Wanna see my kitchen?

[Rain Man]

You want to hear something cool?

I had a meeting with the contractor, and we were standing in the kitchen talking. The kitchen is still down to the bare walls right now, since they're working on the attic right now.

While we were talking, I looked over at the wall, and there was a little tiny piece of paper stuck to it. I went over and looked more closely, and it was a stamp like this:



It was behind our pantry shelf, and had apparently fallen through a crack almost a hundred years ago. It was just barely stuck to the wall, so I was able to get it off pretty easily. The bottom 20 percent was torn off, but it was still stuck to the wall, too, so I got the whole stamp.

I need to drag out my old stamp collecting book to see exactly what year it's from, because there were a bunch of similar stamps like this that were produced between 1890 and 1910. Given the age of the house, I would imagine that it's from the later part of that era.

I know it's not worth anything in its condition, but the cool part to me was finding an item that most likely belonged to the very first residents of the home.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

You want to hear something cool?

I had a meeting with the contractor, and we were standing in the kitchen talking. The kitchen is still down to the bare walls right now, since they're working on the attic right now.

While we were talking, I looked over at the wall, and there was a little tiny piece of paper stuck to it. I went over and looked more closely, and it was a stamp like this:



It was behind our pantry shelf, and had apparently fallen through a crack almost a hundred years ago. It was just barely stuck to the wall, so I was able to get it off pretty easily. The bottom 20 percent was torn off, but it was still stuck to the wall, too, so I got the whole stamp.

I need to drag out my old stamp collecting book to see exactly what year it's from, because there were a bunch of similar stamps like this that were produced between 1890 and 1910. Given the age of the house, I would imagine that it's from the later part of that era.

I know it's not worth anything in its condition, but the cool part to me was finding an item that most likely belonged to the very first residents of the home.

Cool find!

At my old house it had 160 acres and the person who owned it before us in the 50s was quite the alcoholic. So even after 50 years of having the house in our family you'd go along and find an old bourbon bottle outside that was 50-some years old... Not as cool as your story, but that's all I got

Moooo

[Inspector]

Kevin - We restored a house built in 1902. Very similar to yours - an American Four square, I believe.

We found a stamp from 1920, old liquor bottles inside the walls, signatures of wall paper hangers from 1908 and 1926, and a handwritten note from a 12 year old girl talking about how Japan had just attacked the United States in Pearl Harbor.

It was a very interesting experience. Took about 6-7 years to complete, but was a real jewel when we were done. Lots and lots of stories about the whole project.

We had to eventually sell it as it was an hour commute to work, but we sold it for 7 times what we had in it. It was a great investment and good home for us to raise 5 kids as it was 3 stories and about 4000 sq ft.

Ah, the memories. Good luck with your project and post your "after" pictures when you get it done.

[patteeu]

Good luck with the renovations, Rain Man. The attic master bedroom will be nice and roomy.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Inspector

Kevin - We restored a house built in 1902. Very similar to yours - an American Four square, I believe.

We found a stamp from 1920, old liquor bottles inside the walls, signatures of wall paper hangers from 1908 and 1926, and a handwritten note from a 12 year old girl talking about how Japan had just attacked the United States in Pearl Harbor.

Ours is a Four Square too, but I think there may be some local design differences, because they're referred to here as "Denver Squares."

The Pearl Harbor note would've been way cool to find. The electrical guys just found a Collier's magazine from July 11, 1942, somewhere in our attic walls, so I was checking it out last night. A bunch of pictures are cut out, presumably for a school project, and in lettering that looks like a younger girl's writing, there are the initials "V.C." on one of the pages. It makes sense since the residents of our house in 1942 was a family named Christner. We didn't know if they had any kids, though.

[Inspector]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Ours is a Four Square too, but I think there may be some local design differences, because they're referred to here as "Denver Squares."

