81 Boyden Avenue

Dear Future Homeowner,

Welcome to our house and to our neighborhood! It’s a corner of Maplewood that we’ve grown to love, and we want to share with you what made it such a special place for us. When we arrived 10 years ago – two grown ups, a preschooler and a baby fresh off a flight from California – our first discovery was Borden Park, a little green oasis just across the street. It’s where our kids learned to ride their bikes, master the monkey bars, and hone their pickleball skills. Even now we all visit the park, often stopping by after picking up coffee and pastries at True Salvage Cafe or ice cream at Dippy Sippy. When it came time for our kids to enter school, we walked with them on quiet leafy streets to drop them off at Clinton Elementary (and now they ride their bikes to school). And in the summer time, the spectacular Maplewood pool is so close that we’ll sometimes go twice a day.

Another special part of our neighborhood is our block. When we first arrived, we were unsure how we would make new friends. Then, we noticed the gates and secret passages between our backyard and all our neighbors! Before long we were fast friends with everyone around us. We gathered for birthdays and anniversaries (or just because), held socially-distanced barbeques during the pandemic, and watched the kids as they climbed our mulberry tree. As newcomers to East Coast suburban living, we could not have imagined a more welcoming and inclusive community to live in.

Lastly, we’d love to tell you about our favorite things about living in 81 Boyden: The afternoon light through the stained glass window. Watching snow fall from the coziness of the sun room. The lilac bush blooming in spring. Enjoying a cool drink on the shaded back porch on a summer day. The vintage tiled bathroom that can only be found in Maplewood. The way the peaks on the facade seem to smile at you when you round the corner.

Leaving our house and our neighbors has been bittersweet. But we know that you will come to love and care for this place like we have, and that it will give you and your family a warm and welcoming place to call home.

Warmly,

The Current Homeowners of 81 Boyden Avenue