Old books are life.

One of my favorite things in our house is the library.  I found the coolest book with a dustcover.  It's called Our Hearts We're Young and Gay. By, Cornelia Skinner and Emily Kimbrough.

SO cool.

Here are some of the pictures from the book.  I cannot wait to read it.  More to come.

Wide Plank Floor Dreams, Kris

My Orchid from Miss Ann...care tips.

https://youtu.be/f9--8LsmExE

The stained glass lamp mystery.

This lamp came with the house and is very heavy.  I posted in Collectors Weekly to see if I could get help with identification.  Here is the link:

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/214457-stained-glass-lamp?in=user


Here are some pictures also:

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  Tiffany or no?

...I think we're alone now.

Love and greek revival dreams, Kris

Carbon monoxide detector wake up. Yikes.

So owning an old home is not all silk flowers and wood floors.  Our carbon monoxide detector went off at 4 this morning.  We turned off the furnace and aired out the house.

On the morning of closing, the furnace did not work.  Since then, it has worked off and on.  BOTTOM LINE, IT NEEDS REPLACED.  NOW.

Luckily, we have found a great heating and ac guy in Chester and he is going to do the work.

On a positive note, I start my second day at Citi today.  My commute was 25 minutes door to seat, so I will take it.

Have a great day and thank goodness for CO2 DETECTORS!

We are officially in contract on both houses!

We got an offer and are looking to close on both houses on December 29, 2016.  While we are nervous, we are also extremely excited. I am now focused on a couple of things.  PACKING and PURGING.

I am also focused on learning more about the new/old house.  I found a link to the historic district request:

 Chester Historic District Original Request

And then the amended application for the amended register:

National Register - Chester SC

And, then photographic proof of our house being included in the register:

We are excited, to say the least.  I am now looking at paint swatches.  Gray or gray or gray for the entry?

Peace and gray walls dreams,

Kris

We are officially in Contract!

We were awaiting a list of things that the current homeowner would like to keep.  She travelled up from Alabama to go through the house.

She made a list of the things she would like to keep, which is minor (Paintings, a dress form, and some china) and include family treasures. She did decide to leave the Dunham Piano with the house. 

 It has been with the house since it was built in 1855. If only Piano's could talk?

We are blessed.  Love and Dunham Piano Dreams, Kris

A little about Chester, SC

Chester is a small rural city in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,607 at the 2010 census, down from 6,476 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chester County.

Current Chester County sits in the "the Land between two rivers."  Initially it was divided by The Great Warrior Trading Path and The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road.  The Saluda Gap Road, another major path also crossed the Indian Trading Path  in Chester County.  


Chester County  had its beginning in 1750 when the Scots-Irish from Pennsylvania and Virginia made their way into the area, settling on Rocky Creek and Fishing Creek.  In 1785 the state was divided into 37 judicial districts and Chester County came into existence.  The first court in the area was held at Walkers, now known as Lewis Turnout in 1776.

Chester  operates as an industrial and agriculture community, with much land area in timber production. Forestry plays a major role in the county economy with several mills in the county and others near it. Forest land ownership is majority family landowners who manage their properties for a variety of uses. Agriculture is a big segment of the economy with crops consisting of cotton, wheat, oats, rye, beef and dairy cattle, hay, corn, peaches, other vegetables, peanuts, soybeans, and pecans.


Below is an early 1900's map of Chester, SC:

143 York Street: A Video from 2014

If you want a glimpse of the inside of 143 York Street in Chester, SC, check out this gorgeous Georgian Structure below:

Wide Plank Floor Love, Kris

We just got a call! We have a verbal agreement.

So, here is the deal.   We offered 195,000 plus the contents of the home.  We just got a call  that we would need to accept the house as/is and the family would like to enter and Family Heirlooms.  We  completely agreed.  Because of this, we will not have a firm contract until after the weekend. 

Check out the interior. 

Even if we get a part of the antiques, I feel like this is a blessing and meant to be. 

 

Please cross your fingers for us.  Love and wide plank floor dreams, Kris

The G.W. Gage House - 143 York Street Chester, SC: The Early Years

The GW Gage House was built in 1855 by Absolm Housar.  Mr. Housar was a prominent brick contractor in Chester, SC.  The 1850 census shows that Mr. Houser had moved from NC and was co-owner of a business called McDonald and Housar. This brick business manufactured over 450,000 bricks per year!  Absolm was no slacker.

Check out this early photo of the house before the front porches were removed and the brick was painted white:




Gaston-Gage House before the remodel

I love the history of this pre-civil war gem.  I can guarantee that if we purchase this home, our next dog will be named Absolm, Absolutely!

Fingers crossed!  Wide Plank Floor Dreams, Kris

In Love.

So yesterday, my husband and I made an offer on an 1855 Georgian Revival Home in Chester, SC.  We offered 195,000 plus the contents.  Now, we wait. 

We made our offer including the contents.  The lady that owned this passed away in 2013. 

Check out the exterior:

 

 

This staircase reminds me of Gone with the Wind:

 

 

And I still don't know nothin' bout birthing no baby's!

 

Love and Wide Plank Floor  Dreams,

 

Kris