"Marilla says that a large family was raised in that old house long ago, and that it was a real pretty place, with a lovely garden and roses climbing all over it. It was full of little children and laughter and songs; and now it is empty, and nothing ever wanders through it but the wind. How lonely and sorrowful it must feel! Perhaps they all come back on moonlit nights...the ghosts of the little children of long ago and the roses and the songs...all for a little while the old house can dream it is young and joyous again."
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea
I love old things and it really doesn't matter what they are. Rust, faded paint, splintered wood....it all says history to me. Old houses are my most favorite thing. They each have their own story to tell and, at one time, a family who loved living in them. Some are painted, some are brick, and some are just an odd mix of whatever happened to be on hand. Sometimes those are the best of all. Truly lived in and used to the fullest.
Smalltownland has wonderful examples of Federal architecture. Throughout the town, and the surrounding county, you can also find a mix of architectural styles.
Some have been rehabilitated and some have not.
There are a few in our area that have been in the same family for generations.
If you enjoy old homes as much as I do, may I suggest that you go here. Scroll down until you are almost at the bottom of the page. On the left hand side, in small red print, you will see the following words: historic properties. Click on this and it will take you to an historic homes finder. It allows you to peruse historic homes, across our nation, that are for sale.
And yes, the sellers post pictures of interiors, grounds, and they give a bit of the home's history. A couple of times I have been surprised to find homes in my area for sale. A fun way to fritter away a few minutes...or hours.
Thanks for that link. I will use it to see where I can go to find similar homes. I would love to live once or twice in any of the houses you have pictures. There is not much exciting to say about living in a "ranch-type" home from the hot 1960s.
ReplyDeleteI'm an old house addict myself. Another fun thing to do is look up old plat books of your area -- some of them show photographs of the houses as they looked at the time.
ReplyDeleteYou are so fortunate to have these lovely houses in your region. :)
I also love old homes and old towns that have not been "remodeled". I live on a farm that has been in our family for over 100 years. That is why I have always loved Charleston, S.C. The same stones and bricks that were walked on in the 1700's or earlier I can also walk on. Some of the same churchs and homes are there. Everyone needs to take the time to enjoy all this in their own area.
ReplyDeleteFarmchick,several years ago, I had an exchange student from France. He,too, was fascinated by the houses in our country. He had grown up in a single house,which had 2 halves, owned by 2 families.His back yard was petitioned off by a fence, and did not know his neighbors on the other side. A strange concept for us, but I can imagine his awe of our way of life here. We drove all over Ky. as he took pictures of old homes and everything else that fascinated him. He went home with a shoe box full of pictures and left me, many as well.We take so much for granted.Even the scenery. We go to far away places to view the beautiful fall colors of the trees, and we have some of the most beautiful trees of all.If only we would slow down and look around us to see all of the beautiful attributes of our own state.
ReplyDeleteI love old homes and buildings...and love thinking about the history...the people....great post...
ReplyDeleteWell now you did it...I found my dream home and it is a lot bigger than my pocketbook:)
ReplyDeleteI love small town and country old houses too. They are full of character and tell a story. My favorite old house is my grandparent's farm house built in 1919. When we moved to the prairie we couldn't find an old house to buy so instead we built new...but built an "old feeling" farm house style home. Love your photography!
ReplyDeleteKatie on the prairie
http://pinkepost.blogspot.com
Oohh...I can hardly wait to check that link out! I always wonder about the people who lived in old homes, too. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love "old" anything too. Great shots of the houses - they are stately, even in disrepair. Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteI'm sticking by your other love - old barns. I'm not one for a lot of decorating or restoring in houseland, but I love me an old barn full of dirt and straw and stray horseshoes and bits. And old wooden crates that held treasures at one time. And pieces of farm equipment made of heavy iron. And old stall doors that barely hang on. :)
ReplyDeleteI love historic homes as well. There is one in our neck of the woods that I would love to have a refurbish. It is pre-Civil War, a mixture of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture and it is huge! My children did an historic project on it a few years back and it is very interesting. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteI love old homes too! If only they could talk..what a story they would tell! And I hate to see them empty and worn down...makes me sad to think that the 'living' of the house is over.
ReplyDeleteI love old things too and especially old homes. I always feel sad when I see a once loved home now sitting neglected and forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI'll check out that link. Thanks!
