretakers.