Monday, April 19, 2010

Visitors from the Past

Sweet Bee Cottage

Saturday we had the most interesting drop in visitors.  People I've never met before and I let them into my house and it wasn't that clean.  Why would I do such a thing?

Our surprise visitor (and his wife) was a son of the family that built our house.  We were working in the front yard when they pulled up and we started chatting and next thing I knew I invited them in.

What a treat it was.  Our house was built in 1951 when he was in sixth grade, I believe, and it was one of the first in our neighborhood.  He told tales of digging tunnels and caves under all the open land.  He told of sending morse code over lines his father strung in the backyard.  He told of flashing signals with flashlights to neighbors across and down the street.  He showed us where he and his two brothers and parents ate dinner every night.  He told of the dog that laid in front of the wall heater in the kitchen and would then fart.  He showed us where his brother and mother played the piano.  (Funny, I've often thought our piano would be just perfect in the same spot.)  

His tales explained mysteries about our house.  Why were there so many electrical outlets on our garage workbench?  Why was there a hole in the ceiling of the workbench area? How old is our huge Modesto Ash in the middle of the backyard?  Why are there two sets of wiring in our house?  

We are the fourth owners of this house and most of the previous owners have passed on.  What a delight it was to meet someone who could share its stories with us.  

I wish I had thought to take pictures.

Do you wonder what stories will be told about your home?
 

20 comments:

  1. Wow, how fun to have visitors like that! I've never thought about the fact that someone else will live here someday. That's an interesting thought.

    My dad's house is 100 years old this year. He is refurbishing it and is almost finished. People stop by pretty regularly to tell him tales of living or visiting the house. He gets a big kick out of it.

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  2. My parents retired from Chicago to California in the 60's. About ten years ago during one of their return visits, I packed a lunch, put my parents and my kids in my car, and spent a day driving to EVERY Chicago home and neighborhood Grandma and Grandpa had lived in since their childhoods. All of the buildings were still standing, but some of the schools had been torn down, and virtually all of the businesses were gone. I took photos everywhere. While posing my mom in front of a GORGEOUS greystone 3-flat that she had lived in as a girl, we met the owner, who invited us in. The wiring and appliances had been updated, of course, but the fabulous wood floors and fireplace were restored to their original glory. I'm not sure who was more excited by the tour -- my mom, the owner, or me. (Her home was spotless, but I think she would've let us in anyway.)

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  3. How cool is that!! I know it was great for you all!!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  4. What a great day and story!!
    He probably enjoyed it as much as you did! Not many people would do what you did..that was so nice!

    Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham

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  5. How neat for both parties to make that connection. So often when people "go home" to see what it's like where they use to live they are disapointed. I bet they loved how you care about your home!
    Hugs,
    Dawn

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  6. The visit must have been so much fun! You have the cutest house with the picket fence! Love it!!
    Blessings,
    Donna

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  7. It's so much fun to have visitors like that. Is that your house in the picture? It is really sweet.

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  8. Our house was built in 1956 and we are the second owners. It is funny to think about others living in our house. When we moved in the walls were painted dark colors, which we of course repainted. But makes you wonder for sure.

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  9. that is neat and must have really made his day to get the chance to see it again and share his memories. How nice you did that for him regardless of a mess inside... I am sure it wasn't that bad....:0 Thanks for sharing ...Mica/The Child's Paper

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  10. Love your post. I am going to post the history of our little Cape someday, after we get moved back in. :)
    Love your picket fence!
    Robin

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  11. I'm sure this was a wonderful afternoon getting to hear about the beginnings of your sweet cottage. I would love to hear stories of my home's beginnings.
    Thanks so much for popping in to see me and I hope you'll join my party on May 7th. There's a little button on my sidebar that will tell you all about it. Hope to see you!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  12. That was a treat for you and the son. I've often wanted to go back into the house my dad grew up in. A very special day!

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  13. First, I'm so happy to see a picture of Sweet Bee Cottage! I love the picket fence and that arch or trellis. The name isn't coming to me now, but I've always wanted one! So cottage-y!
    I'm pretty lucky to know the family that lived in our home from the very beginning, and know alot of the history and have pictures of the house when it was first built. We even have the receipt from Sears Roebuck! It was so nice of you to invite that man into your home. I bet it meant the world to him!

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  14. What a great story...your home is wonderful..it looks like the perfect cottage....blessings

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  15. How wonderfully charming to have such visitors! I've often thought about stopping by the my family's first house and seeing if it was just like I remember!

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  16. This was such a great story...no need for photo's but I wish you had taken some. You see, I was right there with all of you as you walked through the house and yard. I could almost hear the man talking as he told of the dog and..his..um..habit! :)
    Just the entire thing..and the house! It is a little doll house. How I would love a little white fence like that out front! Maybe some day. And those tree's in front! How I love large tree's in a front yard. Those add to the home and make it so cozy looking.
    I must check the rest of your blog to see if there are photo's of the entire rooms...usually people just take pictures of objects.
    What a GREAT thing to happen! Makes me all teary to think of how they must have felt going back in time!
    Sorry this is so long. (I do that sometimes!)
    Hugs,
    Mona

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  17. What a fun surprise that was! I'm sure getting to go inside meant as much to him as it did to you to hear the stories of his youth in the house. Aren't you glad you out in the yard when they came by? Great story. laurie

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  18. That was nice! I guess I won't experience that seeing as we're the only owners of our home. We bought it new and expect to be here until we can no longer look after it. But yours tells a lot of tales. How wonderful for you to know them. Thanks for sharing.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  19. What fun to have happened upon the previous owners...or I should say they happened upon you! I just love stories like that...that happened in a much smaller way on my previous post about the secretary desk I found...a little history was tucked away inside!

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  20. Your cottage is soo adorable! Love the entryway and the color of the front door is so welcoming!

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