The post about Madison Sarah and her hunt for a 50s or 60s home drew lots of comments, including a lovely note from Sumac Sue, aka Judi, of Lexington, Kentucky. Her comments were really moving, so I asked her if I could make a post out of them – and asked if she could send pictures to go with. She kindly did, and even added some more info at my request. A long post – but well worth the time to read and think about. Sumac Sue is a former newspaper reporter – so the girl can turn a phrase! Maybe other readers have similar stories about their neighborhoods that they would like to share? Send in your stories and your “walking tour” photos and I’d be happy to make this a regular feature. Thank you, Judi (Sumac Sue), for getting this started!
With so much emphasis on gizmos and gadgets and other facets or retro interior decorating, I really hadn’t thought much about how simple the facades are on most mid-century homes. I find our house, and the houses in our neighborhood of modest, mostly one-story brick ranches, to be sort of sturdy and cute, like freckle-faced boys. It’s a look I find appealing.
But, if someone like Madison Sarah wants a bit more oomph, then maybe she could try an approach such as looking for a house with a really pronounced modern style, such as Anne and Gary’s house, which has been mentioned on this site. Sure, it has some flatness to it, but, it has angles and overhangs and lots of glass, which makes it cool.
If Madison Sarah can’t find a house like that, then, my only other suggestion is to try to think of the mid-century houses not as a look, but, as a way of life. Sounds cliched, I know, but, we have found that living in our ’59 ranch, in our ’59 era neighborhood, to be really pleasant.
We weren’t really looking for a mid-century house when we found this one. We were looking for a house that was well built, of good materials, one that would be pretty easy to maintain, and one that was in a neighborhood that would be a pleasant place to walk with our dog in the evenings. And, we had a tight budget, but we wanted at least 1.5 bathrooms. So, we found our house in a nice neighborhood of 1,000 to 1,500 square-foot houses, most with carports or garages. Some have basements, but ours has a roomy, dry crawlspace — either way, they are all easy to get under to work on plumbing, the furnace, etc. (A previous house had virtually no crawlspace, and we had to scoot on our stomachs in the damp dirt. No more of that!) Houses this size are pretty easy to care for, and the utilities aren’t outrageous.
Like many such mid-century neighborhoods, ours includes a shopping area with a grocery store, bank, post office, and some other stores. We have enjoyed being able to walk to this shopping area, and now that gas prices have risen so much, we like it even more.
I can’t speak for other such neighborhoods, but ours is really stable. People buy these houses and hold onto them. We still have four people on our little street who are the original owners of their houses! They are all in their 80s. We bought our house last summer from the original owner, who was 86. We joke that these houses are good for your health, because people live so long in them.
But, maybe it is no joke — they really are nice places to live. We are in our 50s, and there are other middle-aged people on the street, and there are a few young couples with kids. The ones we have met have said the same thing as us — they moved here because they were looking for a well-built house. They also say they didn’t want to buy a cheaply built new house way out on the edge of town.
Our neighborhood is called Gardenside — doesn’t that just sound like a nice place to live? Madison Sarah, I hope you find a nice place to live, too.
I know I’ve gushed on about our neighborhood like a real estate agent with too many houses to unload. The thing I want to stress is, like you, we really weren’t looking for a mid-century house, but it has worked out really well for us, much better than expected.
We once lived in a quaint 1910 era frame house, but it was hard to maintain, and closer to downtown and the university, so traffic was terrible. We then bought some land in the country with a mobile home on it. We wanted to build a farmhouse or cabin. But traffic was terrible there too! All of those other city people moving to the country just like us, causing so much traffic on the winding rural roads. We just couldn’t commit to building a house there and putting up with the traffic forever. It seemed pretty nutty — so wasteful of time and resources. When Wayne changed jobs and his commute got even longer, that’s when we decided to move back into town.
I had once lived in a 1970s era suburb, and it was OK. I admit, we were a bit like Madison Sarah when we started looking at houses in the suburbs. We thought of them as being sort of boring. But the main thing we wanted was a well-built house — after living in an elderly cottage, and then a mobile home, we wanted a house that didn’t have something breaking every other day! A mid-century house fit the bill. And you know, we have not found one other house in the whole neighborhood just like ours. So, it’s really not boring, it’s unique!
I just wanted to let Madison Sarah know that living in a mid-century house was more than just about the facade of one particular house — at least that is what I am finding out. We love living here not just because of our particular house, but because the whole neighborhood is a nice place to be. Our house, and the entire neighborhood, is built on a scale that seems so liveable.
