My Old House

Our house was originally built in 1901. During that same year the electric typewriter was invented, Teddy Roosevelt came into the presidency, and a little book entitled, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", came into publication. At the onset it did not have electricity nor indoor plumbing. Part of what was a very large, active farm, it sat empty for quite a few years before our neighbor renovated it in the 1980's. Apparently it was a mere shell of the original house and raccoons were living in it. The furniture guy was so keen to tell me this tidbit upon his delivery visit. A detail about its existence I could have done without.

The original details of the house were lost many years ago. However, we are fortunate that it is an entirely up to date, functioning older home...with all of the eccentricites that come with a home of this age. I will say that we found the original claw foot tub in the barn, where it had been used as a trough. Through the talents of Secret Agent Man it was totally renovated and brought back to life as an outdoor tub, that is terrific for summertime soaking. But, that is another post for another time.....

Several year ago a very elderly lady, named Olive, came to our house and asked to come inside. She explained that her dad had built our house. She looked around and then told the story of how she sat at the bottom of the staircase and listened in on her parent's conversation in the parlor. They were discussing their divorce, which at the time was not the norm in society. I like to think that in this old house most things work part of the time and all things work some of the time. The floors slope...just a bit and the stairs can be a smidge creaky.

She is a lovely structure that has witnessed the coming of electricity, plumbing, a paved road, and goings of many a family and time. She continues to hold up under the weight and strain of four busy people, seasonal changes, and stresses of modern life.

With only a mere hiccup every now and again...bless her heart.