Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska
New member
[size=large]A few years after Sharon and I were married in 1986, we decided to move out of the populace area of, Alaska. We looked for months for something we could afford (which wasn't much) when we found this small 20 x 24 cabin with bedroom loft on 5 acres nestled on a small lake with no neighbors 70 miles north of Anchorage. The place hadn't been lived in in many years, and had been taken over by rodents and squirrels. There was no well, i.e., water; there was no electricity, the nearest power pole was a half mile away. I did install propane lights and a propane stove to cook on so at least we had minimal lighting, even without the generator at night. A propane light would put out about 50 watts. Wood heat was the only way to keep warm and I cut wood year round getting ready for the -0 temps.There was no bathroom, but it did come with an outhouse. Fortunately the house was wired and was set up to run off a generator. We got all this 
for the unbelievable price of $12,000. We paid $3000 down and the payments were $100 a month, no interest. Such a deal, who wouldn't jump on this, huh? My father in law and I dug a well by hand, at 10 feet deep we hit water. I then drove a sand point down another 20 feet, filled the hole in with sand, and we had water... as long as the generator was running. Then I started to improve the house. Below is what the cabin looked like we when bought it. I was just starting the deck and a small addition on the back for a bath shower and wash washer dryer room. We lived on a small generator for 4 years until power was brought into the area and we were finally hooked up to full time juice. 
[/size]
[attachment 203297 1greenhouse.jpg]
[size=large]Below, the house in progress slowed up by a touch of snow. Cedar board and batten siding, roof extension, porch, side porch, 2 more bedrooms and bathroom added off the back... and still going.[/size]
[attachment 203302 2.jpg]
[size=large]The house nearly completed when we sold it 11 years later for $125,000.[/size]
[attachment 203299 3.jpg]
[size=large]I even built a 16 x 16 schoolroom for our 4 home schooled girls.[/size]
[attachment 203300 4.jpg]
[size=large] Hannah about 3 years old, she's now 20.[/size]
[attachment 203301 5.jpg]
[size=large]Getting more wood[/size]
[attachment 203304 Snow.jpg]
for the unbelievable price of $12,000. We paid $3000 down and the payments were $100 a month, no interest. Such a deal, who wouldn't jump on this, huh? My father in law and I dug a well by hand, at 10 feet deep we hit water. I then drove a sand point down another 20 feet, filled the hole in with sand, and we had water... as long as the generator was running. Then I started to improve the house. Below is what the cabin looked like we when bought it. I was just starting the deck and a small addition on the back for a bath shower and wash washer dryer room. We lived on a small generator for 4 years until power was brought into the area and we were finally hooked up to full time juice. [/size][attachment 203297 1greenhouse.jpg]
[size=large]Below, the house in progress slowed up by a touch of snow. Cedar board and batten siding, roof extension, porch, side porch, 2 more bedrooms and bathroom added off the back... and still going.[/size]
[attachment 203302 2.jpg]
[size=large]The house nearly completed when we sold it 11 years later for $125,000.[/size]
[attachment 203299 3.jpg]
[size=large]I even built a 16 x 16 schoolroom for our 4 home schooled girls.[/size]
[attachment 203300 4.jpg]
[size=large] Hannah about 3 years old, she's now 20.[/size]
[attachment 203301 5.jpg]
[size=large]Getting more wood[/size]
[attachment 203304 Snow.jpg]