Today is March 8, 2026. We have lived in this house for 50 years, while raising two sons now in their mid-40s, and today, when we are in our late 70s, we must give it up. We don't want to; however, we have grown too old to maintain it.
We made many changes over the years and spent far more on the house and land than it originally cost to buy it. Some of our plans never came to fruition and remain only dreams. I want to close this Story of 262 Eliot St by sharing a few of those dreams.
On the foundation behind the family room, where there once was a solar greenhouse, we wanted to build a 3-story tower. The ground floor would be an alcove around the family room entrance from the garage. The second floor would be at the 4th level of the house where the three bedrooms and master bath are. It could be a 3-season enclosed porch with a French door from the master bedroom and it could extend the main bathroom, making room for two sinks. The third floor, accessible by a circular stair, would be a lofty patio with parapet walls. Any architect would have fun doing this.
The front entrance is almost 75 years old, long out of style, and could use a new design. It would be nice to add an enclosed entrance way, perhaps 8 ft by 16 ft, with a double door facing east instead of the single door facing north. That alcove would have a bench for boots, and hooks for coats, or perhaps even a closet at the north end, and it would serve as an airlock in the winter. Walking directly into the living room is so mid century and also the only advantage to having split entry instead of split level.
The half-story (7-step) stairway from the living room to the bedroom level is uninspiring. And the treads are a bit narrow. It could be replaced with a stairway that extended a foot or so into the living room (as far as the kitchen wall), then wrapped around to the east wall, and was semi-circular at the bottom. Finding headroom will be tricky but doable, as there is only a closet above.
The family room could easily be a standalone studio apartment. There is room in the half bath for a shower, maybe one of those self-contained steam units. A kitchenette could be built in the NW corner with a sink, a couple of induction burners, a microwave and a small fridge. The existing walk-in closet would be a huge advantage.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are all the rage in Natick now.
See https://www.natickma.gov/2158/Accessory-Dwelling-Units-ADU
for details. The cottage would make an excellent ADU. It only needs a kitchen and bathroom added onto the existing concrete pad in back. It could use water from the well. The sewer line to the main house would have to be connected and a pump added.
I was 29 years old when we bought this house, half a century ago. Those are the things I would think about doing if I were still 29 today.
Many older houses in South Natick proudly have little white plaques showing the year of construction. Fifty years from now, in 2076, when you have lived here for half a century like I did, you will put out a plaque that says, "1954."
If you liked reading about 262 Eliot St and have any interest in sailing and seamanship, check out my book, Boat Lore: Know-How for Sailors.