OceanView at Falmouth Welcomes First Whipple Farm Residents

OceanView at Falmouth, a full-service retirement community located off Middle Road in Falmouth, celebrates the completion of the 27th cottage at the Whipple Farm expansion to the OceanView campus that includes 40 cottage-style homes and two apartments in an antique reproduction barn. The master-plan includes the preservation of five acres of open space as conservation land, maintaining the picturesque view of the historic, pre-Revolutionary War farmhouse on the property.

"With over 90% of the units pre-sold, we're finding that the new Whipple Farm residents are younger retirees and are not only coming from Maine, but are moving from out of state, as well," said OceanView Marketing Manager Gloria Walker. People are moving to Whipple Farm at OceanView from Florida, especially after the recent hurricane seasons, and also from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont and North Carolina. Maine residents, of course, are joining Whipple Farm as well, and in slightly greater numbers. They originate from our own town of Falmouth, along with Freeport, Yarmouth, Standish, Georgetown and Southport, to name a few, Walker mentioned. "There is a lot of interest in being able to design your ideal retirement home within a very active, maintenance-free community like ours, and live just minutes from Portland," she said.

For Bob and Shirley Welch, moving to OceanView was truly coming home. The Welch's were both born and raised in Maine and both worked for Bell Labs. After living in New Jersey for 30 years, the Welch's decided to retire to Asheville, North Carolina.

"We've always felt like Maine was home and the opportunity to be part of the new Whipple Farm cottages was too good to pass up," said Shirley Welch. "Asheville was nice, but we missed being near the water and Bob missed his seafood," Shirley added. While Bob Welch was impressed with the design and quality construction of the Whipple Farm cottages, he said the maintenance-free living and shuttle service were also a big advantage, "I'm looking forward to watching someone else take care of the yard work," said Bob.

The cottage-style homes at Whipple Farm are designed with traditional Cape Cod architecture. The Whipple Farm barn will be rebuilt to include two apartment homes and common area space for a wood working shop, locker rooms, fitness equipment and direct pool access. The three-season pool will be accessible from inside the barn and will be approximately 20' X 60' in length. The 1756 farmhouse will be preserved and made available for community meeting space and resident programs.

"The community atmosphere was a big selling point for me," said Judy Gass, a Massachusetts native and early buyer at Whipple Farm Cottages. "I'm flipping my Cape Cod residence to OceanView and looking forward to being closer to my family and so near to Portland. I lived in Portland a long time ago and it really has become a destination city," said Gass, whose daughter lives in southern Maine.

Included in the Whipple Farm project is the development of a loop walkway that will connect to local schools via the Esther O'Brien trails, and is designed to enhance walking opportunities for OceanView residents and neighbors. OceanView is also working with the Falmouth Historical Society, whose headquarters are located at the historic Whipple farmhouse. Construction of the Whipple Farm project is expected to be completed in 2008.

The campus of OceanView at Falmouth currently includes 67 cottage residences, 49 apartments in the Main Lodge, 20 apartments in Hilltop Lodge and 38 in Falmouth House Assisted Living.

For more information about the Whipple Farm residences contact Gloria Walker at (207) 781-4460 or visit our website