Comments on: Sumac Sue and her Gardenside way of life – a Retro Renovation re-run

By: madsarah

madsarah — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:46:43 +0000

Hi Pam,

Sorry I’ve been so “quiet” these past few months–life gets in the way sometimes. Also, although I still love your site, the house I bought is in no way a time capsule, so I often have little to add to your lively discussions. Despite my home’s humble origins, all that’s left of the original design is the corner fireplace (which is actually open all the way around) in the living room, and the kitchen cabinets. The followup to the story I posted yesterday is that after the original couple moved out in the 1990s, the house was in terrible shape but it was snatched up by an architect with a vision to bring it gently into the modern age. I love it, but it’s now more of a hodgepodge of eras than a snapshot of any one point in time.

Although the house doesn’t look much like it did in the architect’s original drawings, I am trying to maintain the spirit of simple living that prevailed when the first owners moved in after WWII–a returning soldier and his bride. And I have acquired some nice furniture pieces you’d appreciate–a Broyhill Brasilia dining set and a fabulous 50s daybed that still has the original fabric in perfect condition. I’ll try to send pictures when I can!

By: lady brett

lady brett — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:54:22 +0000

ronn,
as a fairly young new homeowner, i just wanted to say that most people buying their first home are really excited about it (it’s really not something you can take for granted!) and perfectly ready to be invested. so i want to second your whole list, and especially say that having signs about neighborhood meetings is really helpful. our neighborhood has new reusable “meeting this saturday” signs that some people put out the week before – without them i would never have known when/where/how to get to the meeting, even though i was looking!

also, while you are right that renters have a lot less investment in their house, i’d point out that landlords are often worse than tenants. the “for rent” sign went up in the house next door about a week after we moved in, and it makes me sad because you can tell that the landlord is putting the bare minimum into keeping the place habitable rather than keeping it in good repair (i used to rent from the same man elsewhere, so i know exactly how well he treats his rentals). at least the house might be “home” for some of the renters, whereas it’s just another property for him.
(i know mine’s as broad a statement as ronns, but i wanted to toss out a second way to view it. i’m sure the truth is halfway in-between =)

By: 50s Pam

50s Pam — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:41:41 +0000

Wow, Madison Sarah, it is so great to hear from you again. I want a sign for my front garden, “Welcome, Gnome!”

By: madsarah

madsarah — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:06:17 +0000

Wow, what a surprise to see an update from this post, a year later. I have now been in my modest little neighborhood for 10 months. The house purchase took a weird twist–the one I wrote about last year fell through due to problems with the appraisal, but I lucked into one that’s even more special. It was the first home built in the area after the war–a tiny cottage for a returning soldier and his wife. They lived here for more than 50 years, until the husband died and the wife had to go into assisted living. I have all the original drawings and have learned so much about them and the house from the neighbors.

My neighborhood is the kind of place where people have picket fences and “welcome gnome” signs…where gardening is an art form…and where people seem happy to be riding out the recession in homes they can afford. I am very grateful to be among them!

Thanks again, Sue!
Madison Sarah

By: kristin

kristin — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:56:49 +0000

How inspiring!!!! I think I may have to do this walk of Sea Isle/Colonial Acres! We recently discovered we are in the Sea Isle neighborhood vs. the more “known” Colonial Acres of Memphis that we get lumped into…the demarcation line being 7 houses to our West. I honestly like the name “Sea Isle” better, but can’t for the life of me figure out the reason for this name! It is crazy how similar Sea Isle is to Gardenside, but being slightly more Southern, there are differences.

By: sablemable

sablemable — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:55:03 +0000

Thank you, Sue for the “tour” of your neighborhood! I’m doing the same in my area, photographing the homes. The area in which we live was once occupied by fruit orchards. The developers came in about 1949 and started to build. There are several of the original farmhouses left. One nearby was built in the mid-1800’s, is still occupied and in great shape.

By: Ronn

Ronn — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:03:34 +0000

Hi Femme 1,

You better believe it. Lemonade, even Kool Aid (for which I lost my taste about 50 years ago).

I’ll add:

- Hire kids to mow your lawn.

- Have neighborhood events just for them. (For example, we have an Easter Egg Hunt, a Xmas in the Park with Santa, Fourth of July cookout, National Night Out with the kids decorating their bikes for a parade and awards, etc.) Of course the adults are there, and end up mingling anyhow…

Ronn.

By: madison sarah

madison sarah — Mon, 05 May 2008 02:10:29 +0000

Thank you so much, Sumac Sue! Your neighborhood sounds a lot like the one I’m moving to (once my current house sells). It’s full of small, modest ’40s and ’50s houses that have been loved since they were built–oftentimes, by the original owners. Because the trees are so huge (they’re mostly huge old burr oaks and maples) and the houses are not, the neighborhood has an “enchanted” feeling that I really like.

The one I have an offer on is from 1940 (Pam, how do you feel about “wartime” houses?!). It’s a style that I now know to be called Minimal Traditional. What a terrible name! Anyway, this link has a good description of this period of “plain Jane” architecture and a photo of a house that is more interesting looking than the one I am getting, but that’s OK.

http://www.antiquehome.org/Architectural-Style/minimal-traditional.htm

Of course, as in Sue’s case, the sum is more than the parts. I will be steps from a beautiful park with stone shelters, fire pits, and extensive trails through the woods; a short walk to all the shops I could possibly want, plus a brand-new library; and surrounded by people who are satisfied with things “as they are.” And as Pam’s latest post says, the “inner ring” of houses is holding or increasing in value here in Madison. (Why drive when you can walk, bike or take the bus?) Hopefully that same thinking will help me with the one I am selling, which was part of Madison’s first “suburb” serving the UW campus just after the turn of the last century. Now it’s considered “downtown”!

Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments! This site always makes my day (on the days I find time to visit it:).

By: Retro Renovation » Our homes are holding their value better!

Retro Renovation » Our homes are holding their value better! — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:06:02 +0000

[...] likely in the first ring of suburbs – closer to town – which makes the commuting distance so easy. Sumac Sue wrote about this fact — drive time — being the reason she ended up in her Lexington charmer. And now – our [...]

By: 50sPam

50sPam — Sat, 03 May 2008 22:12:01 +0000

All these comments make me think about some “happiness” research that I read. Seems, people “think” they will be happier in a big house secluded in the country away from everyone else. Turns out, we are much happier when we are in a gregarious environment. When we have neighbors.

How about:
- Random acts of kindness, like shoveling or snow-blowing your neighbors’ sidewalk and driveway every once in a while. Guess what, they reciprocate. What a nice surprise.
- Taking in their newspaper when they are away.
- Borrowing some sugar every once in a while!