Life on the farm

[Oaktree]

Grandfathers farm getting overgrown.

Sad to see these old places just rotting away. Too late now for most of them, but you'd think someone could have bought these old houses and kept them up. Lots of them here in northern New England too.
Curiously, what's with the second story door to nowhere? I've seen that occasionally when I've taken road trips in the south or midwest. That first step's a doozy!!

Once upon a time that was considered a large house. My parents raised three kids in 1500 sq. ft. and I think it was the largest house around. Of course, we had a large barn and shop, so the boys got banished to the shop and haymow except in cold weather. Being indoors was for after dark.

Same here. I don't think the house I grew up in was even that big with 4 kids. You're right, my brother and I were more or less expected to be outside except in foul weather. Father always had stuff for us to do.

 

[civilian]

So my grandparents lived across the hollow from great grandparents, farms join. The one room school my dad attended is next to great grandparents. So dad literally walked up hills both ways, down the hill and up the other side to attend school. Dad is in the back. Almost everyone is a relative.
View attachment 783612
Dad next to his dads house.
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The hill to school.
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That picture of your dad looks like he has clothes passed down to him. Sleeves look a bit short. Mom's dress looks like it fits her better. Jon

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Curiously, what's with the second story door to nowhere? I've seen that occasionally when I've taken road trips in the south or midwest. That first step's a doozy!!
.

Used to be porch on great grandparents house. It has fallen down.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

That picture of your dad looks like he has clothes passed down to him. Sleeves look a bit short. Mom's dress looks like it fits her better. Jon

Maybe from relatives. He was youngest, 2 older sisters. I’m guessing his 8th grade pic in 1938, or maybe HS. Not sure and he doesn’t remember.

 

[civilian]

Might be growing out of them also. Jon

 

[buckeyefarmer]

This was during the Great Depression.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

This is porch still barely on the G grandparents house.

 

[Jstpssng]

Interesting photos. Looking at them was a good way to relax and unwind before going to bed.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Grand father passed away 35 years ago today.

 

[ovrszd]

Grand father passed away 35 years ago today.

Dennis, my respect for your family heritage value continues to grow. You take this responsibility very seriously. As it should be taken. When you are gone, a lot of this information will be gone. Unless someone in the next generation is willing to take on the challenge.

My Mom saw that "loyalty" in me. So she fed me every bit of information that she thought of. She gave me all the historical documents and pictures when she moved into a Rest Home a couple years before she died. I went thru all of it. I took pictures of all the photos and docs with a good digital camera. Then copied it all onto CDs and gave them to any family members wanting one. The CDs have 750 pictures on them.

My wife and I went thru the pictures and sorted out all of the ones we didn't understand and that had no writing on the back. Mom went thru that pile and labeled almost all of them. We have a couple dozen at the most that we don't know history of.

My youngest Son will be the next "keeper" of the family history. After that, I don't have much control. Hopefully someone will take it on. I'm extremely honored my Mom instilled it in me. I keep the old photos in a large trunk that my Great Grandfather brought with him from Germany when they came to America. When we have family gatherings I bring out the trunk and let family look thru it. The important documents such as their ship boarding documents I keep in protective sleeves.

I can't track my family back as far as yours. But it's important just the same. Thanks for everything you've shared on this thread. I look forward to any and all comments and updates.