Comments on: The Joys of Living in a 120 year old house http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/ Your online simplicity village Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:07:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Donna K http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Donna K Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:03:22 +0000 http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/#comment-265 Living in an old house does have its joys and frustrations. I live in a 100+ year old farmhouse which has been in my husband's family since the mid 1940's. We know the family that his parents purchased the farm from and were honored to have two of the "children" that grew up in the house visit us this past fall for a tour of their childhood home. These two are in their 80's and 90 and still remember how their home used to look, even with the many changes that have been made. They were able to tell us what the various out-buildings had been used for and where trees, long gone, once stood. My adult daughter, who lived in this house all her life until she married, also thoroughly enjoyed the visit and soaked up all this information. I could give you a long list of things that need to be fixed in our old house but this visit made me realize that many people do not have the longevity in one home and connection to past owners that we have experienced. I have a greater appreciation for my old house, even when the wind blows right through it! Living in an old house does have its joys and frustrations. I live in a 100+ year old farmhouse which has been in my husband’s family since the mid 1940’s. We know the family that his parents purchased the farm from and were honored to have two of the “children” that grew up in the house visit us this past fall for a tour of their childhood home. These two are in their 80’s and 90 and still remember how their home used to look, even with the many changes that have been made. They were able to tell us what the various out-buildings had been used for and where trees, long gone, once stood. My adult daughter, who lived in this house all her life until she married, also thoroughly enjoyed the visit and soaked up all this information.

I could give you a long list of things that need to be fixed in our old house but this visit made me realize that many people do not have the longevity in one home and connection to past owners that we have experienced. I have a greater appreciation for my old house, even when the wind blows right through it!

]]> By: rjwade http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/comment-page-1/#comment-242 rjwade Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:33:33 +0000 http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/#comment-242 I spent a day helping a friend remove lathe and plaster preparatory to a full remodel on his turn-of-the-century farmhouse. It was a messy job but well worth the effort as we found some old hand tools and a serious stack of old sheet music. He was interested in neither and I scooped them up rather than seeing them go to the trash. Something worth considering, if you choose to do a remodel, is retain some examples of the old wallpaper and what-have-you for creating a shadow box. It's a neat way of displaying the various interesting house related items you might find. I spent a day helping a friend remove lathe and plaster preparatory to a full remodel on his turn-of-the-century farmhouse. It was a messy job but well worth the effort as we found some old hand tools and a serious stack of old sheet music. He was interested in neither and I scooped them up rather than seeing them go to the trash.

Something worth considering, if you choose to do a remodel, is retain some examples of the old wallpaper and what-have-you for creating a shadow box. It’s a neat way of displaying the various interesting house related items you might find.

]]> By: cpthegreat http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/comment-page-1/#comment-241 cpthegreat Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:51:22 +0000 http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/#comment-241 That is wonderful that you found the original owners! We have the names of ours (ours was built in 1885), but there has been so many people since that finding any relatives would be almost impossible. At my sister's house, however, she has become friends with the daughter who was raised her the house. Enjoy your house - I hope it's warm on these very cold days (ours isn't!). That is wonderful that you found the original owners! We have the names of ours (ours was built in 1885), but there has been so many people since that finding any relatives would be almost impossible.

At my sister’s house, however, she has become friends with the daughter who was raised her the house.

Enjoy your house – I hope it’s warm on these very cold days (ours isn’t!).

]]> By: Sarah N http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/comment-page-1/#comment-240 Sarah N Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:48:47 +0000 http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2008/01/02/the-joys-of-living-in-a-120-year-old-house/#comment-240 What a neat story! I love old farmhouses - so much character and history. Please do keep us updated on other interesting finds. What a neat story! I love old farmhouses – so much character and history. Please do keep us updated on other interesting finds.

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