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Green Highlander Lodge is for sale. Simply contact  Claussen,  Walters& Associates, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia for a viewing appointment. Call 902 634 4040.

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I recently had an opportunity to  view an unusual homestead, the "Green Highlander Lodge", located on the Medway River in Riversdale, Queens County. This sparsely settled region just above Mill Village is typified by rustic farmsteads interspersed with pockets of forest wilderness.

The Green Highlander property is a mecca for anyone with a penchant for the outdoors. For those with an avid interest in salmon fishing, like the lodge's owners, Robert and Faye Greenlaw of Knoxville, Tennessee, it is an auspicious location. It is here in the stillwater, formed where the water pools after navigating the narrows and bends of the Medway River, that the salmon spawn after making their way up stream.

To access the property I steer my car through wrought iron gates,
opening onto a long narrow driveway which wends its way through
pine, birch and other assorted hard and softwood trees. At the end
of the drive I come upon the distinctive homestead set in a clearing
that fronts on the river. Across the water are two rugged islands,
undeveloped and unspoilt. The Green Highlander property has
controlling ownership of these two islands, visited only seasonally
by occasional sports fishermen.

There are no visible neighbours, no other homes in view. I am met
by the sounds of rushing water streaming through the narrows from
the north and my own footsteps as I step out of my vehicle onto the
crisp autumn leaves. The caretaker is there to greet me and shows
me around the property with pride.

The Green Highlander is a low one and half story building flanked by two rough stone exterior chimneys at either end, and a third chimney stack visible above the centre of the roof. The exterior chimneys, displaying an assortment of fieldstone, add rustic charm and colour to the dwelling's otherwise simple and functional lines. It is a large house evidenced by the three stacks and has an aura of refinement.

The pine logs, I am informed, were imported from Quebec. They
are squared and the full dovetail joins at the corners display
superior craftsmanship. Corner notching is another of the
characteristic features of log construction providing structural
integrity, by locking the log ends in place.

The dwelling is about fifteen years old, but shows no sign of age or
wear. The choice of durable and natural building materials-lumber
and stone-echo the surrounding landscape where outcrops of
large stone invade the wooded interior and jut out along the river's
edge. Obvious care had been taken to preserve the mature trees that
stand close to the home offering shade and enhancing the ambience
of the woodland setting.

I am struck by the unique lines of the structure, in particular, the
roof that gently curves out at the eaves. The distinctive belcast roof
is unusual in these parts, reminiscent of early eighteenth and
nineteenth century French homes, more common to the Quebec
rural landscape. The design is both functional - protecting exterior
walls from rainwater running off the roof - and has definite
aesthetic appeal.

The lodge is built in the North American design tradition of the "log house", the hewn-log version of the "log cabin" which was characteristically either a one or two story dwelling, horizontally-laid.

Log cabin buildings in Canada owe much of their origins to the French settlers of New Brunswick whose seventeenth century log structures became the prototype of the buildings later put up by the early Quebec settlers. Builders of Canadian log structures over the years have incorporated the skills and traditions of their varied European ancestral backgrounds, giving way to a great variety of style and approach. This blend of traditions and styles is artfully realized in the Green Highlander Lodge, a modified French Canadian Patriot Log Home.

Before entering the lodge I scan the property noting a number of
outbuildings: a garage, a storage building and a large dog house
with a fenced in run. All the structures are built of the same quality
pine lumber and blend stylistically with the main dwelling. The dog
house, explains the caretaker by way of example, was built from
plans and photographs sent to him by the owner.

The front of the lodge faces the river. Here the sloping roof extends
over a gallery that runs half the length of the house. An assortment
of wooden lawn chairs are arranged out on the gallery.

