The house I grew up in is being torn down

[ThoughtCriminal]

I lived there from age 3 to age 12. There are no records, but the house was probably 130-140 years old.

It was a hard house to maintain and cold in the winter, but it was a great home to grow up in. Large lot, with a wooded area in back dense enough to make hide-and seek a real challenge. My brother and I built not just one, but two tree houses. The house itself was not really large, but it seemed big to me then. The inside had an odd floor plan from multiple additions - we could run around in circles from room to room. A spooky attic with stairs that lead to our bedroom. A tin roof that echoed every rain drop. A huge inviting porch with a swing. So many memories. I wish I could have seen the inside one more time. :cry:

[Droopy]

1. Sounds like a neat place

I love old houses. I used to own a 2.5 story that was built in 1926. When I bought it, the interior needed restored and it needed a new roof as well as some landscaping. I bought it to flip, but I underestimated how much money it was going to take due to inexperience. But my dad and I fully restored the place and it was beautiful when we got it done. I wish I could have kept the house, but it was more debt than I could afford after I took out that second mortgage for repairs.

[scubadude]

2. Wow, does this sound familiar....

The "farm" that my family moved into when I was 13 has been sold and for all I know has been demolished already. The home was one of the oldest in Kankakee County, built in 1853. It didn't have tin roof but it did have several additions where the hired help lived (back in the day), and 3 staircases that went to them. There were 8 wooded acres and several outbuildings too. It was a huge old place, with 7 bedrooms and a bathroom that was added on probably in the 40's or 50's.

I didn't have any tree-houses there, but did make several forts. It was a wonderful place to spend my youth. We had a horse and pony, and I had a mini-bike that my uncle gave me.

I threw many meteor shower parties there, and even a few DU members made it out to enjoy the country sky. I had the party for over 30 consecutive years. Many folks besides me loved and enjoyed it.

I'm very lucky that someone gave me 2 valentines hearts today, because my heart was broken when the gavel went down on the sale the rest of my "family" insisted was the best way to sell it. I guarantee you it wasn't.

With more kinship and warmth than you know,

Scuba

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. That sounds like a great home

I can understand your loss. My parents sold our old house over 38 years ago and the same family apparently lived there until a year or two ago and finally sold it for an insanely high price (historic neighborhood that has become very popular).

I did a virtual visit in Google Earth's street view. I guess it will be there for a while.

[jobycom]

4. That sucks. Here's one of the houses I grew up in

After Katrina


The next two houses I lived in were torn down long before. Sucks losing a memory like that. Yours sounds like a special place.

[seaker]

5. Your memories are sweet and empowering