History

I've never been one to pay too much attention to history. I make sure to remember birthdays, anniversaries, and of course I can remember bigger important dates and times, like WWII, America's Independence, the progression of video game consoles, music trends, you know the important stuff.

I do, however, attach sentimental value to many things that I have in my life. Looking at a photo, picking up a toy or object, or hearing a song, brings me back to the time and place where I was, who I was with, and what we were doing. I can see and remember the interaction, I feel the mood and remember how I felt. 

Down our long driveway

​Now as I walk the property, I know the old bones of the barn have stories to tell. I try and envision what it was like 50, 60, 70 years ago. What was happening here? How did they use this space? How much time did they spend here? How active was the farm? What animals lived here? Has it always been red? 

These questions got us interested in the history of our old home. On the numerous documents we searched online we found conflicting information. Thankfully for us, the University is only 10 minutes from us. In the basement of one of their halls lies a historical archive center. We located tax records and plat maps. 

Our house was built during a time when taxes were done by hand in a town ledger. Where claiming a piano as an asset was just as important as how many head of cattle roamed your land. A time when Vincent Van Gogh was still alive, a time when half of the US was yet to be the US, a time when telegraph was the best method for communication. 

From what we know, the farm was in the same family for over 60 years. We know they had multiple types of animals to pigs and cattle to sheep and chickens. We know the land started around 200 acres. The family sold it 13 years ago and people in the community still remember who lived there.

Jessica playing with the new barn kitties

I don't think that we'll have too many pigs or cows. But hopefully we'll have sheep and chickens. My goal is to bring the land back to it's former glory and write a history that the land deserves. We've got a lot of work in front of us, but we also have a lot of time. History takes time, it's not remembered by the second or minute but by the hard work and memorable experiences you share. I look forward to the time we'll spend here and the work we'll share and the memories we'll create.