The Pearl Harbor note would've been way cool to find. The electrical guys just found a Collier's magazine from July 11, 1942, somewhere in our attic walls, so I was checking it out last night. A bunch of pictures are cut out, presumably for a school project, and in lettering that looks like a younger girl's writing, there are the initials "V.C." on one of the pages. It makes sense since the residents of our house in 1942 was a family named Christner. We didn't know if they had any kids, though.

Stuff that comes out of those old houses are a lot of fun. Good luck with your project. It's very rewarding when you get done and they make a great place to live.

Hope you can post the after pictures.

[Rain Man]

We are in our darkest hour now. The attic is full of construction equipment. The master bedroom ceiling has partially collapsed, forcing an evacuation of all furniture and clothing from that region. The other two bedrooms are full of these refugees. The living room is teeming with refugee furniture fleeing the devastation of the dining room and the kitchen. The basement is dark and abandoned with no power and structural enhancement underway. We ourselves have fled, and have only a bed and about 50 square feet of living space. Dirt and debris are everywhere. Strange men with nail guns walk the halls. There is no power, and only limited water. God help us all.

[Bootlegged]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

We are in our darkest hour now. The attic is full of construction equipment. The master bedroom ceiling has partially collapsed, forcing an evacuation of all furniture and clothing from that region. The other two bedrooms are full of these refugees. The living room is teeming with refugee furniture fleeing the devastation of the dining room and the kitchen. The basement is dark and abondoned with no power and structural enhancement underway. We ourselves have fled, and have only a bed and about 50 square feet of living space. Dirt and debris are everywhere. Strange men with nail guns walk the halls. There is no power, and only limited water. God help us all.

Call Oprah. She'll be there to help with a crew of 100's. You are black, right?

[Chief Faithful]

Forget about guest bedroom make it a guest room for Chiefs fans. Put in a couple big screen TV's (watch multiple games at once), beer cooler, big couch, couple lazy boys, wet bar and put framed pictures of models in Chiefs swim wear (stay away from pictures of Chiefs cheerleaders keep the place exciting).

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

We are in our darkest hour now. The attic is full of construction equipment. The master bedroom ceiling has partially collapsed, forcing an evacuation of all furniture and clothing from that region. The other two bedrooms are full of these refugees. The living room is teeming with refugee furniture fleeing the devastation of the dining room and the kitchen. The basement is dark and abandoned with no power and structural enhancement underway. We ourselves have fled, and have only a bed and about 50 square feet of living space. Dirt and debris are everywhere. Strange men with nail guns walk the halls. There is no power, and only limited water. God help us all.

Many people move out during a major renovation like this.
I'm surprised they let you stay.

PS Don't ruin y'er shoes. K?

[Hoover]

Very cool place. I love brick homes, I bought one last year, all brick for 1917, Red tile roof. The thing is solid, and a bitch to heat.

[StcChief]

This should spark a poll

how long until Rain Man (or the mrs.) forces a move out.

[Rain Man]

We have light!

We have ... (sinking to knees with fists clenched in air and tears running down my cheeks)...light (sobbing with joy).

For the first time in ten weeks, all of the lighting in our living area is back in place. The new third-floor bedroom is all done except for the carpeting and the curtain-thingies on the closet, and the new balcony up there is just awaiting paint and the move of the swamp cooler, which for some reason has been a major problem area. In the kitchen and dining room, all of the structural work is done, and the new kitchen floor is installed. The base cabinets are in, and we'll have to shut that down for a week while we're waiting for the countertops to be installed. The second floor structural repairs, lighting, and painting should be done today, which will be huge - all of a sudden we'll have room to at least put the packed boxes somewhere as opposed to the places where we're living.

And last but certainly not least, the basement structural stuff is done now, and we should get power back to the laundry room "soon". Additionally, our cat door has been installed in a basement window, along with a little tiny flight of cat-sized stairs so they can get to it. One of them has already learned how to use it, and the other one can figure out the stairs but hasn't quite got the hang of the door yet. (Push! Push with your nose!)

[Fish]

Does this mean your ready to have us all over for a house-warming party? I'll bring the burro, cheap tequila, and the watermellon.....

[Rain Man]

A burro would actually be nice to have in the backyard.