History: Ross Brothers Farm -- Prior to the year 2000
Barry and David formed a
business and incorporated in 1996. The legal name was Ross
Communications and
Research, Inc. We invested in the stock market, mostly technology
stocks. Some examples were Microsoft, SGI, VIACOM. Later we added UPS (United Parcel
Service) and a few U.S. Savings bonds. Our original investment came from a few
shares of CSX stock that was held since the late 1970’s. The actual business
was a small
internet service that we
operated for about 3 years. In 2000 there
was the great “dot.com”
bust and the stock market took a deep plunge. Along
with evolving technology such as
DSL and Cable Modems, our business soon became
an albatross.
After selling the
remaining stock to pay off our business indebtedness, the corporation was
dissolved and we claimed a profit of about $5000.00. We had always talked about
owning
some land, so we mutually agreed that the remaining proceeds would be
used as a down
payment.
We started exploring the
idea of purchasing property during the late spring of 2000. Finally in
August 2000 and after financing another $7000.00, we purchased 5 acres of land. It
became
known as the “Ross Brothers Farm” and officially was referred to as “the
property”.
History: August 2000 and
Afterwards
While not technically a
farm when purchased in 2000, the property at one time was part of 60
acres and
its original owners, Richard and Nelda Waninger, used the land for a corn field
and to graze cattle.
Located in Perry County
Indiana, between the communities of Mt. Pleasant and Magnet, behind
the old
Elder school house and down a gravel road designated as Pleasant Ridge Lane, off
of
Hwy 66, it is about 12 miles from I-64 and 50 miles west of Louisville,
Kentucky. What we like to
refer to as “Gods Country”. Our lot is bordered on
the east, west and south by other 5 acre lots.
The north side, however,
converges into the Hoosier National Forest and 1000’s of acres of
wilderness.
When the Waningers’ sold
the property a local real-estate agent purchased most of the 60
acres and
divided it into eight, 5 acre lots and two, 10 acre lots. The two 10 acres lots
are
accessible only from Hwy 66. Timber of value was harvested and sold. A
gravel road was
excavated from where the county road ends that allows access to
the area. Originally the
county road was named Ulysses or County Road 131, but
was changed after a larger
easement was obtained. Electric lines were also
established to supply the lots with partial
utilities.
A side note and opinion: The
usable lumber was removed but the tops were left on the ground.
I later was told
this is done to help promote fertile soil (as the tree tops and limbs begin to
break down
and decay.)
The area also has a very high “fragipan”. For those,
like me that don’t know what a fragipan is,
it is the first layer of soil that
will not allow water to pass efficiently. This becomes a problem
when you want
to install a septic system. Our property however did pass the soil test and is
on
file with the Perry County Health Department.
One final note: It’s great
to have electricity. But for 10 years after establishing service, we will be
paying for the convenience. Something I failed to ask the realtor was the
fact that a
right-of-way easement
agreement was in place and the cost of the service would be
passed on
to anyone hooking up.
Speaking of easements, our lot and the lot to
the east, each have a 10 foot easement to allow
lots 6, 7, and 8, access to the
U.S. Forest. While I haven’t been able to confirm this information,
I was told
lots 4 and 5 also have an easement for the 2 10 acre lots for use to access the
forest
too.
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