webbmeister
Gold Member
Well, I went out to the property today to do some last minute marking and to reconcile those markings with the stake out that the septic guy did last week. All of this in preparation for ground breaking in the spring.
What I saw when I got there first broke my heart, and then made me very, very angry. Angry enough, in fact, to call the Sheriff. As many of you know, our Property, "Valhalla," is bowl/stadium shaped, and slopes down beautifully from a high hill to the lake. We have spent more than a year in clearing the property and reclaiming it from its untended state. Hundreds of hours and thousands upon thousands of dollars have gone into creating what - up until very recently - was magnificently beautiful. The grass we had planted and then overseeded had grown in, and the property looked as if it was covered in green velvet. The trees, after almost 30 years of neglect, have been pruned, fertilized, and mulched.
When we bought the place, the neighbor boys were used to sitting at the top of our hill, lighting a bonfire, and having the kind of fun that young boys have. We extended an invitation to them to feel free to continue this practice, using their own firewood, until construction on our new house started. We also asked that they not discharge firearms or otherwise hunt on our property.
Since that invitation was extended a year and a half ago, things have kind of gone downhill. First, they started moving the fire site all over the hill, making big sterile patches all over the place. We talked to them about it, and they settled on a single spot. Then they started using up the two full cords of firewood I had dragged from every corner of the lot during the clearing process. We talked to them about it, and they did not stop using our firewood. I kept quiet (a mistake) hoping that a neighborly relationship might be rescued once we moved in. Over the past few months, things have clearly gotten rowdier on the hill. Dozens of beer bottles and cans strewn and thrown everywhere, and shotgun shells too many to count litter the ground. A month ago, after cleaning up broken glass (mower really shatters bottles hidden in the grass) shotgun shells, bags, and assorted litter, we talked to them again, and they promised to stop. Three weeks ago, we took our parents out to have a look at the color, and again, the ground was littered with shells. Out of two full cords of firewood - there were 16 pieces left. Again, I cleaned up, and this time I carried the remaining firewood to a place that is kind of hard to get to. I also went back the next day and posted a "No Hunting" and a "No Trespassing" sign.
I walked over the crest of the hill today, and I teared up. The boys had driven their cars over from their drive (tire marks very clear) and had gone up and down the hill skidding tires and ripping up the turf. That wasn't enough for them. We had gone to extra expense to spare two magnificent cherry trees during the clearing process, and to ensure that the house was sited around them so they wouldnt have to be cut down. They are/were our version of husband and wife trees, and they held additional meaning to us because they were planted by the neighbor on the other side of us when he bought the property so many years ago. One of the trees is now riddled with shot, oozing sap at every hole.
Well, the Sheriff came right over, and right away he asked me "Boys next door?" I told him I thought so, and he walked with me and told me about the long relationship the Sheriff's department has had with those kids. He went over and knocked on the door, but they were hiding and wouldn't answer. He's going over tomorrow morning before 8, and will get the father out of bed. In the meantime, he tells me that even if he had caught them red-handed, the State's attorney wouldn't prosecute because it was not a significant crime. He thought I'd have a better shot in civil court. He advised me to put up several more signs, and to move my tractor and implements over to the neighbor's house (the good neighbor!) for safe keeping. He was concerned that they might retaliate by "torching" Thor. He also advised that we send a certified letter advising the entire family that the property is now entirely off-limits to them.
I am really bummed. It will take months to repair the turf damage, and the one cherry tree will almost surely die. Before we even move in, we are on the wrong foot with neighbors who will be there for the rest of our lives. We have never feuded before, and we don't like what it feels like.
Aside from venting (thanks for listening!) I'd like to ask if anyone has any advice on how to handle this. I really don't want things to escalate, but geez! That's our property, our sweat, our money, and our liability/responsibility. We wouldn't even think about doing such harm to theirs.
Bummed,
Jim
What I saw when I got there first broke my heart, and then made me very, very angry. Angry enough, in fact, to call the Sheriff. As many of you know, our Property, "Valhalla," is bowl/stadium shaped, and slopes down beautifully from a high hill to the lake. We have spent more than a year in clearing the property and reclaiming it from its untended state. Hundreds of hours and thousands upon thousands of dollars have gone into creating what - up until very recently - was magnificently beautiful. The grass we had planted and then overseeded had grown in, and the property looked as if it was covered in green velvet. The trees, after almost 30 years of neglect, have been pruned, fertilized, and mulched.
When we bought the place, the neighbor boys were used to sitting at the top of our hill, lighting a bonfire, and having the kind of fun that young boys have. We extended an invitation to them to feel free to continue this practice, using their own firewood, until construction on our new house started. We also asked that they not discharge firearms or otherwise hunt on our property.
Since that invitation was extended a year and a half ago, things have kind of gone downhill. First, they started moving the fire site all over the hill, making big sterile patches all over the place. We talked to them about it, and they settled on a single spot. Then they started using up the two full cords of firewood I had dragged from every corner of the lot during the clearing process. We talked to them about it, and they did not stop using our firewood. I kept quiet (a mistake) hoping that a neighborly relationship might be rescued once we moved in. Over the past few months, things have clearly gotten rowdier on the hill. Dozens of beer bottles and cans strewn and thrown everywhere, and shotgun shells too many to count litter the ground. A month ago, after cleaning up broken glass (mower really shatters bottles hidden in the grass) shotgun shells, bags, and assorted litter, we talked to them again, and they promised to stop. Three weeks ago, we took our parents out to have a look at the color, and again, the ground was littered with shells. Out of two full cords of firewood - there were 16 pieces left. Again, I cleaned up, and this time I carried the remaining firewood to a place that is kind of hard to get to. I also went back the next day and posted a "No Hunting" and a "No Trespassing" sign.
I walked over the crest of the hill today, and I teared up. The boys had driven their cars over from their drive (tire marks very clear) and had gone up and down the hill skidding tires and ripping up the turf. That wasn't enough for them. We had gone to extra expense to spare two magnificent cherry trees during the clearing process, and to ensure that the house was sited around them so they wouldnt have to be cut down. They are/were our version of husband and wife trees, and they held additional meaning to us because they were planted by the neighbor on the other side of us when he bought the property so many years ago. One of the trees is now riddled with shot, oozing sap at every hole.
Well, the Sheriff came right over, and right away he asked me "Boys next door?" I told him I thought so, and he walked with me and told me about the long relationship the Sheriff's department has had with those kids. He went over and knocked on the door, but they were hiding and wouldn't answer. He's going over tomorrow morning before 8, and will get the father out of bed. In the meantime, he tells me that even if he had caught them red-handed, the State's attorney wouldn't prosecute because it was not a significant crime. He thought I'd have a better shot in civil court. He advised me to put up several more signs, and to move my tractor and implements over to the neighbor's house (the good neighbor!) for safe keeping. He was concerned that they might retaliate by "torching" Thor. He also advised that we send a certified letter advising the entire family that the property is now entirely off-limits to them.
I am really bummed. It will take months to repair the turf damage, and the one cherry tree will almost surely die. Before we even move in, we are on the wrong foot with neighbors who will be there for the rest of our lives. We have never feuded before, and we don't like what it feels like.
Aside from venting (thanks for listening!) I'd like to ask if anyone has any advice on how to handle this. I really don't want things to escalate, but geez! That's our property, our sweat, our money, and our liability/responsibility. We wouldn't even think about doing such harm to theirs.
Bummed,
Jim
