We can get sentimental about houses if they are in the family for a long time.
This house was finished in about 1947.
My Mom and Dad had four little kids and their house was terrible. It was small...14 x 24 , old and poorly built. There was no insulation. There was no electricity . My Mom labored under horrible conditions.
They had talked about getting a better house but the problem was they didn't have any money. Finally, they found a piece of land with a house. They moved the house to their farm yard and the project started. They tore part of the house down and put on an addition. When it was finished they had a fairly large story and a half house that was insulated and had electricity.
This is a very poor photo of the house but it's the only one I have.
They had something that they liked. It had space for their kids. Some of us had separate beds and there was lots of room for kids to play when it was cold. They would also be able to have guests and have friends come to visit.
I lived in the house from 1948 to 1957. It was long enough to become attached to the place. Mom and Dad lived in it to about 1969. During those times it was vacant from time to time. My brother and sister-in-law moved in and lived in it from 1973 to about 2010. My brother did some renovations from time to time.
With family farms , there comes a time when there's no more family to take over. My brother left for more comfortable lodging. My youngest brother bought the land but didn't need the house so the house remained empty.
Now sometime in the spring the house will be torn down.
So the old house served it's purpose but it left us with many good memories.
I am sorry to hear about this Red. We certainly can and do get sentimental about houses when they were an important part of our lives and the lives of those we care about. I enjoyed hearing about your childhood home. It sounds like your parents built it into the home of their dreams. Maybe some of your relatives have other pictures of the house and they could send you copies.
ReplyDeleteI think I might have other photos.
DeleteIt's a lovely looking house, Red. My parents have lived in the same house since before I was born. I'm not sure what will happen when they don't live there anymore, it's a nice house but not up to modern expectations
ReplyDeleteIn small agricultural communities many homes have to be abandoned because nobody needs them.
DeleteIf it's visible from the road there will be photos on google that you might like to copy
ReplyDeleteGood Idea!
DeleteHere in the UK of course our main building material for houses is brick which makes them a bit more durable I suppose, although whenever we have visited US (many times) I have always envied the beautiful wooden houses. But it is sad to see houses falling into disrepair - especially so I think our brick ones. There are many terraces of houses in the old mining and industrial areas of our towns and in the case of mining often villages where the houses are empty, boarded up and just look sad.
ReplyDeleteThe agricultural population in western Canada is steadily falling the farms get larger and larger.
DeleteSounds funny to move a house, here that is impossible. Sad it has been destroyed now. But you still have the nice memories.
ReplyDeleteBuildings and houses are still moved here. Here buildings are made of wood.
DeleteHello, Red
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about the fire in your child hood home. I am sure you many happy memories of the home and your family. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!
I hadn't really thought about memories but yes there are many.
DeleteI think you approach this event in your life with a certain amount of equanimity.
ReplyDeleteThis is important. When I look at families who have lost everything in, say, a fire or a flood, they hitch up their pants and carry on. It sounds like the house served its time.
It was not going to used again fire or no fire.
DeleteFew things become as meaningful to us all as a house, particularly a family home we lived in when we were young. When my Mom sold our childhood home it felt very sad and strange. I'm sorry about the fire and that your house must be torn down, but I guess all things come to an end. Maybe you can sneak in and get a souvenir -- a doorknob, a window, a mantelpiece?
ReplyDeleteTime goes on and we realize it was just a house but something like this brings back many memories.
DeleteI enjoyed hearing about how the house came to be, and how much love must have been in those walls over the years. And I do know how people get attached to places like that. Sorry to hear it's now just history. :-(
ReplyDeleteWell, it's a house and nobody was hurt.
DeleteWe sometimes think the places we love will never changes or disappears, but that is not true. YOu have the photos and memories.
ReplyDeleteOld wooden structures are not that durable.
Delete...sorry to hear of the lost, but the memories still remain.
ReplyDeleteIt brings back many memories.
DeleteSo sorry that you lost this home to a fire, but you will always have your memories.
ReplyDeleteI've got lots of them. I might even post one or two!
DeleteA house holds so many memories. But even when it's gone, we can re-visit in our heads anytime we wish. Was the fire a recent one?
ReplyDeleteThe fire was last week . Yes the memories are the important things.
DeleteLots of memories you have of this house.
ReplyDeleteThis brings back many of the memories.
DeleteA recycled house! It’s always good when something old can serve a new purpose and it sounds like this house served well for several families. Still, it’s a shame it burned down.
ReplyDeleteSome intensive labor went into this place. Originally it was all volunteer or shared labor.
DeleteA lot of memories attached to that place.
ReplyDeleteYes, some good memories and some bad.
DeleteHi Red, I’m sorry to hear about this. My family home is now owned by folks not related to me and it is far away too. Even so, I have a lot of great memories about that place and would be sad if it was damaged. Have you determined what to do with the property after the home is torn down?
ReplyDeleteThis is a farmhouse so the property is farmland. The house wasn't needed.
DeleteMy parents moved out of my family home on a small farm in Oregon about years ago. It was sold and extensively remodeled. It's still there, but
ReplyDeleteI doubt i will ever drive by it again. My Oregon farm folks are long gone.
I don't get back home much. The last time I was there was in 2008.
DeleteI think I'd be sentimental about the house I live in now but I have no sentimental attachment to any other house I've lived in. I'd not thought about it until your post and my reaction has quite surprised me.
ReplyDeleteHow sad that the old house your parents had to strive so hard for should end this way.
ReplyDeleteWe do have memories from the homes where we lived with people we love. The one I feel most attached to is the one where I spent my early childhood. I have many fond memories from that time!
ReplyDeleteHow sad for your memories. My home I lived in is still standing. I can see it from the side street. I cant believe mine is still there . I am 77 so it remains. I heard someone has bought it years ago. I tried to go see it many years ago but someone told me there is a big Police dog lose on the grounds. I am not chancing it.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, Red... That's really hard. I wish you could take more photos of it for posterity. It sounds like such an interesting house.
ReplyDeletehouses where we born and grow with our parents and siblings become kind of strong part of our existence dear Red
ReplyDeletethis is really touching post ,you shared it beautifully as i could see the whole so closely
i can imagine how important that house is for you and your family as it served it's purpose to fullest
it will be torn down yet it will always stay in your heart as sublimely as it used to be :)
That is so sad that it burned down...good thing you still have your memories!
ReplyDelete