New York Times

August 4, 2009

 

Off the Bench, Souter Leaves Farmhouse Behind

By KATIE ZEZIMA
HOPKINTON, N.H. — When he retired from the Supreme Court in June, it was expected that Justice David H. Souter would return to his beloved family farmhouse in Weare, N.H., a rustic abode with peeling brown paint, rotting beams and plenty of the solitude he desired.

But Justice Souter, an individualist on and off the bench, decided to move.

On July 30, he bought a 3,448-square-foot Cape Cod-style home in neighboring Hopkinton listed at $549,000. The single-floor home, for which he paid a reported $510,000, sits on 2.36 well-manicured acres.

While Justice Souter’s new home is only eight miles from the farmhouse, the two could be worlds apart. The farmhouse has no phone lines; the Hopkinton house has “multiple,” according to the real estate listing. The farmhouse’s lawn was spotted with brown; the Hopkinton house has a verdant lawn and neatly trimmed hedges. And for Justice Souter, 69, who is known to be a fitness buff, there is a home gym as well as a spa bath.

Justice Souter told a Weare neighbor, Jimmy Gilman, that the two-story farmhouse was not structurally sound enough to support the thousands of books he owns, according to The Concord Monitor, and that he wished to live on one level.

Justice Souter’s new neighborhood, a dead-end circle with a common green area where a tire swing hangs from a tree, is one of the most desirable in Hopkinton, which abuts the state capital, Concord, and was once home to Gov. John Lynch.

A silver pineapple hangs on the front door, and chipmunks frolicked in the driveway on Monday afternoon. Neighbors did not want to talk about the street’s newest resident, other than to say they were sure he would like living there.

In Weare, where Justice Souter had spoken of writing a history of the town, friends were startled to hear he would leave.

“It was quite a shock to us to learn that he’s moving,” said Betty Straw, who taught Justice Souter in sixth grade. “While we’re sorry — we had hoped he would come back to Weare — we understand the circumstances. It seems more desirable to make a move, and we have to abide by his decision.”

Justice Souter bought the new home from Michele Perkins, the president of New England College in Henniker.

“My husband, James, and I have always admired and respected Justice Souter and are delighted that he has returned to New Hampshire,” President Perkins said in a statement. “We wish Justice Souter every happiness in his new home.”