Today we’d like to introduce you to Lance Keene.
Lance, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Keene Systems, Inc. is a 30-year-old software consulting firm specializing in building web and database applications for corporations in the Boston area. Our website is http://www.KeeneSystems.com
Keene Systems is what I do for a living, however, the real interesting story is not about my software business but instead my hobby, my passion, my life long art project: I’m building an off-the-grid medieval castle that will produce all of its own energy. I have been working on this project for 17 years now.
Some background info:
I’m 55.
I’m the owner/founder of a 30-year-old software consulting firm with a staff of 30.
We are located north of Boston but most of my business is done in Boston.
I was a soldier in the US Army for 4 years and lived in Germany
Visited 30 countries and speak English, Spanish, French and German
Married a Colombian in 2008 and still speak only Spanish in the house
3 kids ages 2, 5 and 8 being raised bilingual
Have a black belt in Karate.
Whole family is in Karate except for the 2 year old
I spend ½ of every Saturday and Sunday working on the castle.
KEENE CASTLE PROJECT HISTORY
I was inspired to build a castle because of the time I spent in Germany as a soldier and the time I spent in Pennsylvania which is known for its beautiful old stone farm houses. I felt that if these farmers back in the 1800s could make their own mortar and build their own houses I could certainly do the same. In 1998 I started my adventure when I purchased the top of a mountain, 20 acres inside the White Mountains National Forest of New Hampshire to build my castle. I’m an artist and the castle is my life long art project but it also has an important social message.
Keene Castle originally started off as just a dream home to live in. But along the way it became much more than that. It became a source of inspiration, not just for achieving one’s goals in life but also to teach the world about alternative energy and alternative building. Can a 1-man construction team build a medieval castle? With perseverance, absolutely!
GOALS OF KEENE CASTLE PROJECT
An inspiration to others that you really can achieve your dreams
A demonstration of green building and alternative energy
A place where kids can learn that science is fun and interesting
A beautiful home for my little prince & princesses
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have been working on this for 17 years. The project was going painfully slow in the early years because I had to drive up 2 hours from Boston to work on it on the weekends. So we moved up full time in 2008 to be closer to the project.
Every year I have a budget of time and money. It is like a chess game; I’m always trying to maximize efficiency as a one-man construction team. My biggest setback is when I have equipment failure. For example, my dump truck broke in half the first time I used it. The tracks keep falling off the excavator and putting them back on is a bear! I had to replace the engine in my pickup this year. The arm of the excavator broke in half. I once went over the cliff while doing stone masonry. Good thing I was on a rope in a climbing harness. I almost died when I went over the cliff in the excavator back in April of this year. I landed upside down in a tree with the 16,000 lb. excavator.
Doing all of the work myself has been difficult. The terraces on the cliff took me 9 years. The road took 3 years. The footings 2 years. Many other years clearing trees & pulling stumps, etc.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I like to say the castle project is a consumer of cash not a producer of cash. We are using it to educate the world about alternative energy. Perhaps someday we can find an alternative energy product to sell from the castle.
We are most known for inspiring people to follow their dreams.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in Laconia, NH. We lived on the lake and I had the woods behind me. It was a great place to grow up. I loved science and the new industry of computers (back in the 1970s) really caught my attention. I did all forms of art all throughout school.
Contact Info:
- Address: Keene Systems, Inc.
1 Bridge st. Suite 105
Plymouth, NH 03264 - Website: http://www.KeeneSystems.com
- Phone: 603-726-5058
- Email: lance@keenesystems.com
- Other: http://www.KeeneCastle.com
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
