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
lynda says
Such a sweet story. It is easy to imagine how hard working this wonderful mom was. To raise children and keep a kitchen looking this nice is a real accomplishment. I was thinking about all the news we have heard over the years about not using aluminum cookware–looks like the pans were not unhealthy for this family!
Jenifer B says
And is this why we love the Time Capsule homes?! You can feel how the love has soaked into the walls. This is such a great story.
Nan Lewis says
Great story and brings back memories of my own Mom and her kitchen in the ’50s! Yes, this has to be very rare and wonderful.
Kim says
I have the same knobs on my cupboards. Does anyone know how to clean the copper knobs? Thanks!
Dan O. says
Kim,
If you have the knobs I’m thinking of they most likely have/had lacquer over the copper plating. Depending on what state of wear the knobs are currently in you may be able to strip off the old lacquer with acetone and have intact plating underneath; worth a try anyway when you consider what it would cost for NOS replacements:
http://www.lahardware.com/welcome/shop_by_style/Mid_Century/all
Be sure to re-apply some sort of aerosol clear coat once the original is stripped off.
Chris says
I hope a buyer appreciates the kitchen. I think more and more people do see the value in vintage kitchens. In the ’90’s a friend of mine wanted to update his kitchen and was going to throw away the circa 1957 room. I rolled up my pickup and took everything and put it into my house – including the original 1957 GE stove. Nowadays everyone who visits loves the homey feel of my new’old’ kitchen.
David Franks says
“Good Things Happen When You’re Cookin’ on a Tappan.”
Excellent story.
tammyCA says
Ah, sparkle laminate! I sure hope this kitchen can be saved. That’s why I don’t understand all the people who want ridiculous industrial size kitchens to cook..back when everybody had tiny kitchens with lots of food being cooked all the time because we didn’t eat out & even families were larger (we were a family of 8 & had a kitchen similar to this..and a similar copper flying saucer light). I just watched the new episode of “rehab addict” & Nicole bought and is lovingly restoring her grandparents old home to look like it originally did in the ’50s. She’s very nostalgic about it & wanted to put red laminate counters in like she remembered & loved but I guess her grandma really wanted marble instead..I was rooting for the laminate but still it has nice retro custom cabinets & some of the cozy charm.
Reader Deb says
Nicole put in the marble because of time constraints. She wanted to get the kitchen finished before her grandparents arrived from Florida to see it. Maybe she doesn’t know about Pam and Kate, who I’m sure would have been happy to help supply some boomerang, since she usually restores older homes than this. Looking forward to seeing what she does with the bathroom and the rest of the house.
pam kueber says
Sorry, Nicole is not trying very hard if she doesn’t know about us — and about where to find red laminate countertops. Perhaps product placement was involved.
Reader Deb says
After seeing the show again, I have to agree. Judging by the weather and the trees outside the house when she purchased it, there was plenty of time to order things. She was already having cabinets custom made, so it shouldn’t have been too difficult for the carpenter to make the countertops. And product placement would explain the stainless steel appliances. Too bad Northstar Appliances wasn’t involved with the show. The ones in the pictures from your trip to Las Vegas would have been fantastic.
pam kueber says
This made me think: I am going to contact HGTV to ask how these product decisions are determined…
Maryann Roy says
SO FABULOUS !
mimi says
Ladies and gentlemen, while this kitchen is lovely and covetous, the thing of most beauty in this story is Doreen……and the daughter who loves her and her legacy. Bravo, Doreen! Life well lived, daughter well raised, and kitchen gorgeously cared for. There’s what we long for, folks. I aim to love my family as much as Doreen loved hers, and to demonstrate that actions always speak loudest. Glitter laminate surviving 58 years is just evidence of what she accomplished. That’s the story here. Love it!
Faith says
Mimi, you nailed it! Thank you.
nina462 says
lovely story & picture. I’d have loved to seen a picture of Doreen in the kitchen in the early days –