I love old houses because they come ready-filled with a history of love. Today: Judy’s lovely story about the 1958 kitchen that her mother Doreen still uses today, after moving in when it was brand new.
Yes, 58 years in the same kitchen… which even after hearty duty serving up three squares a day to five children, remains in great condition … with the same pots and pans, same glitter laminate, same checkerboard tile… little changed from the day it was built. What a testament to quality — and to tender loving care. Judy’s key question — in return for sharing this story — is: Can we connect her with someone in Calgary, Alberta, who would be interested in visiting, documenting, and perhaps even agreeing to remove the kitchen and set it up somewhere so it can be visited? This is a time capsule story she would like to see endure.
I asked Judy if she could tell us the story of the kitchen. She wrote:
We quickly outgrew the two bedroomed bungalow my father and his brother built in the northern outskirts of Calgary, and moved in 1958 to a new four-bedroomed ‘split-level’ in the city’s expanding southern suburbs. We soon became five children surrounded by countryside, biking everywhere, and always came home hungry.
My mother’s kitchen was her domain – organised, clean, polished, and productive with home-made bread, tins of cookies, three meals a day, plus snacks like popcorn and fudge for seven of us. The ages from father to youngest child were spread over 52 years; this may explain why no changes were ever made, there was never a break in the cooking. At the age of 91, my mother still cooks for herself, as well as her middle son and grandson who look out for her.
A 25 lb. turkey was slow-roasted for seven hours when an extended family of up to 14 gathered for Thanksgiving and Christmas. (We’d have to take turns for the roasted skin flap, which meant the prize came only every couple of years). For New Year, we would tuck into her homemade noodles and turkey broth.
Her cupboards still hold to the same arrangements as in the beginning: tea, coffee and crackers above the gas stove, flour, sugar and other baking needs above the single square metre of workspace she had.
The original, giant, Whirlpool fridge, working until recently, is now stored in the basement.
The linoleum floor, regularly waxed is still in great condition.
Formica work top, mahogany plywood cupboard doors with copper knobs and pull-down copper pendant lights are just as they were in the beginning; even the full set of heavy, aluminum, Wear Ever pans with copper lids and Bakelite handles.
Wall-mounted knife holder and rotary can opener have been in place since the beginning. Tappan oven and gas stove top still work perfectly.
Is it exceptional for a kitchen of this period to exist, still be in use, and be almost intact? I’d love to know. Also, I’d love to think that the kitchen might be preserved. Anyone buying the house after she’s gone will tear it out. Can anyone help? My main question is this: Would anyone be interested in visiting, documenting, and perhaps even agreeing to remove the kitchen and set it up somewhere so it can be visited? I’m grateful to find a like-minded, knowledgeable and enthusiastic ear for this. It would mean a lot to have someone in Calgary look at it.
Judy, I do know someone in historical preservation in Calgary. I will be sure to email her this story, to see if she has any ideas for you. Meanwhile, I take a stab at one of your questions:
Q. Is it exceptional for a kitchen of this period to exist, still be in use, and be almost intact?
A: Yes. We do see them, but they are getting more and more rare. Your mom’s kitchen is particularly notable, I’d say, because it still has the laminate countertops and original flooring — these often get replaced over the years. I see that you have changed out the fridge and the dishwasher, possibly the faucet, too; but these are easier to replace with authentic vintage if that is a goal. Flooring and laminate: Not so much. In fact, there is no known source, worldwide, for glitter laminate right now. So this kitchen is a delight to see. It’s also so incredibly heartwarming — and again, rare, I’d say — to see cookware and decor still in place, still in use. Such a testament to enduring quality, care and thrift.
I will also say: Unchanged vintage kitchens and houses — time capsule houses — have become increasingly desirable over the past few years. Many readers here are actively seeking them out. We want the original glitter and floor tile and wood cabinets and appliances — all of it! So don’t give up hope that the next people who live in this house won’t love it as much as you do; it’s possible. That said, yes: Gut remodels happen. More often than not, that’s the harsh reality. So we will do what we can to help you — maybe a museum WILL be interested. We’ve seen it happen before.
Thank you so much, Judy, for sharing this story with us. It’s just wonderful. xoxo
Brooke says
It’s really nice to see a story from my City (Go Calgary!).
I really like the warm wood with the spectacular blue sparkle countertop!
It’s nice to see a kitchen that’s survived for so long. Our 1962 kitchen was replaced by the original owners sometime in the 80’s with white laminate cabinets with the oak strip on the top. There are 2 original kitchen cabinets hanging in the garage and it breaks my heart they still aren’t in the house.
