Monday, September 29, 2008

Grandma's House

(Information on this story was compiled by the Collinsville Library, the Collinsville Historical Society, Uncle Jack, Johnny, Mom and Leigh)

If you read my blog you know how excited I was about the quilt walk that took place in Collinsville this past weekend. It was more than the quilt walk, for me it was about seeing the former family home restored. This is the home that my mother grew up in with her 3 brothers. her mother, my grandmother also grew up in this home. It was the place where so many cousins came to Mama Ida's for Sunday supper's. There are so many memories held under it's roof and between the walls.

The home was built in 1910. F Stevens was the original owner with J Barlett holding the mortgage. After foreclosure, J Barlett became the owner. In October, 1923, J S and Ida P A. (my great grandparents) purchased the home. The house remained in the A/W family until 2001 when it was purchased by Steven J.

In 1940 the A's added a bathroom, back bedroom, and back porch (what the A's referred to the "cat porch" because of the abundance of stray cats that would take up residence and prefer the porch). On the west side of the house a room was added for a kitchen and the old kitchen became the dining room.

J.S. A is remembered by his family as a Christian Mason. Grandson John S A said, "He inquired regularly concerning my attendance at Sunday School and church." He also said, "His quick wit and dry humor always accompanied by an ever so slight grin and twinkle in his eyes enabled him to overcome almost any adverse situation. He often told John that "a little mirth in any situation was relished by the best of men."



"My grandfather was a man of several vocations. He was a farmer, school teacher, undertaker, and funeral director, cotton merchant, fertilizer and seed merchant, highway department employee and grocer. He taught me that any work or vocation , as long as it was honest, was also honorable.", said grandson John. JSA served his community as school trustee, town councilman and cemetery trustee.



The A family was known for being master gardeners. In addition to fruit trees and flowers in the yard around the house, they had two additional lots just up the street known as the garden lots. Here JS Arther cultivated a big and wonderful garden and is remembered for his giant strawberries.
Steven J set to work restoring and remodeling the 100 year old home and has yet to stop. New wiring, plumbing, and Sheetrock were needed. In the kitchen he has reworked the cabinets, floors and counter tops and the bathroom has been enlarged. The original house consisted f three bedrooms on the west side of the house and three large rooms ob the east side with a hall running north and south.


The large front porch is original. Many family memories have been made on the porch and in the porch swing. Aside from the kitchen, it was the hub of the house. For years without air conditioning and television in the early years, this is where the family would go to socialize with their neighbors, family and friends. I know that I myself (even after the arrival of air and TV) swung on the porch swing (which now swings at my cousin Beckie's home). I would relish listening to the crickets chirp. I would draw in the summer air, that was filled with the smells of honeysuckle and privet. J has added a white picket fence around the property, which I thought was beautiful. He also added carpeting and fresh paint.


Walking into the home the other day conjured up so many memories for each one in my family. Many were seen with tear filled eyes from the memories it stirred to walk the hallway again.
I did notice that the bedrooms do not have the fireplace's they used to (each room had one). I was happy that prior to selling the home I insisted upon getting on of the original mantels. I have yet to use it but plan to one of these days. I have thought of using it for a faux fireplace for my own bedroom or using it as a headboard for a bed.
In the middle bedroom my dear and great uncle Jack (my grandmothers brother) shared stories of his youth. He was born in that bedroom and shared many stories from his youth as he stood in the room once again. A fireplace used to be on the wall directly behind him. Uncle Jack shared that his mother, Idabelle used to prepare hoe cakes over the fireplace for morning breakfast. The hearth was still warm and it saved time rather than going into the kitchen to warm the oven. She could warm herself and cook the hoe cakes at the same time.
Earlier I mentioned memories being within the walls. I meant that in the literal sense. I think every child that has been in the family has been infatuated with a closet that has a passageway linking it to the closet in the back bedroom. It was a secret chamber, a secret room for all of the children and each of us took delight in opening the closet door to see it was still intact. This view is taken from one closet door, you can see the other closet door on the other side.


In the kitchen each of us shared the remembrance of the wonderful meals that my great grandmother and my grandmother prepared with loving hands. Favorites mentioned were homemade fried chicken (using a chicken from the yard..ewww.), fresh vegetables, mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade biscuits were rolled out on the hoosier cabinet in the kitchen. And least anyone forget the scrumptious desserts like the yellow sheet cake with homemade chocolate icing.

