This week, we’re chatting with Melissa Wilkinson! Read on to find out what brought her to the area over 10 years ago, the serendipitous way that she and her husband discovered their beautiful home here in the city, and how she met the group of friends that makes Glens Falls feel even more like home.
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Melissa Wilkinson and I’m a published author and public speaker. My business, Anchored with Purpose, is all about helping others live their lives with purpose and intention, especially when it comes to their faith and family.
I live with my husband Jeff, and our sons Andrew and Sean, in our dream Victorian home near Crandall Park.
On Life in Glens Falls
I’m originally from York, PA and twelve years ago I was working for Target when I was relocated to run the Queensbury store for an 18 month assignment. (So much for 18 months, I’m still here!). About 6 months after moving here, I met Jeff while living in downtown Saratoga (turns out he was my next door neighbor and I didn’t even know him!) and we’ve been inseparable ever since.
One day, 10 years ago, we dropped off my car for an oil change in Queensbury and walked into Glens Falls via the bike path. We fell in love with the side streets, the beautiful Victorians and sweet little downtown that was starting to revitalize. On that walk we decided that it was time to buy our first home and within five weeks we closed on our first home and got engaged on the front porch!
On the Beauty of Old Homes
My whole life I have dreamt about living in a grand, old, beautiful Victorian home. When we were looking for our first home, it wasn’t in the budget and since neither of us were handy, we opted for a newer home. However, just over a year ago, I drove past this beautiful old Victorian on my way home from an appointment and couldn’t believe it when I saw a sale sign out front. I remembered seeing the listing months before, but brushed it off because we had no intentions of moving. The next morning, Jeff was watching a video on Facebook and called me over to watch it too. “This video just makes me wish we lived in a bigger home closer to downtown,” something I never thought I would hear from him. “I know just the house,” I said and I showed him the listing. He couldn’t believe that it had central air and updated electrical and plumbing and told me to call our agent right away. All of the stars aligned and this beautiful old Victorian became ours!
I am OBSESSED with the front porch, it’s a wrap around and my favorite part of the house. So much of the original architecture of the home has been preserved, like the Butler’s Pantry ( I was literally in tears when I saw it the first time we toured the house!), the hardwood floors and the crown molding and pillars. I LOVE having a formal dining room and the original chandelier gives it a touch that makes entertaining and family dinners just a little more elegant. We have plans for eventually updating the bathrooms and finishing the third floor.
I love that our neighborhood is just steps from Crandall Park and Kensington Elementary. I always dreamed of being able to walk to school as a kid and during non-COVID times I love walking with my kids to and from school. During the height of COVID, the boys and I did as much home schooling as we could on the front porch so that we could say hello to everyone as they walked by - it helped to make it a little less lonely for them.
My favorite thing about Glens Falls is being able to walk pretty much everywhere. I love taking walks and bike rides all over the city taking in the beauty of all of the historic homes and beautiful architecture.
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
My perfect day in Glens Falls starts with journaling on my front porch, followed by a jog around Crandall Park. Then, the family and I would ride our bikes to the Farmer’s Market and I’d have to get some Hazelnut Coffee and a breakfast sandwich from Fresh ADK. In a post-COVID world we’d be at the Glens Falls Little League fields watching our boys and our nephews play. After baseball we’d treat the boys to Rob and Deb’s Frozen Dreams for ice cream - let’s be honest, it’s a treat for us adults too! We’d end the day by having a date night at our favorite restaurant, Morgan and Co. We love eating there on special occasions and I start every meal there with the Charleston She Crab soup.
On the Past
My favorite Glens Falls memory takes place at Crandall Library. I went there as a new mom, not knowing many other new moms in the area. Sitting on little squares of carpet, listening to stories and playing baby games, I met my Mama Tribe. Having a close knit group of friends has made living far from home more enjoyable and thanks to them and our incredible community, I can’t see myself wanting to leave this beautiful little city! I’m so grateful to the library!
On the Future
If I could wave a magic wand and bring something new to the city it would be a bookstore and a place for dessert downtown. I love books and growing up, bookstores were my favorite. I’d love for my kids to have that bookstore experience right here downtown. And since the Chocolate Mill has closed (I’m still grieving that one!), I’d love to see a specialty bake shop that stays open later into the evening to make dessert a separate excursion after dinner.
By the Way…
If you can’t tell, my home is a huge passion of mine! I have been sharing sneak peeks and photos of it on my instagram @melissajwilkinson. If you’d like to see more about what I do or what I’ve published, you can check out my site: anchoredwithpurpose.com.
Special thanks to The Julie Snyder Team - Howard Hanna Real Estate Services for helping to make this series possible!
What a wild ride this year has been to say the least! The real estate market in our area has been one of the hottest markets ever and houses are moving fast. If selling or buying a home is in your future, it’s important to have someone you can trust with the process. Julie and her team have the perfect balance of experience and integrity to help their clients safely navigate these rapidly changing times. Contact The Julie Snyder Team here for all your real estate needs!
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