Pioneer Times photograph
TYPICAL SIZE — Mountain View Structures in East Hodgdon is waiting to bring dreams and ideas to life at their shop. Above is a typical camp/cabin that is constructed by Mountain View Structures. However, Raymond Eicher and partner Jonathan Kauffman will build any size building to fit a customer’s needs. Eicher and Kauffman belong to the Amish community in East Hodgdon so no photographs of them appear to honor their belief.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
EAST HODGDON — Raymond Eicher and his partner, Jonathan Kauffman, 23, of Mountain View Structures are waiting for potential customers to bring their “dreams and unique ideas” to their shop in East Hodgdon so they can get busy helping them achieve their “perfect” get-away.
Mountain View Structures concentrates on stick-built special-designed camps/cabins and garages.
Eicher, originally from Ontario, moved to East Hodgdon, while Kauffman is now supporting his mother, younger brothers and sister, in the fellowship of the Amish community.
“I came here just for a change,” he said, “in life and everything in general.”
Last fall, Eicher raised the framework of his shop, completing the work in the winter and opening for business about a month ago.
“We basically build camps,” he said. “We can do just the framework, with siding or we can insulate them … line them on the inside. We will custom do whatever people want.”
There are few differences between Mountain View Structures and others manufacturing the same product.
“I don’t know if our actual structure is that much different,” Eicher explained. “We might have a couple of more options.”
Where as some businesses try to build everything in the shop, Eicher and Kauffman, who also prefer that, are open to assembling on site to get their business rolling.
“We are willing to do that,” Eicher said. “We can take it in pieces and put it together.”
Kauffman also noted that Mountain View Structures will also build double-wide camps/cabins. They will take a 12×24 and create a 24×24 assembled unit. A double-wide can be as large as 24×32.
Mountain View Structure camps/cabins typically have a 2×6 floor in hemlock and then 2×4 spruce for the walls.
“If someone wanted 2×6 walls, we’d do that,” Eicher added.
Then the buildings have pine siding, with a pine interior, metal or whatever a customer wants to use for lining.
A customer wanting a camp/cabin by Mountain View Structures that is framed only, good sized without insulation can easily spend $2,000 and up. Eicher noted that if the camp/cabin is lined and insulated, the price range can jump to $10,000.
Mountain View Structures also build any size garage. A 18×24 or 20×20 are approximately $5,000, as well. If a smaller unit is built, the cost will be less.
“We do not have a set size that we build,” Eicher added. “We will build smaller ones, too.”
Eicher’s trade has come to him naturally.
“I had my own shop,” he said. “I built gazebos and I built houses for 15 years. Basically, it is just hands-on experience.”
As of now, Eicher and Kauffman are just hoping to become known in the area and get their feet under them.
“We are a little slow getting started,” Eicher said. “But, that is normal for a business starting off.”
Mountain View Structures is open to doing business in the area and getting to know people in the surrounding towns.
“Though my personality might change from day to day,” Eicher laughed, “I want [to be known] as hard working. I want to give customer satisfaction — I want to help them get a good deal. I am not out to try to take someone for a ride.”
Even though Mountain View Structures has only been in operation a few months, Eicher has already met with potential customers.
“I have done a lot of quotes already,” he said. “But, whether those people went somewhere else or whether they are waiting until summer is here, I don’t know. I would like to have more work right now and have people find out about me.”
Eicher’s long-range goals are simple.
“I am not looking to be a millionaire, just to make a living,” he said. “I am not out to put anybody else out of business. That is not what I want to do. I would be glad to help someone else, we could work together with someone else I’d be more than happy to do that.”
Mountain View Structures is located at 171 Lincoln Road in East Hodgdon. Eicher or Kauffman can be reached by calling 532-6450. The shop is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
