Today we saw an abandoned and neglected property that we had built and moved into in 1981.
This workshop was built before the house… it was a 40' x 80' Steiner arch building with a concrete floor.
Our kids used to call this place "the Garden of Weeden." But they never saw anything this out of control.
The weeds growing thru the cracks in the concrete and pavement had ugly burrs.
Isn't this an amazing pattern of weeds?
It was hard to get to around the house to the front door for the weeds and trees that have overgrown the place.
This is the back door… the entrance to the mud room.
Welcome to the front door! The same door we got from Glenmore Millwork. Originally the house had cedar shingle roof and authentic wood siding… which later got replaced with maintenance free vinyl siding and asphalt shingles.
Peeking thru the entrance window we saw all the floor coverings removed and most of the drywall gone.
The original cabinets built by Merv Waldo are still there… but the ceiling drywall and floor coverings are removed.
Shelby and I played 567 games of ping pong in this rec room before he beat his dad for the first time… and ever since then he has been hard to beat. Even today we still play a tight game.
A wonderful cedar sauna and hot tub room are to the right of this room.
Looking into the property from Gates Road… we had 20 acres here.
The most redeeming thing of this visit was to find our neighbours who still live across from mom and dad's olds farmhouse… the Ficke's. Rose and Ron Ficke with their mother, who is 93.
It is truly amazing to see her walking up and down the steep part of Gates Road pushing her walker.
I don't often find a quote from someone I've actually met… but this is from the world famous brain surgeon Ben Carson.
"Every time I am looking into the depths of somebody's brain, I'm thinking, 'This is what makes a person who they are. That structure contains memories. Everything that they ever experienced is right in there'."
Wow! That's sad. I guess it's true: you can't go home.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how they neglect and damage the house, it's incredible surroundings and views remain, as do your memories.
That's right Brent. The house may get pushed over to make way for a new subdivision, but they cannot touch my memories… of which we have many good ones.
ReplyDeleteYeah, a pretty depressing post. Nobody could afford to live there? Watching Glenrosa get built out has been pretty amazing..
ReplyDeleteI was told it was purchased for development for 3 million… but I don't understand why they have gutted the house and then just stopped work.
ReplyDeleteMe thinks the house may just get renovated with a D-8.
It's not that they couldn't afford to live there… but it really wrecks a good development to have to work a subdivision around an existing house.
What a beautiful place! It’s just a bit disappointing that you have to see the barn, house, and everything else come crashing down. Thankfully the Ficke’s family went by and somehow lighten up your mood. What is your plan, by the way? Are you going to rebuild it?
ReplyDeleteOlene @ RogersRoofing.com