This Old House

My neighbor stopped me on Monday as I was going to Alex’s baseball game.  He started his conversation with “Hi there.  We were just talking about you guys.” 

This statement always strikes fear in my heart.  I assume the worst.  I just knew he was going to be a little angry that we haven’t mowed the grass around the mailbox all year … or maybe he didn’t particularly care for the beautiful assortment of weeds populating the big planters by said mailbox.  There are only three houses on our road and we most certainly don’t get an award for yard maintenance.  (See this post for proof.)  In our defense, our “driveway” is 1/2 mile long.  It takes enough effort to keep the grass around the house mowed.  Mowing down the 1/2 mile, around the mailbox and planters and then back up the 1/2 mile is more effort than we can put out on a weekly basis.

The look of horror and/or embarrassment on my face must have given away my fear/guilt because he quickly got to the reason for their conversation.  They had been researching the history of their house at the local library and came across a book that listed our house as one of the oldest in this particular township.  It included a picture and a notation that our house was built in 1855!

The house was gutted and completely remodeled around 10 years ago.  The only thing left that is original to the house is the banister and staircase.  I have been in awe at times over the last few days as I walk up and down the stairs.  I wonder how many families have lived in our house.  How many little hands and feet have pattered up and down those stairs?  How many babies have been birthed here?  How many grandparents have sat out on the large porches watching their grandchildren play?

I have wanted to research the history of our house since we bought it almost 5 years ago.  This new discovery has really motivated me to take on this project.  Now that I have a starting point, the task isn’t nearly so overwhelming as I initially thought.