About This Site!
In August of 2003 Colleen and I went to go see about a house. We had seen a few houses in the preceding weeks, and although they were nice, nothing really stood out. We were still looking, but only half-heartedly. Going to the next town that day was not on my A-list. Fortunately, though, I agreed and off we went.
Until that day, neither of us dreamed of restoring an old house. When we arrived, that changed. The house spoke to us. We listened. Awed by the state of preservation and the untouched original details, we were able to see beyond the peeling paint and the overgrown shrubs. We knew that beneath a tired countenance lay a stately late Victorian city house needing only the aid of committed hands to restore its dignity.
Leaving the house after that first showing, we maintained a somewhat reserved attitude about it, but there was no denying, the house had already enlisted us. A few weeks later, we became the fourth family to reside within its walls.
Restoration began, with a hammer in one hand and a digital camera in the other. The journey so far has been quite a ride. We have learned much about the house, restoration, and ourselves. The challenges we have encountered have tested us in ways physically and emotionally. Living in a state of disarray day after day can jeopardize the morale of even the most ardent restoration soldiers There seems no end to the toil an old house can deal out, but the rewards, though few at the start, are very gratifying. We focus on the goal, and celebrate the progress we have made.
Why do people love old houses? Why do we want to spend our time, patience, and money in this pursuit? Old house lovers feel humbled by the workmanship, they feel joy living amongst the character, and they feel connected to the past when living within walls that seem to defy time. The house becomes a bridge to this simpler time; in essence you feel as if you are a chapter in the house's larger story. You are not an owner, you are a steward, and with stewardship comes the responsibility to preserve. Preservation enlivens this connection to the past. A connection that can be felt when you run your hand over a carved banister, or gaze through a wavy glass window pane, or watch the firelight reflect from an oak floor. What do old house lovers hear when their houses speak? They hear laughter, and sorrow; they feel the warmth of hundreds of holiday memories; the smell of family dinners and the chatter of family gatherings through the decades. They feel the births, deaths, comings and goings; the dozens of lives who have all passed under the roof above. They are somehow distinct yet connected through time and often family. The house's memories are as deep as roots from which its timbers were hewn.
The true reward is not simply creating a beautiful space to live. Nor is it learning to drywall, wire, plumb, or any other skill learned along the way. Although those are indeed perks, the true reward is helping to preserve something worthy for future generations to enjoy. In a time when our architectural heritage is being lost to the ambivalent hand of the developer, every antique house saved is a gift to future generations. In those generations there will be some who, like today, value the simple character of the past, understand that it needs to be preserved, and who can hear old houses speak.
Dave & Colleen
