Monday, June 1, 2020

Buying a House in a Kit!?

In response to my post about the old 'farm cottage' homes here, Red mentioned buying a house in a kit from a catalog.  In fact my grandparents did just that when they retired.  For 30+ years, right through the Depression, they ran the general store in Kilsyth, a few miles west of here.  That's where my dad grew up.  When they retired they bought another property in the village, a small old home with a huge garden and a small barn.

They ordered a simple small house from Eaton's catalog, not unlike the homes in my previous post, but with out the roof dormer, and built it on the front of the little old cabin that was already there.  This is the home that I remember visiting as a child.  I loved the big raspberry patches in the garden!

Here's that little old house today.  A dormer has been added, as well as a swimming pool, and the garden is gone.  You';d never know it was an Eaton's catalog house!  The big old maple I swung on a tire from as a child is dead though.

I had an elderly aunt who never married and lived with my grandparents all her life.  She lived a lot longer than they did, so she's the one I remember best.  She was the postmistress in the general store, and when they moved kept a small flock of chickens in the small barn.  If I was lucky I'd get to go and help her collect the eggs. 

I have a lot of deep memories of that old house in Kilsyth.  And when my aunt finally died, and the house had to be sold, Mrs. F.G. and I, in between grad school and my first job, got to go and live in that house for s summer, keeping it looking good while it was up for sale.  It was perhaps the best summer of our lives.

Meanwhile, to keep you amused, here are some pix from the street.

The first Tulips.

And the first geraniums.

Our neighbour's beautiful pink Magnolia.

And their Japanese Maple.

Another neighbour has this beautiful Serviceberry which turns white for far too few days.

Of course we've had our share of Dandelions, which were all bright yellow two weeks ago.  Then suddenly they turned white and set their seeds - almost as pretty as when they're yellow!


15 comments:

  1. One of my grandfather's built his own house, but not from a kit. It was a pretty basic dwelling but served well for a few decades.

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  2. I remember my grandparents house fondly too. We are lucky to have great memories like that!

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  3. Memories are so special …
    Lovely variety of blooms including the dandelion seeds …
    My good wishes for this new month.

    All the best Jan

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  4. Two shirts, six pairs of socks, Stanfield's long johns and a house. Now there's an order from the Eaton's catalogue! Leave at the front door if not home!

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  5. Down here in the States, Sears Roebuck also sold kit houses. They had several different models and apparently supplied virtually everything need to build the house. Lots of people would say that I should hang my head in shame, but I like dandelions. One of our neighbors roots every dandelion from his lawn while the dandelions in our lawn send seeds his way with every passing breeze.

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  6. Such a nice house. I think dandelions are pretty when they are yellow, and then when they become seeds, but the naked stalks are an eyesore. I don't think I've ever been in a prefab house. But I could be wrong! :-)

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  7. I love the story of the house! I miss the old Eaton's stores and catalogue.

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  8. Memories are so important, and even more so now in this changing world. Grandparents, now, have a huge part in any child's life, they are stable, have more time, and have the maturity to know when to "Fold " or when to "hold" just like the song. I believe the graduation to grandparenthood is the best reward of all.

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  9. Lots of lovely blooms in your neighbourhood. I have fond memories of my grandparent's house.

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  10. Once upon a time you could order kit houses from Sears too.
    Lovely pretty blooms.

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  11. I like the photos but loved the story...what sweet memories!

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  12. I'm with Woody, I like dandelions. They are a pretty yellow flower. Old houses always harbor many old stories with very few old story tellers left to tell their tales.

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  13. Oh, the joys of youth's visiting grandparents and aunties. My Granny Chandler and Uncle Clay lived together his entire life except during his stint in WWII. Even when he married Granny was part of the 'deal' as were Aunt Susie's two children. Some of my best memories were those times together. Thanks for sharing! peace, Janice

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  14. My father used to talk about those kit homes. I think my grandparents second house might have been one, but no one around to know now.

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  15. Yes my husbands grandparents order a house from Montgomery Wards Catalogue...interesting concept! :)

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