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
Debra says
Judy’s mom’s kitchen ~ what a treasure! Pride of ownership & loving care for 58 years! To think she’s still working in there every day-give her a hug from me! I’m a Realtor & it breaks my heart when the first thing most people do is rip out the features that are still looking brand new & we’re so well made back in the day. We live in a mid-century & the only thing we did in the kitchen is take out the laminate which was a unattractive blue from a previous “update” & replaced it with a fun sunny yellow that sets off our fiesta ware & red fridge. Kudos to your mom & everyone that sees the joy of loving, using & keeping the best of what set the mid-century apart. Thanks for sharing the story with us Pam!
ms says
I like the stove pot kits and the mounted can opener.
glory days.
ms says
we are the 2nd owners of a 98% original architect designed 1954 custom Portland NW Modern with lots of glass, cork, fir, hemlock, walnut, boomerang counters, Crane fixtures, sputnik lighting, original paint palette and wouldn’t touch a thing. Been here for 10 years. someday i’ll post pictures when I get a new website built.
Paul - CT says
OMG, that’s the same Tappan oven my Mom had! There is an oval clock that fits in the center. See how wonderful things were back then? A simple 24 inch double oven. Both upper and lower had broilers, too. My Mom cried when her Tappan had to be replaced. What few 24 inch double ovens are twice the height. The upper cabinets would have to be cut down in half to replace it.
Thanks for the nice memories and you’re so lucky to have your Mom still with you and looking FABULOUS!
Nicole Oliveira says
I’m in love!! I would give anything to find a kitchen like this!! It’s HISTORY!!!! And your mother looks great for 91!! Gorgeous!!
Trudi says
I grew up with that Tappan oven in white. It was a sad day when after 40+ years it finally had to be replaced with a boring new oven.
c. flournoy says
I loved Judy’s mother kitchen. Thank you for sharing if with us your readers…….. Have you checked out Charton Heston’s vintage house in California? I enjoyed touring it on line. That house should be donated to a museum. It is absolutely wonderful to look at, took me back to more exciting times in architecture. Thanks Sonia
Dana says
The handles on the ovens… Swoon!
Joe says
we just had a complete wall and base Youngstown Metal kitchen in Pink come into our RESTORE Store which is a donation store in akron ohio for Habitat for Humanity..Included was the original 1950s Pink 40 inch original Frigidare electirc range. The whole suite including range sold for $300.00 (YES 300 !) It was a total steal !.. and i believe they have a Turquoise Tappan double oven built in currently there now.. The store is open every week Thursday – Saturday from 10-6PM.. I hit it every week !.. Im sure there are other RESTORE Stores out there too… Go check em out !
Lisanne Freese says
We have a ReStore on the far NW side of Chicago. I pop in once a week but so far the greatest treasure was a Far Side coffee mug for 50 cents, now mine. They put ridiculous prices on some things and let others go for a steal.
Stephanie Fogel says
Any chance you still have that double oven???
Stephanie
Diana says
Yes, this is very rare. I was watching home shows today. The younger generation wants new and modern. There is no sense of preserving history. This kitchen is fabulous. Your mom took such good care of everything. Its beautiful! A bungalow one street over is currently being gutted (its a flip). There won’t be many original interiors intact in the future I’m afraid. I hope this can be preserved.
Kelly says
Diana I am so sad to her you say that you don’t think the younger generation has an interest in preserving mid-century history! I just bought my first house this summer. It is from 1966 in a “tiki” themed neighborhood. I specifically sought out a mid-century specialty realtor. My house has the original bathrooms complete with beautiful condition glitter laminate and a glitter shower stall in the master. I have original wood paneling, an original built-in bookcase, and the original kitchen cabinets and knobs. Unfortunately previous owners replaced the kitchen countertops with granite. I don’t know how old you are and whether you would consider me the younger generation (I’m 35), but I HAD to have this house….to save the bathrooms. There are absolutely some of us out there who don’t just want to paint everything white and put in subway tile.
Jackie says
I’m 29 and I love my retro house, just purchased last year. Literally just came home and someone was telling me to knock out the white and teal tile in my kitchen. (All we want to do was the floor and the wallpaper because it’s worn) I told them I was keeping it retro and all they could talk about was resale. It made me mad. There was literally a house that I had looked at before the one I bought now that had a beautiful retro kitchen. They took it off the marked for a few weeks, put it back with a modernized kitchen. It is safe to say I was no longer interested. You just have to find the right people, and IF i ever sell I will be letting everyone here know. Our bathroom is pink, and the basement has knotty pine and I LOVE IT.
Diana says
Kelly, I’m so glad to hear that there are some younger buyers who are interested in preservation. I can only speak to my own experiences and sadly I have not run across too many like us! I’m 63 and completely obsessed (probably too much so) with total preservation! I know it’s not practical sometimes but I feel like many buyers both young and old really don’t care about keeping these older homes intact. But I’m so pleased to hear you plan to do so.