When we walk our dog, in a few blocks we get onto some streets of bigger houses, from about 1,800 to 3,000 square feet. (I was a bit incorrect when I said our neighborhood was 1,000 to 1,500 sf houses — that’s the size of most of the houses on the streets right around our house. But there are many larger houses within the Gardenside neighborhood.) These larger houses, ranches, split levels, Cape Cods, and two-story Colonials, were built in the late 50s to late 60s. We have crushes on several of these beauties. They still are built on a scale that seems right.
THEN we can walk into a neighborhood of brand new homes — some over 6,000 square feet, with half-million to million-dollar price tags. We feel like the Monty Python knights approaching a castle when we venture into that neighborhood! We always are happy to walk back to our street.
Hope this extra information is helpful, and doesn’t bog you down. I know you are busy…. knowing you also have family, career, and your house to tend to. So, I am happy to pitch in with some material for you. Maybe you could start a semi-regular neighborhoods feature, and others can send in photos of their communities. I think it would be a hit. But you know, we love it all, whatever you do!
I hope I got the right descriptions with the right photos — I’m having to hurry because I need to go get some pine mulch from a neighbor who offered it to me. Another reason it is nice to live here. I think because the place is on a nice scale, people actually see each other and visit and share things.
Judi
This post originally ran on April 28, 2008
50sPam says
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!
Sumac Sue says
Hi. Ronn’s list is really important. He is right — as the original owners pass away, and new people move in, that atmosphere in my neighborhood will change unless we work to keep it going.
Femme1 says
Ronn,
I love your list. I have one thing to add:
Whenever you see a kid selling lemonade in front of their house, stop and buy a glass.
Ronn says
Hi,
I too live in a 1958-62 neighborhood, with a majority of ranches but a few splits (which is what we have). I suppose the area is slightly higher end than what was considered “middle” class at the time.
Our neighborhood is as everyone else here seems to describe, so I have nothing to add on that subject. However, I AM concerned about how this “feeling” is maintained. Older folks die. Younger folks take over. Behaving in a friendly, community fashion is not genetic. How do we make sure that the children and new buyers are brought into the “fold” – share the sense of pride?
Some people will never join up. That’s just a fact. As a member of the Civic League and other sub-committees (as is my wife), we see and wrestle with this issue. One thing’s for sure (despite the fact I was a great renter in my time): Rental properties tend to also be problem properties. Why? Renters generally have less at stake. (There’s NO reason for anyone to get their hair in a tangle about this statement. It’s a broad statement, but you know darned well it has truth to it.) You aren’t going to change those people. That’s that. Discourage your neighborhood from having rental properties. Write up a charter.
Moving on…
I think a few, simple, healthy gestures make for a cumulative, positive effect:
– Go for strolls. Don’t go for “power walks”.
– Walk your dog, and carry a bag.
– Say “Hello”. Wave. Nod. Invite people to neighborhood events.
– CREATE neighborhood events!
– Drive slowly and carefully through your neighborhood.
– Take your sunglasses off when you speak to someone.
– Have your car window down when possible.
– Offer to help. Watch over the older folks. Involve the kids.
– Wave to the kids. Look them in the eyes. Know their names like everyone else.
– Start a Civic League, establish a Neighborhood Watch, invite the kids as well.
– Start a “Welcome Wagon” program with your Civic League.
– Create a newsletter and a website.
– Have signs at the entrances to your neighborhood announcing when and where your Meetings will happen. Give folks advance notice!
– If your garden is over-producing, deliver food gifts to those nearby.
You get the idea. You probably have no larger an investment, nor a more important location in your life than your home and neighborhood. They are NOT self-maintaining machines. Think of them as you (hopefully) do your car. They REQUIRE your attention and involvement.
I hope others will add to my list of suggestions.
Ronn Ives at FUTURES Antiques
Rebecca says
This is funny because I found your site while looking up info on mid-century houses because we are in the process of buying a 1963 ranch in Madison. I’m not particularly crazy about the exterior of the house (it’s just a tidy-looking ranch from the outside), but the interior is all kinds of fabulous. (And the neighborhood is very nice.)
Femme1 says
I wasn’t sure where to post this query, but I thought this entry about neighborhoods would be as good a place as any.
When I was growing up in the 60s in a brand new suburb of Baltimore (Wynnewood in Arbutus, for those of you in Bawlmer), almost everyone decorated their houses with a pair of ceramic cats or squirrels that looked as if they were climbing up the wall. Generally they’d be hung offset (one a little higher than the other) close to the front door. They were highly glazed, and must have been available in a variety of poses and colors because they definitely weren’t all the same. I’ve checked on eBay and have seen a few of these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180237417368&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3D), but never in a set.
