What? Our Home Was Built When?!

When the past walks in with a …Surprise!!

Our home was built in 1880 by a man named George Bandy. We knew that he only got to spend a few months in the home before he died in December of 1880, and his wife sold the home and farm in 1884. It was a fantastic story, and we loved putting together the pieces! But… we had always heard it was part of the Underground Railroad. Ummm, no, it was built in 1880. And then there was a day when a big truck pulled into our driveway to say - you know your neighbors lived in that home about 50 years ago, right? How fun!! Let’s go meet them is how that story started.

Imagine our shock when the very first thing they shared was a big book written in 1873 with a drawing of OUR HOME in it! Well, was it our home? It looked the same, but different at the same time. The drawing was similar to the George Bandy sketch, with a few more key details. This home was actually built in 1860, and YES, the Underground Railroad ran just a few miles away.

This wonderful family shared their stories that were as colorful as the festive gatherings that once filled these rooms. Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas morning here weren’t just events, they were epic celebrations brimming with laughter, quirky traditions, and a sense of belonging that still echoes in every corner of the home.

One of the quirkiest revelations? The floors, which we have always admired and thought were in pretty good condition, owe their durability not to some secret restoration technique, but to decades of being lovingly hidden under thick carpeting! We saw where the Christmas tree was placed (the living room), and learned that the owner didn’t have any kitchen cabinets! WHAT? She had a sink, a stove, and her husband lovingly built an “island” for her to cook at, and she sewed a beautiful skirt to go cover the storage section. She used what will be a panty, as her actual pantry! Score - we got one right. LOL.

One of the biggest surprises was we had a second walk out balcony on the east side of the home! We had seen the “ghosting” in the brick, but couldn’t quite place what was there. NOW we were able to see it! Gorgeous. This journey has taught us that every home has layers of stories, some funny, some heartwarming, and some downright astonishing. It’s a reminder that we may add modern touches, but the echoes of the past are always there to surprise us, to make us laugh, and remind us of this beautiful tapestry we call life.

So here is to asking more questions, and sharing pictures of your home. The memories of a big dinner, a Prom Night, a first kiss, or the last. Life is unpredictable, and you never know what it has in store for you.

So to all of you - thank you for being on our journey and sharing the love, the laughs, and the heartache that life brings with each and every day.