Off-Campus Houses, Part One: Gnome and Amoco

As sophomores and juniors look to their next year of school, one major question on their minds is "Where can I live off campus next year?"

Over the next few weeks, the Weather Vane will be profiling a few of the many houses inhabited by EMU students around Harrisonburg. House names pop up all the time in day-to-day conversation, and for many students, they'll never know who lives at these homes or where they are located. Many of the current seniors will be moving out at the end of this year or summer, allowing next year's juniors and seniors to get a jump on the rentals in the area.

Sadly, the recent change in housing policy will leave next year's freshmen with very little wiggle room in housing choices during their time spent at EMU.

As a participant in the discussions to change EMU's housing policy, senior Amanda Maust cited some of the advantages to living off campus. Maust said, "I feel like you learn a lot about the real world, but in a safe environment. You have to pay bills, buy your own cable, be energy efficient, think about turning off the lights... but before you're totally out in the world by yourself."

Gnome Home

A new addition to the plethora of named houses in the area near and around EMU is the Gnome Home, named for the three gnomes that inhabit the two-story house along with four women.

Located at 1309 Greystone Street, the house is a brisk ten minute walk from campus. Seniors Melanie Kratzer, Heather Harold, and Sara Crosthwait, along with December graduate Amanda Maust, currently consider the house "home."

Gnome Home has a fantastic elevated porch right outside the kitchen and a nice walkout basement. Four bedrooms and two bathrooms accommodate the four women very nicely and the spacious backyard makes for great social gatherings.

Gnome Home has been an EMU house for a few years, but has only become known by its current name this year. Kratzer said, "We named it. We decided we wanted to give our house an unusual, quirky name to represent our randomness and also so others can remember it easily."

Landlord Ray Ressler, known for housing numerous EMU students, owns the property. At $1,020 a month without utilities Gnome Home is well priced for how new the property is. Sorry to anyone interested, though, because Gnome Home has already been promised to a group of girls for next year.

Amoco House

For over four years, the house next to the BP station on Chicago Avenue has been known as Amoco House. Groups of EMUers, typically male, have resided there for years. Current inhabitants include seniors Andrew Intagliata, Michael Miller, Greg Lamb, Justin Shenk, and Jason Rutt. For those somewhat familiar with the house from this year alone, the residents hosted a Shapiro concert last semester.

In the past, the BP station was an Amoco station, and the station owners also owned the house at 1073 Chicago Avenue. But when the Amoco changed to a BP, the house retained its name.

With four official bedrooms and two bathrooms, the house fits the five guys quite well. The wrap-around front porch and horseshoe pits out front make Amoco House an easy place to enjoy oneself. Miller drove this home when he asked, "Who wouldn't want to live in a big old house where you can play horseshoes and relax on the porch?"

At only $900 dollars a month, without utilities, Amoco House is a bargain for location and space. It is currently owned by Mountain Valley Management. The residents of Amoco House are still curious about who will inhabit their home next year. Feel free to contact any of these guys about carrying on the legend that is Amoco House. They welcome visitors any time.