They're tearing down my old house - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 10-08-2011, 03:32 PM

My previous home which is a lovely Greek Revival built in 1856 or so was bought by the neighboring Catholic Church about ten years ago. Now they are getting ready to tear it down to build a playground for their gradeschool. Today they let folks come in and bid on things to be removed. I went over and walked through and made a list of things I would like to take away. There were people everywhere.

It is a lovely home with spectacular oak woodwork including an ornate nook under the stair landing, a lot of 8' x 3' x 2.25" thick panel doors which pocket into the walls, four elaborate fireplace mantles, a spectacular Pair of fluted oak columns holding up a dentalled oak pediment, oak and fir floors, etc.

ten foot ceilings first floor and for some reason ten foot eight inch on second floor.

I'm walking through thinking of the first time I went into it and fell in love with the nook under the stairs and immediately went into "must buy" mode.

I looked at the fireplace where my kids used to hang their stockings.

Everywhere were things that I added or fixed.

I am afraid I got a little emotional and left after about fifteen minutes.

I will be most sad to see it face the wrecking ball after all the high quality repairs I made to it back when I owned it. (IE I replaced deteriorated pine sheathing boards at the edge of the house with 3/4" t wolmanized plywood and or full 1" thick poplar rough sawn boards.)

I also replace rotten dentals with new ones made from solid poplar.

Sigh.....

I really cannot afford to save all the cool stuff from it.

I'll put in bids on things and hope nobody really wants some things that I know are there and get some nice stuff for not too much money.

panZZer · #2 10-08-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

My previous home which is a lovely Greek Revival built in 1856 or so was bought by the neighboring Catholic Church about ten years ago. Now they are getting ready to tear it down to build a playground for their gradeschool. Today they let folks come in and bid on things to be removed. I went over and walked through and made a list of things I would like to take away. There were people everywhere.

It is a lovely home with spectacular oak woodwork including an ornate nook under the stair landing, a lot of 8' x 3' x 2.25" thick panel doors which pocket into the walls, four elaborate fireplace mantles, a spectacular Pair of fluted oak columns holding up a dentalled oak pediment, oak and fir floors, etc.

ten foot ceilings first floor and for some reason ten foot eight inch on second floor.

I'm walking through thinking of the first time I went into it and fell in love with the nook under the stairs and immediately went into "must buy" mode.

I looked at the fireplace where my kids used to hang their stockings.

Everywhere were things that I added or fixed.

I am afraid I got a little emotional and left after about fifteen minutes.

I will be most sad to see it face the wrecking ball after all the high quality repairs I made to it back when I owned it. (IE I replaced deteriorated pine sheathing boards at the edge of the house with 3/4" t wolmanized plywood and or full 1" thick poplar rough sawn boards.)

I also replace rotten dentals with new ones made from solid poplar.

Sigh.....

I really cannot afford to save all the cool stuff from it.

I'll put in bids on things and hope nobody really wants some things that I know are there and get some nice stuff for not too much money.

too bad you cant disassemble it and save good old wood

kerry · #3 10-08-2011, 04:24 PM

Sad story. Was it not worth enough for someone to pick it up and move it onto another lot?

sfloriII · #4 10-08-2011, 04:44 PM

At least you'll be able to get the stuff no one else wants for a great price. For you, it's a great deal because you can add the sentimental value to each item.... which is priceless!

Air&Road · #5 10-08-2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

My previous home which is a lovely Greek Revival built in 1856 or so was bought by the neighboring Catholic Church about ten years ago. Now they are getting ready to tear it down to build a playground for their gradeschool. Today they let folks come in and bid on things to be removed. I went over and walked through and made a list of things I would like to take away. There were people everywhere.

It is a lovely home with spectacular oak woodwork including an ornate nook under the stair landing, a lot of 8' x 3' x 2.25" thick panel doors which pocket into the walls, four elaborate fireplace mantles, a spectacular Pair of fluted oak columns holding up a dentalled oak pediment, oak and fir floors, etc.

ten foot ceilings first floor and for some reason ten foot eight inch on second floor.

