This will be the second of many future musings on the next phase of my life. Today is the 22nd birthday of my eldest son, and it is soon to be the 16th birthday of my youngest. As the children continue to move into the beginnings of their independent lives, it is time for my husband and I to move on as well. We are on the brink of purchasing a piece of Iowa history, and continuing the task of keeping it alive and well for generations to come.
The house was built in 1864, in the midst of the Civil War, on what quickly grew in the post-war era into an 800 acre farm. The house was built a number of years after the land was purchased, and is an idyllic location--up on a hill, taking advantage of the breeze, and with a lovely view over the land. The architecture is called Anglo-Italianate, a style that recalls northern Italian farmhouses tinged with an influence of Victorian England. The style was popular in the Midwest, and by the late 1850's, it was the predominant style of the area. The relatively strict adherence to the architectural rules of this particular Victorian style speaks to the wealth of the builder--they were able to do it right, rather than 'on the cheap', as is seen with the Folk Victorian houses that abound.
The house looks as stately in real life as it does in this photograph, and was one of the early grand houses of the area. While it's circumstances are greatly reduced now, it remains on a 4 acre piece of property with the same sweeping view that it has always had. One of the fun things about the house is that there are many photographs of it throughout it's history and so we can think about restoring it to a particular era of it's history, but really, it is a house that has been changing since it began.
So this is the new project, the one that will get us over the hump of having our children need us less--we are getting something that needs us more. We are going away from the priorities we had as parents of young children and returning to the priorities we had when we were about their age. To be optimistic, to see promise in the restoration of old things that are good, and to know more about the history of where we live.
This is such an amazing, beautiful building. I think it is so cool that you guys are taking it on, and though I'm sure it will be a challenging project, I imagine it to be incredibly rewarding too.
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seems like a fabulous idea. I'm envious! You would do the cooking, yes? You'll be PACKED!! Ever been to Simone's? Would you consider doing something like that here ...
It IS a great setting indeed! I am sure you have seen the windows that face the woods. I have always envisioned opening the door and looking out into the north timber. I had a great many visions for the property but alas, as a young (single!) mother, neither the time nor the money to see these through. You are the ideal buyers in my mind and I so wish you the best. Best of luck!!
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