You can own the home once owned by author J.D. Salinger in Plainfield, NH where he sequestered to write every book he authored after his breakout work, “The Catcher in the Rye.” Since 1980, Joan and the late James Littlefield owned the property, but since the death of her husband, Littlefield found the 12-acre property tough to manage.

“It’s like trying to run General Motors out of a phone booth,” she told the Valley News newspaper.

Listed for $679,000, the cottage provides two separate sleeping areas, one in the main house and one above the garage. Salinger had the garage built with a bedroom above it.

This closer look at the house shows that it has a gambrel roof. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is the living room of the house with a tall wooden ceiling, a chandelier, a beige sofa and a a red brick fireplace topped with decorative plates on display. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. — This is the living room of the house with a tall wooden ceiling, a chandelier, a beige sofa, and a red brick fireplace topped with decorative plates on display. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is the kitchen with a wooden kitchen island that has red countertops making it stand out against the light tone of the walls and ceiling. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is an external look at the house showcasing the dark exterior wall tone that cnontrasts with the vibrant green tones of the surrounding foliage. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. — This is an external look at the house showcasing the dark exterior wall tone that contrasts with the vibrant green tones of the surrounding foliage. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

Just outside the wall of the house is a wooden park bench placed on the spacious grass lawn. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is another look at the wooden park bench with a view of tall trees and the sweeping landscape. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is a look at the house from the vatage of the landscape that has tall mature trees, grass lawns and shrubs adorned with small rocks to form planters. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com. — This is a look at the house from the vantage of the landscape that has tall mature trees, grass lawns and shrubs adorned with small rocks to form planters. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This part of the landscape also has a low stone wall with a set of steps adorned by different-sized clay pots. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This part of the lawn is fitted with a comfortable hammock in between two mature trees and under the shade of the canopy of trees. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is a set of stone steps made of the same material as the low wall that serves as a planter for the various shrubs. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is a look at another grass lawn fitted with a couple of lawn chairs surrounded by a low stone wall, potted plants and shrubs. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This part of the grounds showcase the embedded stone slabs to form a walkway from the grass lawn. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is a look at the thick foliage of trees and shrubs surrounding the house. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

This is a look at the grass lawn where two lawn chairs are placed along with a small side table. This is complemented by the canopy of tall trees and the sweeping view of the landscape. Image courtesy of Toptenrealestatedeals.com.

All photos are used with permission from TopTenRealEstateDeals.com

The house features a dark wood exterior with a gambrel roof and dormer windows set amongst expansive lawns, forest, and flowering shrubs. Its interior measures 2,900 square feet much of which consists of entertainment and family room s including a living room, family room, and kitchen.

The kitchen and family room open up into one another. Its living room features beamed ceilings and a chandelier that evokes a traditional hearth and home with a red brick fireplace. The kitchen features a wood island with red counters that contrast with the light-toned beige walls.

The home connects to the garage in a unique way – a tunnel from the home’s basement goes to the garage. Salinger never said specifically for what reason the tunnel was constructed, but it does provide a safe means of egress if a derecho or tornado strikes the home or the garage.
The home’s vast grounds have been described as “park-like woods” and a wooden park bench rests near the home to view the rear lawns. The yard also features a large hammock tied beneath two large trees beneath a forest canopy. The landscape also consists of a creek that runs through the property, a treetop valley, and views of Mt. Ascutney.

The property guarantees the solitude of whoever purchases it since Salinger also bought the land across the road so that no person could build a home near his. This ensured his total privacy.

Although secluded, the home provides easy access to the village of Plainfield, NH which offers shopping, dining out, and entertainment options. The home lies less than one mile from Plainfield which has its own post office, library, historical society, and other quasi-municipal services. Travel to the Connecticut River, St. Gaudens National Historic Site, and Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ studio require just one mile, too.

Contact the home’s listing agent, Jane Darrach, of Martha E. Diebold Real Estate for more information on the home or to set up a house tour.

Photo: Jim Mauchly/MountainGraphics.com

Source: www.marthadiebold.com