A Trip Down Memory Lane

This summer, my siblings, our children and grandchildren had the privilege of touring my childhood home. This was such a special and meaningful event for me. The current owners were so gracious in opening their home to us and wanted to hear all the stories that we had to share about growing up in this house. I realize that this post is not one that most people will enjoy because it is difficult to view pictures of homesteads with anything but a passing interest if you do not personally have a connection or history with them. However, for me, each picture is  special and takes me back to childhood memories. This blog is mainly for me, but feel free to read through it and learn a little bit about this old house that I grew up in.

The house as I remember it in the 1970s. The two windows to the far right above the porch was my bedroom.

The house today

Another view of the house in the 1970s

Another view of the house today.

The chicken house as I remember it.

The "chicken house" today. It is a warehouse for the owner's business.

The backyard in the 70s

The back yard today. There are so many trees that you can't even see the house :)

This picture was taken around 1964

This picture was taken this summer on the same walk and in front of the same stone wall.

Another picture with our spouses.

All of us walking to the porch to begin our house tour

Still waiting to go in. I remember that concrete curb in front of the house. It was always a nuisance to mow around. 

Love their porch table and chairs. This is walking into the dining room.

Guarantee our front porch didn't look anything like this :)

Here is a picture of the kitchen as I remember it. The small island in the middle separated the kitchen from where we ate. Back then we didn't call it a dining room. We just considered it all kitchen. 

Here is a picture as it is today. It still has the counter coming out separating the kitchen from the dining area. This room fascinated me. I wish I would have taken more pictures.

This is  picture of my brother Gene (taken around 1976) sitting at the table and stuffing a donut into his mouth. See next picture for as it is today.

As you can see, this room looks quite different. The man standing in from of the flag is the current owner.

Another picture of the dining room. The door is the one we all came in off the front porch.

My dad enjoying a drink in his living room probably around 1975.

The living room as it is today. In the previous picture my dad would have been sitting right where the sofa ends

Another view of the living room

Basically the living room is a long narrow room. The section that was on the previous pictures was where the sofa and chairs were placed. That is how we used it also when I lived there. In this picture you can see the other part of the living room that has the fire place. When I lived there, we had a few easy chairs around the fire place that we could sit in on those cold winter evenings but for the most part, we used the same section of the living room that they do for relaxing, talking, and visiting.

This picture was probably taken around 1968. In the next picture you can see how it looks today.

Where they now have the TV is where the piano was in the previous picture. The door opening that you see is to the dining room. Basically there are two entryways from the dining room/kitchen that open into the living room. When we were kids we used to chase each other around the "circle."

I sure remember those stairs! To the right of the owner is where the fireplace is. To the left behind Duane would be a doorway into the kitchen. This is not the same doorway that we saw in the previous picture. It's not until you look at these pictures later that you notice what isn't in any pictures. I never got a picture of the second archway into the kitchen.

This is the upstairs bathroom and it looks nothing like when I lived there. They did major renovations and it is quite unique. They even took out a window. I think all of my siblings and I just stared at this room and couldn't believe it.

Shower and tub.

This is my old bedroom! It is now used at the master bedroom. 

My bed was where the dresser is and I had my desk in front of the window.

My closet :)

The owners had these last two pictures hanging in their house. I don't remember what year this picture was taken but I think in the late 40s or early 50s.

Another picture that includes the barn. This barn was actually taken down by my dad.

It was really nice to see my childhood home so well taken care of.  It feels good to know that this house is loved and cherished. For me, living there is a long ago memory, but a good one and I am thankful to have once again had the opportunity to walk in those rooms and view where I once lived.