The Millerton News will periodically publish a listing of residential real estate sales in eastern Dutchess County and adjacent towns.
December 2023 was another active month for recorded real estate sales in the Village of Millbrook and the Town of Washington, with a combined eight sales following ten in November. All sales in Millbrook were above $500,000, demonstrating the continued attraction of village living, with one home on Merritt Avenue selling for above $1 million. There were six home sales recorded in Washington with a median sale price of $670,000, with two below $500,000 and one over $1 million.
Currently there are only two homes listed for sale in the village. In contrast, there are 17 residences for sale outside the village, with only two below $1 million and eight trophy properties above $5 million, topping out at a record $28 million.
Village of Millbrook, December 2023
3388 Franklin Ave., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sold for $522,500
92 Maple Ave., one-level ranch with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, sold for $851,000
24 Merritt Ave., 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with pool and guest house, sold for $1.1 million
Town of Washington, December 2023
663 Shunpike, a 3-bedroom, 3-bath, spilt-level home, sold for $385,000
263 Oak Summit Road, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths on 3 acres, sold for $435,000
1046 Route 343, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath, 3,060-square-fot house on 4 acres, sold for $670,000
142 Christian Hill Road, 2-bedroom, 2-bath house on 5.9 acres, sold for $800,000
4318 Route 44, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths plus pool and guest house on 6 acres, sold for $1.93 million
Town of Washington and Village of Millbrook real estate sales recorded as sold between Dec. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023, sourced from Dutchess County Real Property Tax Service Agency. Information on active listings taken from Mid-Hudson MLS. Property details on 3318 Franklin from Dutchess Parcel Access.
Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Salesperson with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY.
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC