Modem Doesn't Live Here Anymore

[Modem Butterfly]

Our house was built in 1911, old enough that the bathrooms and kitchen aren't original. It was lovely high ceilings, crown molding, heart of pine floors, pocket doors between the parlor and the dining room, flagstone steps, a big porch and transom windows with wide sills. The property is like a park, nearly an acre with big oak trees and several dogwoods. It's really close to Atlanta, only a couple of miles from the perimeter and just outside Vinings. And in a month, maybe a little longer, it will be gone.

We bought this house in 1997 as a fixer-upper. It needed a new roof, new plumbing, new wiring, and central AC. My parents had single-handedly remodled and re-remodled their house with less money and more kids than us, and I just knew we could really do something with the place. Well, we were naive, and inexperienced. We kept the place standing, more or less, but we didn't really make it great. We never really did it justice.

A couple of years ago, a developer started buying up all of our neighbors, one be one. They made us an offer, and we turned it down. They made a second offer, and we turned them down. They gave us a third offer for roughly double the value, and hinted the next step was to get the county involved. We got a lawyer, who advised us to take it before the county exercised "eminent domain" in the name of urban renewal. "Anyway, it's a great offer. You should be happy,"

So, with a gun pointed at our heads, we took the offer and bought a newer house nearby. My partner is happy. I'm happy. But I will miss my house. I'll miss the enormous old trees. I'll miss the sense of connectedness to all the people who've lived and died here. I'll miss the iffy wiring and the wonky plumbing. I'll miss roasting in the summer and freezing in the winter. I'll miss the nine-pane door with it's brass knob and the clawfoot tub upstairs. But mostly I'll miss sitting on the windowseat in our bedroom, looking down at the dogwoods in spring and thinking about the other women who've sat there, and really feeling I was home.

[DIKB]

1. Just goes to show

To some people, newer isn't always better. It's sad that they can force you move from your own home, my heart goes out to you.

[cornermouse]

2. Older houses have personality and individualism.

Newer houses really aren't much fun.

[demnan]

3. I understand

I missed the home I was a child in for years. It was a huge funky Victorian home my Grandfather built in the 1920's. He planted all the oak trees too along the street I grew up on. This was in Alexandria, Virginia, really close to D.C. He built two homes next to an elementary school where I grew up, and we lived in one, and he and grandma in the other. I had a neat bedroom with a huge closet I could crawl up into, hide and just adore as I lay on the linens there.

Because of various reasons regarding the schools in the 60's (my brother was beaten up every day - so much anger when they integrated the schools) - we moved. I drive by that house every now and then. I still long to live there, but now those houses are worth close to a million dollars. My granddad never got beyond the 9th grade, so that is something. He died long before they represented great wealth.

It is something to live in an old home with a soul, and a life of its own. I know you will miss it.

[Droopy]

4. I had a similar house that I restored

It was built in 1926. It was a 2 1/2 story. My dad and I did all the work except for the roof. We're talking landscaping, plumbing, refinishing floors, paint, and electrical work. It cost me around $15,000 to do it all, but it was beautiful when we got done. I sold the house for a modest profit. I wish I still had it now.

[Zuni]

5. fuck urban renewal

that shit has ruined cities all over this country

I like the old school houses---they have much more charm

[Modem Butterfly]

8. On the plus side...

... it's a sign of growing desire to live closer to town, which results in less use of gas. I have to keep positive or else I'll get depressed thinking about how the land our home now sits on will be subdivided into ten lots...

[El Fuego]

6. It is a shame you lost your house.

It seems like a crime that you were forced to give it up by a greedy developer.

I love older houses. Cookie cutter new construction doesn't have heart and soul.

[NJCher]

7. what an essay, Modem

It really tells the joys and pains of an old house. I especially liked the last paragraph.

I am so sorry this had to happen to you. I'm not sure I could bear it if it happened to me.

Would it be possible for you to get some of the unique parts of the house, like a door or two or some other architectural elements? You could weave them into your new house so you always had a touch of the old house with you.


Cher

[Modem Butterfly]

9. We're taking the door knobs and one internal door

All of the knobs are either brass or glass. The doors are all heavy solid oak and won't hang right in a modern house, but one door was used to record the heights of chidren who lived here. The earliest legible year is 1920. That door is coming with us. I'm not sure what we'll do with it, but it's ours.