About My House
My home is located at 320 2nd St. SE, Britt, IA 50423. It was built in 1895 at a cost of $6000. I purchased the home in 1967 from the original family that built the home. I believe the lumber was shipped in on rail, pieces of lumber have the carpenter's name stamped on it...they said like pieces were steel banded together as they were shipped and top piece would have the builder's name stamped on it. Workers walked to work Monday mornings from Duncan, six miles away and worked all week staying with the builder, and then walking back home to Duncan on Saturdays.
Victorian Features
My home has a large wrap-around porch with spindles. A cupola with copper finial adorns the porch. There's brackets under the eaves; I have a built-in oak bayseat in the original dining room. The downstairs wood trim and molding is oak. The upstairs trim work is maple and pine. The parlor floor has raised oak floor, the library floor is maple; and the original dining area is rose-colored pine. I have one double pocket door and one set of French doors. I have a converted coal fireplace. The foundation of the home is granite. The siding is cedar in excellent condition. I do think my home appears to be a folk Victorian era home. It looks like a glorified basic farm house.
Tips and Tricks
I have found that in an old house the work is ongoing...you are never done. You must work with what you have been dealt. You cannot change walls or reconstruct rooms...nor should you want to. Younger people should go slowly at remodeling because what you may think is unattractive is truly beautiful and you may destroy something you later wished that you had preserved.