I'm walking through thinking of the first time I went into it and fell in love with the nook under the stairs and immediately went into "must buy" mode.

I looked at the fireplace where my kids used to hang their stockings.

Everywhere were things that I added or fixed.

I am afraid I got a little emotional and left after about fifteen minutes.

I will be most sad to see it face the wrecking ball after all the high quality repairs I made to it back when I owned it. (IE I replaced deteriorated pine sheathing boards at the edge of the house with 3/4" t wolmanized plywood and or full 1" thick poplar rough sawn boards.)

I also replace rotten dentals with new ones made from solid poplar.

Sigh.....

I really cannot afford to save all the cool stuff from it.

I'll put in bids on things and hope nobody really wants some things that I know are there and get some nice stuff for not too much money.

Tom,

Many people might not understand your sorrow about this, but I think I do. I love the old houses while many people, no matter how beautiful the house, just see them as nothing more than termite bait.

There have been a BUNCH of them torn down in this area. If you want to see some of them, look up the old movie "Home From the Hill." It was filmed in this area and some REALLY handsome old homes are in the movie. Of the major ones in the movie, NONE of them are still standing.

I hope you're able to get as much memorabilia as possible before the bulldozers get to it. Many people have no idea about the magnificence of the woodwork and other details contained in these old homes.

All that said, I'm sure that the personal memories are as deep as the love for the architecture.

Keep your head up!
Larry

Dirtyboy · #6 10-08-2011, 05:33 PM

They can tear down the old house but they can’t destroy the foundation of my childhood
They can knock down the walls but each room still holds special memories
When there’s nothing left I will still have it all
Maybe fifty-five years from now a sixty year old will cherish the memories of a playground that once was.

kip Foss · #7 10-08-2011, 05:35 PM

It is a shame to see beautiful old homes like that scrapped. But what is worse is that now you city has another piece of property taken off the tax roles for which your taxes will have to be increased to cover.

Air&Road · #8 10-08-2011, 05:38 PM

Yes, I'm sure that Tom has many video's locked away in his mind.

I don't live in a big nice house. My money is in land and I live in a small 45 year old ranch house. Even so, I raised my kids here and have many video's locked away in my mind. In my case most of them are outside the house at the ponds, on the meadow, in the corrals, of the wildlife and in the woods. They're indestructible.

Aquaticedge · #9 10-08-2011, 05:39 PM

Aww that sucks, It sounds like a beautiful home

it's a shame they are tearing it down and not having the option to move it... homes like that are now so rare

t walgamuth · #10 10-08-2011, 06:04 PM

There were some young folks who wanted to move it. The moving was going to cost 70K and moving wires and phone poles was going to cost 30K. In all with a new poured concrete foundation the total cost would have been over 200K.

The house is all brick exterior and many of the interior walls are brick as well. It is a heavy dude. They would have had to move it up 13th street which is one of the steepest in town....like san francisco.

One of my daughters and her husband want to get some stuff so hopefully we can be the successful bidders on some things.

Thanks for the thoughts!

SwampYankee · #11 10-08-2011, 06:15 PM

That's a bummer.

Do you mind my asking why you moved (it sounds like you poured a lot of heart and soul into it and there are lots of memories)?

As annoying as it can be to live under the control of the Historic District Commission, I do appreciate why they exist and the homes they undoubtedly saved over the years. As a result we have the largest historic district in the state.

t walgamuth · #12 10-08-2011, 09:57 PM

It was a lovely old house, but for an Architect designing and building ones own new home is a pretty big deal.

If I could have kept both as a practical matter I would have.

But I have no regrets about selling it.

I just am sad it will be demolished.

SwampYankee · #13 10-08-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

It was a lovely old house, but for an Architect designing and building ones own new home is a pretty big deal.

If I could have kept both as a practical matter I would have.

But I have no regrets about selling it.

I just am sad it will be demolished.

I can see that. Thanks.