…she ain’t what she used to be.
House in Chester, CT – approx. late 1700’s-early 1800’s.
Possible take down and put back up.
Personally, I think she’s too far gone
but M makes the big decisions around here, don’t ya know.
Can any of you tell me what this item below is?
It still works!
If you get it right, your third cousin twice removed on your father’s side
will win the lottery and leave it all to you, no kidding.
…and who can tell me what this is used for?
Look at the depth of the chip on this paint.
*love* the old wallpapers…
Stairs very similar to those here at This Old House
The second floor looks like this… already stripped to some degree…
notice the size of the wall planks – huge trees were available and used back then.
This chimney and brick have crumbled due to the excess of rain rot over the years…
M heads to the attic, where the floors were pretty soft.
Original owner’s handwriting?
Why is it you’ll always find old Nat Geo’s in an old abandoned house?
Ceiling of the summer kitchen…
Wow…I see a lot of gorgeous detail here. I'm not in any position to say whether or not the old house can be salvaged, but it would be wonderful if it hasn't totally rotted away. So….what are YOUR thoughts?!
XO,
Jane
What a shame that something so obviously beautiful was left to rot away–how sad. Can she be saved at all? I think one of your items was possibly a door bell ringer and the other used to hold open a shutter. Keep us posted on this old gal…
What a wonderful old house. Looks gone to me. I would love to have one like it though. The second item you asked about it called a shutter dawg. I think that is how it is spelled. It holds shutters in place. I have them on my house strictly for looks.
Your pics really capture the timeless beauty here. Loved all the details and felt like I was standing next to you walking through. Will be interesting to see if it becomes a project or not! We had to tear down my husband's family farm house, but we took out the wood flooring and the moulding and all the doors- but still sad to see it go down in the end.
Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow!! I'd just about be peeing my pants with excitement. (Can you tell I love old houses?) Looks like a whole lot of work and even more money, but it's a beauty.
Is it something to do with electricity to the house?
shitburgers! that's a lot of decay to work against! yikes!
'shitburgers' HAHAHAHA
Lovely photos. And I already love this house. If your other half does half the job he did on your own house… we just have to move to the USA and come and live there *in my dreams* 😉
Oh my. This reminds me so much of my grandmother's old house before it was gone. With two exceptions, it wasn't two story and it wasn't built until l889. I miss it so much.
I have a feeling M will take it on. Be sure and let us know. Great pictures.
How's that condo coming along?
Wow, if only those walls could talk, what a story they could tell! I'm guessing the first item is a doorknob and the second, perhaps a hitching knob?
If anyone can works miracles with that place, M can! The photos are amazing.
What a beauty. I'd would need to win the lottery to fix her up. Beautiful. I think one item is a door knob. The other item is for the shutters beside the window.
The first item looks like a doorknob. The others have commented on the second. I never had a home with shutters so I was baffled. That is quite a house! I imagine it was pretty incredible at one time. Is there enough of a housing market to do that much of a restoration and sell it? If he does, I am sure it will be amazingly beautiful.
I don't think it's completely "gone with the wind", but it surely looks forgotten. I am sure it has stories to tell. Seems you find a lot of old Reader's Digest magazines in old houses too. I think the first questionable photo might be a doorknob, possibly (?).
I want this old house….it is awesome….and NO it is not too far gone……I am going to find some pictures of the studio just 6 years ago….it was almost that bad…..and it has such character.
LOVELY.
Karen – even if this old house can't be saved you have lovingly captured the beauty that is still there.
Yes, for a moment I thought they were pictures of your old house until you said they weren't.
What are M's plans pray tell 🙂
What a graceful old girl! I always get all sentimental wandering through old ruins of houses … I'm generally there salvaging the gardens. Looks to me like a take down/put up, too bad it's too far gone to restore in place. I hope M takes on the project for a ready buyer.
We're losing something with the loss of historic houses AND old barns–both of which I love! Hope she can be salvaged because she will be beautiful!
It would definitely too far gone for me, but with the right person??? Who knows. I'm sure it was magnificent in its day.
I can see the reason for his enchantment. She's still such a grand old gal! Just needs some love. Well, a lot of love.
Brenda
Ok, so I figured out the shutter holder opener thingy, but I couldn't figure out the door knob looking thingy to your left as you sat on the step. I LOVED looking at these photos, how nice it would be to be able to restore that. So much detail, love the window detail in that closeup, the summer kitchen, the porch. what a great house. I know it's beyond my expertise, but I can hear your husband as he is pictured walking up those steps, "oh yeah, we can do this."
And the fireplace with the 2 little cubby's next to it,what was that for, warming food? I have no idea, you probably know. Anyway, good luck.
LOL Don't you remember the house your in?Tell Mike we can look at Monday or Tuesday,I'll be in the area.
The bones of the house look better then mine! LOL
SVEN
Won't she be stunning when she's cleaned up! A little lipstick and she'l be good to go! LOL!!! As for the items, I'd say one is a doorknob and the other is a shutter tie-back!
Happy renovating!
She is beautiful….. I hope she ends up a keeper. ;o)
Oh my… what a beauty. I am with you. I think she is too far gone, but what stories those walls could tell and all that beautiful trim work. Makes my heart go pitter patter! I think the doorknob looking thing is a bell pull and the wrought iron thing is a piece that would hold a shutter back. I hope my third cousin twice removed wins the lottery now and leaves it all to me!!!
Do you want my 3rd cousin's twice removed name? It's a door knob and a shutter dog.
I do hubby takes on this much need loved house repairs.
Just love old houses . Really like the pic of the handwriting. Boy there's alot of work to be done though.
Hey there Karen….are you thinking of taking on another project???? What an awesome house! You can see the potential!!! My husband would LOVE that!!
What a beautiful home! It breaks my heart that it was left to decay like that. So sad! If anyone can bring it back to splendor, it's you guys.
It is so gorgeous. I love it. I want to scoop it up myself.
OMgosh! That wallpaper!
That whole house is making me swoon. Years and years ago my wasband and I looked at an old house that was on a tiny lake and it had a summer kitchen. It was the first one I ever saw and I instantly fell in love. The kitchen had an APRON SINK. Aaaaah it was awesome.
How gorgeous this will be after M is done with it! (I'm having a feeling. lol)
shitburgers? Can we say that here? Okay.. HOLY SHIT! Looks like wayyy too much work but if your husband says it can be saved then I'll believe it. Is this going to be your next home?
What a beautiful old home and your photos are just great showing it off!
How beautiful, and terribly sad. I just love the diamond window above the door!