The house is set on a concrete foundation and has outside access to
a root cellar. Upon entering the lodge, through the back mud-room
I proceed through the hallway and am soon standing in the dining
area, the centre and heart of the home. The fireplace here warms
not only the dining and kitchen areas but radiates heat through
much of the house. There is a round wooden table with chairs
located in front of large river-facing windows. A good sized utility
kitchen offers all the usual modern appliances and conveniences,
including a microwave and in-sink garbage disposal.

The house is laid out horizontally with a living room at one end and
the bedrooms at the other. The same care and craftsmanship is
adhered to inside the dwelling as was described outside. The walls
are all natural pine wood as are the floors. Open ceiling beams
fortify the strong linear rhythms of the wood interior broken only
by the three strategically located fireplaces. These rough stone
fireplaces constructed from irregular shaped fieldstone offer a more
gentle, organic flow to the rooms. I am informed by lodge owner,
Faye Greenlaw, that they were crafted by a local stonemason, the
late Lawrence Melanson, - "...he hand picked and arranged the
stones. Each fireplace is unique."

The furnishings, like the building itself,  are all made from natural
materials: wood tables, dressers, and counters; leather recliners;
down-filled comforters; cotton braided rugs; and linen and cotton
curtains. Multi-paned double hung windows invite light into each
room, accentuating the warm atmosphere within.

I feel like Goldilocks who has stumbled across the cozy dwelling of
the three bears. There are three fireplaces, two with heat-o-lators,
comfortable and inviting furnishings, and a tidiness throughout that
any Mother Bear would be proud of. All that's missing are the
steaming bowls of porridge!

Like Goldilocks I explore sampling the comforts of the dwelling. From the dining and kitchen area I move into the living room. Large-cushioned, comfortable chairs and sofa, covered in a gingham-like plaid surround a traditional braided rug set before the fireplace. A wooden sailboat model graces the mantelpiece. The cathedral ceiling showcases and frames the attractive fireplace. Like the other two fireplaces it has an arched opening and a wood mantel. But here in the living room the high ceiling offers a view of the inverted funnel shaped flue structure. Structure, both inside and outside the dwelling, is a featured design element.

Moving back through the kitchen and dining areas to the other end
of the house I am standing in a hallway that leads to two bedrooms,
a four-piece bathroom, and by way of a dropdown stairway-to the
attic.

I first take a look at the bedrooms. Bulky down-filled comforters
cover the beds in each of the rooms. The first is a small guest
bedroom that looks out towards the back of the property. It is
functionally and tastefully furnished with bed and wooden dresser
and chair.

The large master bedroom which occupies the end portion of the
dwelling is spacious and bright with windows on all three exterior
walls. Here is the third stone fireplace, another model boat gracing
its mantel as well! The room affords ample space for a sitting area
furnished with two inviting leather recliners. A table and lamp
complete the effect.

From back out in the hallway I venture up the dropdown stairway
to the attic. It is a large and spacious area, functionally set up for
storage use. Storage compartments run the length of the room on
both sides.

I complete my tour of the property with a walk along the shore and in the surrounding woods. Ten acres surround the homestead affording privacy and an opportunity to commune with nature in this unspoiled pocket of wilderness. It is this setting that enchanted Faye and Robert Greenlaw, who enjoyed many a family outing through the numerous wooded trails. A family favourite followed a path out to what they nicknamed "Picnic Rock". "We liked to sit out on this one particular large outcropping of rock, completely surrounded by water. The rapidly moving waters would be crashing around us."

As I drive out and am back on the main road I am reminded how
close to neighbouring lots and nearby towns I was the whole time.
The Green Highlander Lodge offers its occupants an unusual blend
of a natural retreat in harmony with nature, and convenience
of location that is accessible year round.

Ronnie Scullion is a frequent contributor to Outdoor Nova Scotia. Ronnie's book reviews are among the most popular features on the magazine. Ms. Scullion lives with her children in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.

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Green Highlander Lodge first published July, 2000. Designed & maintained by Outdoor Nova Scotia, Liverpool, N.S. BOT 1KO Material protected by copyright. Last revised: December 29, 2001