I’ve always been curious if this was just a Baltimore thing, or if these were popular in other places, too.
Femme1 says
I loved reading about both Sue’s and Jen’s houses and their neighborhoods. Thanks so much for posting all the photos!
Sumac Sue says
Jen, I want to see photos of your neighborhood! It sounds wonderful.
I didn’t realize 50sPam was going to use ALL of the material I sent her, but I’m glad she did, because maybe it will encourage other readers to send in features on their neighborhoods. Like Jason, I’ve gotten very interested in houses and neighborhoods since we moved to this area. Reading Retro Renovation definitely has increased my enthusiasm on that subject too.
I did reach two photos of a very cute house when I tried Jen’s link. If that’s Jen’s house, it looks very well built and looks like a great place to live.
Jason says
No, don’t shut up. I love hearing about people’s houses and neighborhoods. Your link isn’t working though. I’d love to see your house.
I cringe whenever I see one of our neighborhood’s cute ’40s houses going up for sale because I know there’s a good chance that a developer is going to buy it and tear it down and put a huge double on its lot. 😛 But there just don’t seem to be enough people around here who appreciate oldness.
Jen says
What a delightful post! Thanks for showing us around your neighborhood, Sue!
Now I’m tempted to do this (despite our home’s embarrassing lack of landscaping just yet, though we’re working on it). Our street is mostly early 50s homes, but just down the street (on the corner, in fact!) are a few more MCM-ish homes; we call one “the Incredibles house” because it reminds us of the home that family lived in in the movie (it’s not THAT fabulous, but has hints).
Sue is very right that not all homes are in-your-face MCM. Ours (http://tinyurl.com/4ybkjp)
isn’t, but we love it (and my heart was fiercely set on a prairie or Craftsman bungalow). It has a charm quite its own and as Sue pointed out, it’s very well-built and sturdy. Plaster walls, a couple of coved doorways…and of course, our fantabulous aqua and black tiled bathroom. I think the people who buy the home choose to accentuate its retro-ness or not. Our house doesn’t scream MCM, and even the interior is kind of leaning more toward the late 40s, early 50s, sedate 50s, but it’s right up our alley regardless. Perhaps it’s because it isn’t totally MCM outside or in; it’s just a sweet, happy, homey-looking little house (despite the lack of landscaping). It is just the perfect house for us.
There are many houses in our neighborhood with the original owners still residing in them, and it’s true when some point out that the exteriors tend to be simple (“plain” sounds so…harsh…). However, that doesn’t mean no landscaping, no flowers, no plants…not by a long stretch.
Finally, we’ve found that the neighbors here…they are, in short, awesome. Not only are many homes still being cared for by their now-elderly original owners or the kids who grew up in these homes, one of our friends here grew up in the neighborhood and bought a home in it when she & her husband married because they loved it so much. It’s a story we’ve heard several times: “Oh, I grew up over on Swearingen Street, and we bought a house here. We love it here.” Amazing. People don’t leave!
Our neighbors were inviting us in to see their own home renovations (we started tearing out the fake wood paneling in our now-master upper level bedroom on possession day 2) right away. They let us walk their dogs, and one neighbor handed her brand new collie puppy over to us to watch for a few so she could talk to the neighbor across the street. They helped us move our stove and piano into the house (the latter being an amazing chore). Pies, cookies, and casseroles are often exchanged on back porches (good thing I love to bake, cook, and share!). Seeing that we’re trying to make a garden, we’ve had free bags of soil offered to us. They offer to help with heavy-duty stuff. Just last night, we spent 40 minutes in one neighbor’s house shooting the breeze after he’d invited us over to see his “Cars” collection (he wants a souvenir from our planned Route 66 trip).
It’s like Pleasantville without the weirdness! And we just love it. Not sure why, but these neighborhoods attract great folks for the most part. We have a pharmacy (they deliver for free), a deli, an ice cream shop, a sort of neighborhood pub, and a little run-in shop for necessaries like soda or bandages. People say ‘hi’ when we’re out walking the dog, wave if you or they are driving down the street, and will bring your garbage cans up to the garage for you if you’re not home and they are on garbage day.
The houses aren’t outspokenly “period”, but…it’s charming, simple, sweet and comfortable. To be cheesy, it’s like the most perfect chocolate cake you can imagine, with a little vanilla ice cream. Not fancy, rather pedestrian, but warm, familiar and definitely very, very good.
Okay, I’ll shut up now. lol