When you buy an old house, you're not just buying an old house.
You're buying the house's history too.
The families who have lived there before you.
The toys they left behind in the attic.
The old papers stuffed in hiding places.
The memories drifting through the air like wispy ghosts.
It's one of the reasons I love old houses.
Our little house was built in 1907, making it 109 years old.
The streets were still dirt then
and our big trees were just saplings trying to survive on the dry prairie.
A streetcar ran from the city to the end of the line in our neighborhood
and our big trees were just saplings trying to survive on the dry prairie.
A streetcar ran from the city to the end of the line in our neighborhood
which was way out on the edge of town.
Now we're only a quick ten minutes from downtown on light rail.
One of the previous residents of our house was the mailman.
He kept the horse he rode to deliver the mail in a stable in our back yard.
Maybe that's why I have a lush garden today!
What do I love in my old house?
I love the wooden floor in the dining room that creaks every time I step on a certain board.
I love the stairs that groan with every trip upstairs but not down.
I love the cracks in the old plaster
even though I've asked Ron to fix that big one by the front window.
even though I've asked Ron to fix that big one by the front window.
I love our tall windows with the original glass, wavy and pocked.
And the ones with original stained-glass.
I don't love the ones with broken sashes that weigh a ton and are hard to open.
That's on the honey-do list too.
I love that the walls in our second story are lined with old Rocky Mountain News newspaper plates, padded with stuffing and tacked onto the old boards for insulation.
I think this plate is dated 1914!
I love the small room tucked into the basement
where the original coal-burning gravity furnace, now converted to gas, lives.
where the original coal-burning gravity furnace, now converted to gas, lives.
With massive arms reaching out in every direction like a giant metal octopus,
it still does a fantastic job of heating the entire house.
I love discovering a boy's report cards hidden in the basement behind the furnace.
Seems his grades weren't very good.
He also hid two champagne glasses
which we put in the dishwasher and use for special occasions.
which we put in the dishwasher and use for special occasions.
He must have been an ornery little boy.
I love not knowing what we're going to find in the attic when we rearrange boxes to store more
stuff in there. So far, we've found toys, paper dolls and a baby's sweet little dress.
stuff in there. So far, we've found toys, paper dolls and a baby's sweet little dress.
I love this velvet headband, shop-class fish, and ceramic perfume bottle.
As we celebrate the 4th of July with its family traditions passed down through the generations,
my thoughts drift to this old house's history -- its families, its quirks, and its memories.
I hope it's still here in another hundred years
and someone finds something that may cause them to wonder about me.
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Linking with:
Designthusiasm, My Soulful Home, Redhead Can Decorate, Rustic & Refined, Dwellings,
Rose Chintz Cottage, Between Naps on the Porch, Cozy Little House, Coastal Charm,
Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, Knick of Time,
A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, The Vintage Nest, Peonies and Orange Blossoms, Poofing the Pillows, Adirondack Girl at Heart, Rooted in Thyme, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage
***
If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's FREE) in the upper right column of this page.
Thank you!
***
Linking with:
Designthusiasm, My Soulful Home, Redhead Can Decorate, Rustic & Refined, Dwellings,
Rose Chintz Cottage, Between Naps on the Porch, Cozy Little House, Coastal Charm,
Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, Knick of Time,
A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, The Vintage Nest, Peonies and Orange Blossoms, Poofing the Pillows, Adirondack Girl at Heart, Rooted in Thyme, Charm of Home, French Country Cottage
Oh, this is wonderful! I love that you so carefully photographed these treasures. Even the furnace.
ReplyDeleteWe found lots of interesting things in our place too. In the basement of our house, there were some big outdoor lights; rewired they now hang in the pergola. Our place is very weird because it started as the village showers, back in the day when the older houses didn't have indoor plumbing.
We also are renovating apartments, 400 years old, in Carcassonne. One family lived there for at least four generations. Many treasures and surprises!
Did you see the movie "Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain"? The MacGuffin is that she drops the ball-like cap of her cologne upon hearing the news that Princess Diana had died. The ball rolls and hits a tile, which comes off. She sees a hole in the wall and reaches in, finding treasures hidden by a boy. She sets out to find him, and that's the movie. Utterly charming.
