old and lovely

This is the neighbors house, I walk by it everyday and look at it imagining all kinds of historical scenarios.  Today I got to go inside and hear all about the history and it was even better than my imagination could dream up.

No one lives in it and the historical society opens it periodically.  I suppose I could tell you where it is and if you really want to know you can email me but for now I’ll just say it is in a small New England town.

The same family lineage lived in it until there was no more children to pass it on to.  It ended up in a distant relative-by-marriage hands and it sat empty full of stuff for many years.  She donated it to the town. 

The stuff is cool!  All kinds of books and toys and carriages and furniture that is actually still in the crates it was ordered in.  The last man to live it died unexpectedly in 1878 as he was making some renovations.  There are rolls  and rolls of wallpaper he ordered and carpets and I hope your mouth is watering as I was walking about with drool.

I wasn’t able to take indoor pictures (wah) it’s magnificent in the sense that things have stayed the same and the glamour is clearly evident amidst the aging and settling.  The third level is a ballroom with an arched ceiling and you can almost hear the guests making their way up the two grand staircases. 

This town was a busy place in 1800 when people were getting rich with textile mills.  There are many old glorious houses here.  By the mid/late 19th century it had kind of settled into it’s small town vibe as the railroad went to other textile towns and people went elsewhere to get rich and be social.  I think it’s okay though as they left behind these great old houses.

I wish I could go in each one!