Are We Walking to Alaska

Are We Walking to Alaska
Are We Walking to Alaska - A True Story

Sunday, October 8, 2017

There's Nothing Like A New House

No - NOT my house - and not really new.  But it is a favorite.  We discovered it a couple years ago in the Columbia neighborhood - it was built in 1895 and was in terrible condition.  Someone was living there, but nothing has been done to the house almost since it was built.
 The roof seems to be in good condition - and today we noticed that the house is receiving a make-over.  Hurrah!!!!  I'm so happy for the old house.  I have been concerned that it would be torn down and replaced with modern apartments.  
  Before - painted in blues - and after - painted a light tan with black trim - she really sparkles now
This old candelabra was just hanging on the side porch - no candles in it when we last saw it - and it has been removed now.

 It was a pretty piece  with spring flowers blooming nearby - no before and after - just wanted to show it in its setting
 The porch had deteriorated so badly that it couldn't be used anymore - you can see how warped the floor of the porch was, under the wicker chair
 And now, on the right - the floor is flat and usable once again.  You can also see the contrast of the old fence on the left - and its new coat of paint on the right
 Raggedy old steps - unsafe and siding falling off


 Two pretty spring photos from earlier this year - the photo on the right is a little cottage next door, which I think belongs to the big house
 A window - old on the left - repaired on the right
 The side yard has been cleared out - there was the old archway leading to the house - falling down and broken
 So much more inviting on the right side
The turret was in sad shape - peeling paint and rotting boards - but that has all been redone - looks fresh and new





Spring and Autumn - what a difference.  My heart is happy for the old house.

Tuesday's Treasures


15 comments:

Pondside said...

It's so good to see that someone cares for the town's heritage. We are too quick to tear down and replace these lovely old houses.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, it is great to see this lovely home looking beautiful once again. I love the turret and the porch. Reminds me of HGTV show called This Old House.

Happy Monday and enjoy your new week ahead.

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

My heart is happy too for the Old Place!! Love this house and I would be honored to be living in such a beautiful Old Girl!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! You asked where I store everything. Here is a link to a post that I did a few years back: http://adebbie-dabblechristmas.blogspot.com/2015/01/where-do-i-put-it-all-and-planning-for.html
Hugs,
Debbie

The Furry Gnome said...

Nice to see an old house saved. Someone's put a lot of effort into that.

Lorrie said...

I love seeing an old house come to life again. So much better than tearing it down and replacing it with multi-family dwellings. It's such a pretty house, too.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

OH me too -- always makes me happy when something with this much potential can be saved ... wonderful old home and it is going to be even more wonderful for whoever lives there. Since it is a historical home, they may open it up for tours once a year or so ... at least here in Oregon people who choose to take advantage of a tax break for owning and keeping up an historical home have to take part in an annual open house. Anyway, it would be fun to peek inside this one wouldn't it?

Angie said...

What a wonderful post! I love old Victorian houses and they are so beautiful when properly maintained and painted in bright colors! Like you, it makes my heart happy that someone has started to love this house again. Have a wonderful week!

Kim said...

What a beautiful house. How I would love to walk through it and look at all the nooks and crannies. How exciting this old beauty is now being loved. Beautiful barns, beautiful old houses.....love your posts, JoAnn. Oh, I forgot LOVE the photo of the truck with the pumpkins. Such a very cool truck!

J said...

WOW! What a treasure that house is! And how much fun to see your pictures of its transition back to the stately queen it once was! I hope they'll return the candelabra to its original position and let it glow in the evening - and festoon windows with wreaths at Christmas and the porch with flag bunting on the 4th of July.
Thanks for this interesting post - a nice break from the crazy-busyness I'm immersed in now that hasn't allowed me much blog-visiting time!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Love that turret and cupola! I always think that wizards must live in such rooms. Glad the old house is receiving lots of TLC today!

Kay said...

I think I remember your showing this house before. It's a delight to see that it's being brought back to life. It's too beautiful to see it collapse into ruin. It's a lot of work but something like that is worth it. (Look at my blog today. It has a story of an old house being brought back in a very different way from this one!)

Curtains in My Tree said...


What a fabulous old house and don't you know it was very Grand in it's days.
So nice to see the improvements. You are right about most cities now would tear it down and build new apartments,several old grand house have come down in my city,.

Patio Postcards said...

I am sure the house is feeling a wonderful sense of relief that someone is there to love it again. I would like to know the tales it could possibility tell. Older homes make me think of the Samuel Clements (aka Mark Twain) feelings about his house; “To us, our house was not unsentient matter -- it had a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with; and approvals and solicitudes and deep sympathies; it was of us, and we were in its confidence, and lived in its grace and in the peace of its benediction.”

A Colorful World said...

What a stunning house! Beautiful photos!

Powell River Books said...

It's so nice to see older homes restored. The homes in our townsite area by the paper mill have been mostly well kept, and because they are less expensive many people have purchased them to restore. - Margy