Libre was founded by two artist couples in the spring of 1968; by the time I passed through in the summer of the following year the population had more than tripled and there were numerous structures on the land. Over the years every house was designed and built by its occupants, always with generous help from the community, which in the early seventies peaked at around thirty humans including children. At present the population is fairly stable at eleven with nine houses occupied…
Approaching from the end of an unmarked county road the place is guarded by Fowler’s Subaru Graveyard, and then the first house comes in to view;
Fowler residence, begun 1969, Jim Fowler design/build; Jim and Sesame Fowler, occupants;
Through Dry Creek and around a turn is the first thing built here, by Dean and Linda Fleming in 1968, currently occupied by Dean Fleming;
Ceramic thug by Luz Fleming, 1996
Above the main [and original] dome on the ridge is the house designed and built by Richard Wehrman ca. 1970;
The ridge; Doug’s tower; Rockhouse, goat sheds…Wehrman house offstage left
…currently occupied by David Perkins…
Goat shed on ridge, built by ridge-dwellers ca. 1971; no goats now.
Rock house, David Perkins, Roberta Price, D/B, 1970; abandoned ca. 1979;
Doug Perkins’ tower, ca. 1972, inhabited seasonally for several summers, long abandoned…
Storage shed ca. 1970;
Wallenborn house, Kim and Sibylla Wallenborn design/build. Begun 1970; currently cared for by Maryann Flood;
Bill Haynes’; Bill Haynes D/B, begun 1972; Bill Haynes and Muriel Meunier-Fiebelkorn current residents…
Linda’s house; Linda Fleming designer/builder, begun 1978; Linda Fleming and Michael Moore, inhabitants;
The toolbox, Linda Fleming/Michael Moore D/B, 2010;
Trigger, 1950 Chevrolet three-window, Linda Fleming second owner…
Excellent documentation! After several visits to Libre I’ve only seen a few of those unique structures and had no idea so many others existed. Thanks.
This is great!!! After years of hearing about Libre, it was so nice to have this ‘tour’! I am impressed by how substantial the homes are! I had visualized 500 sqft max over the years!
just a curiousity, as I may undergo a new structure over here in chiantishire, have any, or most, or some, or none, or all of them been built with proper building permissions, hence up to code?
I would have to say some, maybe. Mostly it’s a “don’t ask, don’t tell” kind of deal…
Colorado, right? Or New Mexico, same difference. Archaeologists will have a lot more fun poking around here in 2478 and sleeping under the stars than the ones chipping away at the remains of the Empire State Building while fending off crocodile attacks and being bitten alive by mutant mosquitoes six feet across.
Have always been curious about Libre, so thank you for this. And need to add, that last photo is gorgeous!
Michael and Linda,
Thanks for this wonderful virtual tour of the homes of Libre. My visit (an overnight if I recall the duration accurately) with you these now many years ago did not prepare me for the number or diversity of structures. However, I don’t recognize your abode. Is that “oversight” my increasingly faulty memory or your modesty. Give my greetings to Dean. I’m glad we have had some recent contact.
Paul
Paul; maybe we hadn’t added the two-storey addition on the west when you were here? That was 1994-5.
And of course the tool box came much later; y’all come back [and bring Ann!]…so much to see, so little time…
That was great, Mike, thanks. But where are the bird houses covering the woodpecker holes?
You can make one out in the third to last picture, and vaguely see them [little dark splotches on the east facing upstairs wall] in the second to last…trust me, they’re there!
Awesome!! Love it!
Are you going to continue on with the rest of the occupied and unoccupied structures? (Please?)
Luz
Thanks for the photos. I’m hoping to see it for myself one day but it’s fun to take a virtual tour.