Thank you for visiting my old house! Yours certainly sounds interesting. I didn't know that villages had communal showers back in the day. I haven't seen that movie but will definitely look for it! Hope you're having a good weekend.
DeleteOld homes are so charming and yours is exceptional, with all it's history. I love that you have preserved those treasures.
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine. I appreciate your taking the time to read about my old house and to comment. We have a big tub full of stuff we've found over the years. One thing that won't fit in the tub is a giant "grease pit" in the back yard, found just recently while digging in the garden. It's about six feet deep and lined with old bricks and cement. I'm surprised I've never fallen into it. You never know what will turn up in an old house!
DeleteHi Pat, I love old houses and their history, we live with old houses, we live, as you so rightly say, with their aches and pains and their creaks and groans. They have looked after so many people that I find them comforting as they continue to give us shelter and look after us. I love your old house and I love everything you are finding, I would be utterly fascinated, thanks for sharing, you have lightened my evening quite considerably. Susan xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Susan. So nice to hear from you; I'm glad, but not surprised, that you appreciated my post on my old house (old for the U.S. at least). Your last comment touched my heart and made me smile. Cheers!
DeleteGreat post. I love your home! I think it would be awesome to live in an older home with all the character, charm and history, but I live in Phoenix where there are very few historical homes, and what there is have prices that are ridiculous and the surrounding areas are questionable (in my opinion). So thanks for sharing your lovely home with us. The bloggers who showcase older homes are my absolute favorites.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanie! Thanks so much for your kind comments. I'm glad to know there are fellow old-house-lovers out there! I hope you visit again soon.
DeleteI've never lived in an old home, but I sure like to visit them. They have so much more character. It sounds like your attic is like shopping in an antique store, except you don't have to pay for anything :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ellis and thanks so much for visiting my old house. The attic would be more fun to explore if you could stand upright in there but you never know what you'll trip over! Enjoy your Sunday!
DeleteWhat a lovely post to read on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Our house is 20 years younger than yours but I can relate to your love of the quirks of an old place.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by. I love to read blogs on Sundays too especially when they involve old houses.
DeleteWhat a lovely post to read on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Our house is 20 years younger than yours but I can relate to your love of the quirks of an old place.
ReplyDeleteI love old houses and other buildings. One of my favorite things to do is tour vintage buildings. Your house is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol. I love to tour old buildings too. In fact, I got to do that today and will have a post on it soon. Let me just say, it was amazing!
DeleteI simply adore old houses. They have so much history, charm, and character. Thanks for sharing your house. It is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you Shannon. I agree that old houses have something you can't replicate in a new house. I'm so glad you liked mine.
DeleteHi Pat! What a lovely story your house provided. What a pleasure to read. Thank you for sharing and linking up at DI & DI. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lori. I'm glad you enjoyed reading about my old house.
DeleteI have always loved old houses too. Their charm is what gets me. I love their quirkiness and the history that lies within. When Hubby and I are out for a drive, I always search for the old abandoned houses and wonder who lived there and how many children played in the yard. I can imagine the smell of freshly baked apple pies cooling on the window sill and Christmas trees with the family gathered around it. You are blessed to live in one and I enjoyed reading about it. Your photos are wonderful as well and what treasures you have come across in yours! Thanks so much for sharing with us and have a delightful day, Pat.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
Hi there Sandi! I know just what you mean and you put it so well. There was an old house on our corner. It had been desserted for years and they tore it down and built a modern monstrosity. So sad. But we always wondered about who had lived there. Since it was a corner lot it had a huge yard that was probably always full of family and dogs playing. I'm so glad you enjoyed my old house and thank you for visiting.
DeleteWow! What wonderful finds. I've lived in my home for nearly 50 years and hope that future owners come across such treasures.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting my old house. I'm closing in on your 50 years with 29! You'll have to hide something for future owners to find! Hope you visit again soon.
DeleteI love this post because it describes me and my house. The left behind treasures are a wonderful history of a lived in home. Although I think my house is slowly killing my sinuses and allergies, I love all that is old about it. We found a lot of cool stuff here too, like doors and windows, galvanized buckets and old wooden pharmacy shipping boxes. We just painted our dining room after stripping the old wallpaper and fixed the cracks just enough. Our home dates to 1870.