Outside, we meandered beneath the black walnut trees. Again, recalling tales. I recall playing "MASH" in the yard with my cousins. We used the walnuts as grenades. The old shed was the mess hall.


My mother recalled the walnuts shells staining her hands, which the new owner also warned us of. My uncle Jack led us to a spot in the yard where a rock peeks out from the earth to show us his initials carved in the rock.
He did it when he was about 15 years of age (over 70 years ago). It was still visible.


It was an honor for each of us to walk through the old home again. It made the trip for each of us. We had come to see a member of the family. It was a wonderful homecoming, in the literal sense.
I am certain that the memories and traditions made in the old home will be passed down to future generations.

10 comments:

Tammy said...

How great that you all had this opportunity again! A few years ago I took my kids and hubby to drive past the house I grew up in in Mobile. I so wished I could knock on the door and just see how the old house looked.

Funny though, I remembered it being so much bigger!

Kristin - The Goat said...

I love it. How great that so many were able to get together and reminisce.

Valarie Lea said...

That was a great tour of the house! I love old family homes like this. We went to where my daddy grew up, in the mountains of TN and that Cabin was so small. I don't see how they all lived in there. There were about 13 of them. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Leigh, Its J.McCash's Mom, I love that your family got to restore the family homestead. It looks great. My house that I grew up in wasn't worth saving so we torn it down & build my mom a new house on the land that I grew up on, but I think that is great that you were able to save mom's home. I wanted to let you know those pictures of us all at Bikes,Blues & BBQ the girl with the headband on is my sister, Jessica's aunt. I'm the one with the red Razorback shirt on with the red/white poke dot earings on. In the picture of Jessica & Amy I'm the one between the two girls. I was just reading the comments on Jessica's blog & read where you thought I was the one with the headband on & I thought I'd let you know thats my sister. Which is just fine we do look alot alike, ha!!! Thanks for doing the vital baby shower for Jessica, thats so sweet & thoughtful. Maybe there will be alot of nice & kind wishes for her, David & Harbor. Best wishes Leigh, Karen Barnes

Shannon said...

This is so special Leigh!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Tammy- I think you should knock on the door. All they can say is no. If it were me, Id let you in. Thats your history. When I was in my grandmothers old home the other day I stood int eh entrance hallway. It seemed so small compared to what I recalled. Me and my couins used to play "store" in the hallway which had bookshelves and a HUGE grand adding machine, which was our cash register. The other day it seemed so small....

Kirby, it was a blessing.

Valarie-wow! That is cool. You should take or blow up an old picture of the cabin, have it framed (if he doesnt have one). I think that would make a lovely gift.

Mrs. Barnes-thank you for stopping in! You are so sweet. I am looking forward to Jessica's shower. I think she will be surprised at some of the things planned. Good surprise. I hate that your childhood home is no more, but it is nice that the property is still in the family. You are right-you and your sis do look alike. Now I know and realize my mistake. I love th epicture of you and Jessica in the razorbacks photo you could both pass for sisters!

Shannon-Thanks Shan! It certinaly was to me. Thanks for reading.

Anonymous said...

I love this post, Leigh. I'm all misty eyed after reading it. What a wonderful day and what a beautiful home!

j said...

This was precious Leigh. Finding those initials... just precious.

tricki_nicki said...

I loved this post Leigh! What an amazing opportunity... I can't even imagine! I don't think very many people have those kinds of memories, and then get to walk through the house where they all took place. So great.

Also, I have to tell you: When I read "Many family memories have been made on the porch and in the porch swing" my brain substituted members for memories. I did a major double take! ;) tee hee!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Pat, I appreciate that you were able to channle my feelings by getting misty eyed. It was a very special day.

Thanks Jen. I cannot recall that in all those years that I had ever seen those. I am quite sure as a child I probably did, but dont recall. It was pretty neat. The property owner of today said that he had always wondered who it was. KNow he knows.

Thanks Nickie.....only you. LOL! To my knowledge that never happened. LOL! Lot of stuff went down on that porch but I dont think that. LOL.