The Oliver Rice House

This unique property is situated on 4 acres in the heart of Manchester Center. It abuts the Manchester Rec property and 70 acres of wild land. The home was originally built in 1768 and retains much of its original form and materials. From the fire pit in the grassy field you can enjoy a view of a wildlife pond with a fountain and Aeolus peak looming unobstructed behind it. The feel is very peaceful and removed from the bustle of town, yet you are only steps from Main Street shopping and dining. The space This 1768 house is a family home and has a very wabi sabi feel to it. It was lovingly restored in the 1970s using original and traditional materials. It is imperfect by design, to honor the beautiful patina of the many years that it has stood here in Vermont. The house is full of antique and beautiful handmade wooden furniture and is a great space for the romantic, the dreamer, the book lover, and any appreciator of history and lived-in beauty. We have two boys, 9 and 12. Their bedrooms are very kid friendly. We also have a preschool on site, (not in session during your stay) with part of the daylight basement outfitted as a classroom, and a fully fenced play yard with an awesome mud kitchen, water feature, swings, climbing trees and sandbox. We have a treehouse, a big garden, a barn with chickens, a wildlife/fishing pond, a stone patio and picnic table surrounded by wildflowers, and the property is a very short, pretty walk to the town rec park with its pool, playground, tennis, basketball, pickleball courts, and new skate park. We are also across the street from the wonderful Manchester Community Library and walking distance to Ye Olde Tavern, the Northshire Bookstore, Gringo Jack's, Up for Breakfast, and everything that Manchester Center has to offer . Guest access Guests have access to the entire building, yard and driveway area. Other things to note This house is our family home. We only rent it during select periods when we will be away. Our cat and chickens may remain on site. It will have our personal belongings in it. Staff will need to come and go out of the basement laundry area to do laundry for our other airbnb and to feed and care for the cat and the chickens. There will also be staff around at times to care for the lawn and garden. There is another airbnb on site in the lower field. It is a guest apartment in a converted barn. You will share parking and fire pit access with this airbnb, but there is plenty of space and you may not even see or hear each other during your stays. The glamping cabin, a separate airbnb, will not be rented during your stay. It may be used by a property caretaker during your stay, but it might be available sometimes. Inquire if you are interested in adding the cabin to your reservation. The bookstore may be open during your stay. Visitors may use the same parking area. Please note that this is an historic home. The doors and windows are period. The windows do not have locks, (although they are impossible to open from the outside when closed), and the doors have latches and bolts with the exception of one keyed entry in the lower level. The ceilings and doorframes are low, and the staircases are narrow and steep by modern standards. The home was designed to be heated by a central chimney and although there is a furnace and central hearing now, heat may be uneven in winter. The AC is provided by window units. There is no central AC.