ReplyDeleteThank you AnnMarie. Lucky you to live in a home built in 1870. It's an adventure isn't it but sorry your allergies are a problem. So glad you enjoyed my post.
DeleteI enjoyed your post so much . . . two years ago we purchased a house built in 1905. The way into the attic was closed off and we have no idea where it may have been. Therefore; we have never been up there. The question is, would it be worth it to cut a hole . . . is there anything up there, or not? It's a total mystery.
ReplyDeleteWhat would you do?
Thanks for commenting Connie. What would I do? Definitely cut a hole and check it out. A house that old has to have some cool stuff in the attic. Let me know and good luck!
DeleteThank you for sharing at SYC! :) Jo
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo.
DeletePat, I love this post!! I love old houses as well, but have never lived in one. Although the house we live in now is built where the old McDaniel farm was. I sometimes find treasures when digging in the garden. Recently we planted a pine and dug up an old saw blade. It now is highlighted in my garden. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Hi Jann. Isn't it fun to find buried treasures? My best one was an old grease pit in the back yard about six feet deep and lined with old bricks. I'm amazed I never fell into it when digging in the garden. Your old saw blade sounds cool and must look great in your garden. Hugs back,
DeleteI feel the same way! Our home is 115 years old, and we are the 4th generation to inhabit it. We have found some amazing things in our attic and walls, as well! At one time, the only insulation in our living room was some newspaper from the '20's. Hubs also found some very antique clothing while insulating the attic crawlspace. It made it more special to know that my ancestors wore those clothes! I found this on Thursday Favorite Things, and I love it! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Martha. It's so nice to know there are other people out there that share our love of old houses. Your old house sounds wonderful. I love to imagine your ancestors in their vintage clothes!
DeletePat, I enjoyed hearing about your old house. Your pictures are great. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sylvia. I hope you visit my old house again soon.
DeleteThis is so sweet. You have a love affair with your house and that's how it should be. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at Thoughts of Home and have a wonderful weekend. :)
Thank you so much Stacey. My house loves me too and takes good care of me! Happy 4th!
DeleteHi Pat. Came back by to tell you this post is being featured at Thoughts of Home tomorrow. ;)
DeleteYou shared much of what I love about old houses! I love the report card hidden in the basement and I can just picture the boy who hid it there!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my old house. I can picture him too. In fact, his sister showed up at our door one day and wanted to see her old home. She shared some fun stories about the family that once lived here.
DeleteBeautiful home filled with history and sweet treasures! So blessed!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
Thank you so much Cindy for your sweet comments. I feel blessed to live in this wonderful old home. Happy 4th!
Deletelove all your lucky finds. really gives the house a history.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting.
DeleteWhat a charming home. I am sure it has lots of stories to tell. Love that you have found so many treasures in your home. I too have an older colonial home. Mine was built in 1920 and it is still just as beautiful. We still have the original huge furnace too. It works perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder about the people that lived in our home. The memories created here and the ones that remain.
Thank you for sharing your homes incredible beauty.
Janet
Thank you Janet. Your house sounds wonderful. You're so right about the people who lived there before you. I appreciate your sweet comments.
DeleteSuch a lovely post, Pat. My how that old house has spoken to you :) I bet "she" appreciates having someone live in her who values the herstory (ha ha). Thanks for linking up with us at Vintage Charm!
ReplyDeleteThanks Diana. So glad you enjoyed my post and a visit to my house. She has quite a herstory.
DeleteI love old houses too. That furnace looks like the one in Home Alone that scared Kevin! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherry. When I bought the house almost 30 years ago, the inspector said I'd probably need a new furnace within a couple of years. But it's still working perfectly and will probably keep on tickin' for another hundred years!
DeleteFound you through Decor to Adore's linky party. I loved your post and I had so much fun reading it. My parents raised us in a home that is around the same age of yours. It was the site of the first Catholic mass in our hometown! Several priests lived there, then someone bought it and lived there for 40 years. My parents owned it for 60 years. Thanks for bringing back all those memories!
ReplyDelete