I’m not sure who the reader could contact here but she could always try Dinah at Mid Century Dweller (a local MCM store in Inglewood) and see if she knows anyone who might be looking for an original kitchen.
There are also a few architectural salvage companies in Alberta if she googles for them. One of them might be interested in removing the kitchen. The only problem I could see is that I doubt anyone would be able to visit it once the arch salvage company had it and I’m not sure any local museum would want the kitchen unfortunately (we don’t really have any retro museums locally)
I myself would definitely be interested in saving the can opener from being thrown out 🙂
Geronimom says
Perfect testimony to the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”! Our retro house was built a couple years after Doreen’s and is pretty much intact – EXCEPT for the kitchen which was updated by previous owners throughout the years – the lovely birch cabinets painted white, boring generic white formica counter top, u*#y vinyl sheet flooring & new appliances – except for the stainless sink, they did manage to leave that! So I really enjoyed seeing Doreen’s kitchen in all of it’s original glory, giving me an opportunity to imagine how mine might have looked before all the updates. Especially enjoyed reading of all the loving meals & family events that sweet little kitchen produced! I often think the nostalgia for retro things nowadays harkens to people actually missing & yearning for a time when life seemed simpler, bigger did not necessarily mean better, “Made in America” meant quality, the kitchen was center of the home – and there was an actual “homemaker” (how my mom always referred to herself on forms!) holding center court in it, ensuring family life went smoothly…You know, that comforting feeling of neighborhood coffee clatches ), cocktail parties (most women didn’t work out of the home back then so those types of social gatherings were a lot more common), serving as “homeroom mom” (anyone else’s mom ever do that? – my mom always volunteered herself so I was constantly bringing in cupcakes, cookies and Kool-Aid for class parties!), etc. Thanks so much for this awesome trip down memory lane – and as an aside, I would absolutely KILL for that aqua glitter formica in my kitchen!
Dawn says
I am so in love with this story. And the blue glitter laminate. I also like that cupboards are on legs. I feel like that is rare in a kitchen?
Kristen says
I absolutely adore this kitchen and it’s proud owner and caretaker 😉 I particularly love the cabinets and amazing condition not due to not being used, but due to being well used and lovingly cared for! Great way to start a Friday. Thank you for sharing!
Melinda says
Meals for seven prepared daily in this small kitchen, and yet today we have couples insisting they NEED a commercial stove and 25 yards of counter space to prepare meals for 2.
Dawn says
Yep. We are convinced we need need Open Concept and stainless steel everything and huge giant rooms for two or three people.
magnarama says
I’m a private chef so I see woefully egregious examples of this every day. Two people in a house with a 500SF kitchen, two or three refrigerators, two dishwashers… If I never saw another square inch of granite it would be too soon.
Karen says
More and more, each day, I’m loving the mid-century modern kitchens like this, the kind I grew up with. The house I grew up in was built in 1964 and the kitchen was small and efficient…later on, Mom ripped it out for one of those “European” white kitchens with the oak handles along the bottoms of the top cupboards…yuck. I love that blue (aqua?) glitter laminate!
Sherry says
What a beautiful kitchen, it’s nice to see a time capsule in my home town.
Jeanne says
Fantastic story! Doreen lovingly took care of her family and the kitchen! Thank you for posting this! A reminder that families don’t need huge kitchens and a bathroom & bedroom for each family member. I grew up with one bathroom for five people, and a small kitchen. I remember my mom waxing her linoleum floor regularly. Yes…as Pam says: Love the home you’re in!
Stacia says
This goes to show why good design is important. It doesn’t ever NEED to be replaced. It’s worth it to get it right the first time. Also, I love that Doreen lives in Calgary. My husband and I visited there in 1990 on our honeymoon. We bought several things that we still have at a vintage store called Smorgasvortex. I still carry their business card in my wallet as a memento. It’s interesting to see mid-century things made in Canada because they are just slightly different than those from the USA. I’d love to explore the influences on their design aesthetic in that era.
Chris says
I couldn’t love this story more!!!!!! Time capsule spaces are a delight even without people in them. That Doreen is still there, using and loving that wonderful kitchen, brings this story into the realm of joyful!!! That sparkly countertop — every little detail — what fun! And she has taken such good care of everything — it really shows an entirely different value system. Today, people want to use it up, rip it out, get something new. I do think things were more high quality and therefore lasted longer in general, but Doreen certainly exemplifies Pam’s motto: Love the home you’re in! Thank you so much for this story, Judy! It made my morning!
pam kueber says
Yes, I couldn’t love this story more either. It’s what this site is all about. Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging comment!