CANTERBURY, N.H. — David Lidstone, the man also known as “River Dave,” will remain in jail for at least another week for not complying with a court order.
On Wednesday, the Canterbury Fire Department reported that Lidstone's cabin had sustained damage in a fire. Crews are on the scene and the State Fire Marshal's Office has been called.
He appeared virtually before a judge Wednesday morning for another bail hearing. The 81-year-old said he will not collect his belongings from the cabin he built along the Merrimack River.
According to court documents, the owner of the land lives in Vermont and owns several plots of land in Canterbury, including the 73-acre wooded property where Lidstone has been living.
"This was a managed wood lot, income from which is supposed to support my elderly client in his retirement," the plaintiff's attorney Lisa Snow Wade said. "And at some point, how far is he supposed to go in order to turn his wood lot into a habitable lot for somebody that's there trespassing."
Several years ago, "New Hampshire Chronicle" featured Lidstone and toured the property.
The judge on Wednesday said Lidstone and the property owner could meet to resolve the case.
“Unless you say you’ll live by the judgement as long as that injunction is in place. If you say that, any day, you hold the key. Tell that to a judge, and they’ll try to get you in the next day and get you out,” Hon. Andrew R Schulman said.
The plaintiff has been seeking to get Lidstone and any structures removed from the property for several years.
River Dave has lived on the land in Canterbury for 27 years.
He said he has a verbal agreement with the property owner to keep the cabin there but has nothing in writing.
"You come down here and you harass me, I'm 81, the old man up there is 86, he doesn't know where that piece of land is. He's never seen it," Lidstone said.
The plaintiff’s attorney said last week he is currently caring for the animals on Lidstone’s property.
CANTERBURY, N.H. — A cabin at the center of a legal battle with a man known as "River Dave" caught fire Wednesday, hours after the man appeared in court for a hearing.
The cabin's resident, David Lidstone, will remain in jail for at least another week for not complying with a court order.
On Wednesday, the Canterbury Fire Department reported that Lidstone's cabin is a total loss. The State Fire Marshal's Office was called in to investigate the cause of the fire which remains under investigation.
"No fire trucks could make access to the scene we used UTVs," said Chief Mike Gamache with Canterbury fire department.
The fire comes days after the town select board noted Lidstone's camp wasn't permitted and had no access for emergency vehicles.
Lidstone appeared virtually before a judge Wednesday morning for another bail hearing. The 81-year-old said he will not collect his belongings from the cabin he built along the Merrimack River.
According to court documents, the owner of the land lives in Vermont and owns several plots of land in Canterbury, including the 73-acre wooded property where Lidstone has been living.
"This was a managed wood lot, income from which is supposed to support my elderly client in his retirement," the plaintiff's attorney Lisa Snow Wade said. "And at some point, how far is he supposed to go in order to turn his wood lot into a habitable lot for somebody that's there trespassing."
Several years ago, "New Hampshire Chronicle" featured Lidstone and toured the property.
The judge on Wednesday said Lidstone and the property owner could meet to resolve the case.
“Unless you say you’ll live by the judgment as long as that injunction is in place. If you say that, any day, you hold the key. Tell that to a judge, and they’ll try to get you in the next day and get you out,” Hon. Andrew R Schulman said.
The plaintiff has been seeking to get Lidstone and any structures removed from the property for several years.
River Dave has lived on the land in Canterbury for 27 years.
He said he has a verbal agreement with the property owner to keep the cabin there but has nothing in writing.
"You come down here and you harass me, I'm 81, the old man up there is 86, he doesn't know where that piece of land is. He's never seen it," Lidstone said.
The plaintiff’s attorney said last week he is currently caring for the animals on Lidstone’s property.