~Andrea~
I do love old homes and hope to live in one soon (although we want to be able to renovate so it can't be historical, right?). Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteA very nice post today, Farmchick. You struck a chord with lots of bloggers. Are you going to mention having your plumber on speed dial with an old house: Derek, 860-242-xxxx.
ReplyDeleteI'm partial to brick. Love that first one; so much class and history.
ReplyDeleteOooo! I would love to have an old brick two/three story home with pillars in front! Don't even tempt me! We would have to move it brick by brick out here to the farm!
ReplyDeleteWe have some very beautiful old homes in our small town as well. Some of the larger ones now B&B's. The sad part is in the depopulating rural parts of our county. Wrecked and falling down the farmsteads bring to mind a long lost way of life. Sad really.
ReplyDeleteJack - I am lucky that my husband takes care of all the crazy repairs that go on around here.
ReplyDeleteNancy - We actually have a book that is an architectural study of our small town and its historic buildings.
ReplyDeleteI just love old houses too. I could wander around looking at houses on any weekend and be perfectly content. I also love open houses for that reason. I can’t wait to check out this link--thank you!
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Princeton, N. J., where they had so many old homes and I loved that about the town. Thanks for sharing the pictures and the link. You live in a lovely small town.
ReplyDeleteI do love old houses! I am always fascinated by the 100 year old + homes in Denver when I visit my son. There are so many pretty little cottages there as well as large red brick mansions from the gold and silver rush days. I will enjoy looking at the Old House Journal link! Thanks ..I'd love to share that link in a blog post one day if that is ok.
ReplyDeletePat - That would be great for you to share that link on your blog. I have had a alot of fun in the past just perusing the houses listed on that site.
ReplyDeleteFarmchick -- I enjoyed your photos of the intriguing historic homes. I too have long been involved with historic structures especially vernacular. -- barbara
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, I just love old homes. Before moving here I sold my home in Phoenix that was in a historic district. Moving here I found the homes to be way older than what I have ever seen. Unfortunately they are way out of my price range. For now I will just settle for being their neighbor. Love the last photo.
ReplyDeleteThese homes are so pretty....can you imagine cleaning them....they are so big!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, I'll spend some time there!
They look grand, and built to last!
ReplyDeleteA also love old things.
ReplyDeleteI just adore the big old houses. I was raised in a farmhouse that looked much like the third pic. Can you imagine the stories those houses could tell???
ReplyDeleteI sooooo enjoyed this sweetie!
God bless ya and have a marvelous day! :o)
I love old houses as well...actually all things old as well too. Thanks for the link...I'm on my way over there...
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see classic buildings like this used to their maximum time capacity. There is something about a home as opposed to just a house.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous buildings! I'm a sucker for any clump of stones or bricks still sticking together. In Ireland, I took pictures of old run down gates and any two stones together. My kids started pointing them out to me, but in a mocking way...
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tour. I love taking pictures of local architecture too. Each building has a story. Our house was built in 1853 ...the deed is beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteif you want, I can show you the old houses in poland :)
ReplyDeleteWow - these are great shots of majestic homes. I lived in one just like that 1st photo, many years ago. I wonder if it still exists ...
ReplyDeleteHi Farmchick! I missed you in the time I have been absent from blogland! I also love old houses,in America you have the best looking old type houses,we have the Dutch style in the Cape province and I also love the Karoo style houses in the Karoo. I would love to one day live in a English style cottage with a wild, flowery,shrubby garden or a robust log or rock cabin in the mountains with no garden...I can't make up my mind though...!
ReplyDeleteThis is much different from how the do such things here. It is very hard to any kind of information about houses and even apartments and it's a pity because people often live in buildings built in 19th century, with many stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteI love old houses, too. When I pass by them, I often wonder about the people who lived in them long ago.
ReplyDeleteI Love your blog...it is where I belong (in a small town)
ReplyDeleteOne time, my husband asked me, "are we ever going to live in a new house?" and I said, "i hope not!"
ReplyDeleteWhy do I think of American films when I see these big houses???
ReplyDeleteLove those pics. Thinking about those old abandoned houses kinda makes you a little sad and a little nostalgic. I'd love to be able to restore an old house like that. They are my favorite.
ReplyDeleteOld houses are my most favorite thing ever. I quite often look at the link that you posted. I just so happened to stumble across your blog. Love it! Have a great weekend, Candace
ReplyDelete