Historic Homes

One of my favorite past times is looking at historic homes. Sometimes on Sunday afternoons we'll drive around the country side just to see what old houses or places we can find. Then, I'll tell my husband, STOP, or GO BACK, I have to see that old house. I love to study homes, wonder what kind of family previously lived in these homes, who built them and why some of them are now abandoned. Like the first home. I have viewed this home from a far for a very long time. So on Sunday while driving past it after church I decided I was going to stop. I wasn't sure if any families still lived there, it was hard to see from the road:

Once I decided to walk up the drive to check it out, I realized if someone did live here I might be in trouble, but I decided to keep going. Then I realized there was no front door or even windows and it appeared to have been vandalized from what I could tell. I didn't dare go inside, wasn't sure what I would find? It does make you wonder why the family would let it ruin. It had such great character and details to it. I'm told that the heirs have fought over it for years and kept wanting to sell it for more money, but they will probably now have to eventually tear it down, how sad:

There are two sets of steps beside the main drive way that don't lead to anywhere. Maybe at one time there was more than one home on the property. To the back of the property appears to be a shed or storage place. Maybe it was a "smoke house". Reminds me of when I was a little girl, growing up in the country on my aunt and uncle's place, they had a "smoke house". No it wasn't a place where you would go and smoke, well not cigarettes at least. It was where they smoked meats, mainly pork. I used to love to play in that place because it was full of canned goods, vegetable and fruits that my aunt had canned from the previous seasons crop.



The next home has had a complete renovation done by one of our local historians. He buys houses that are in really bad shape and spends a small fortune to restore them.

This is another one of his homes, but right now it's just sitting empty. I like the wrap around porch. While it may be empty of occupants, it does appear to have tenants, about 3 local cats were wondering around on the porch:

This home is on the same block as the two above and is in the process of being restored:

The Rogers-Baird home has always interested me. It too is on the same street as the other's above, excluding the first house that's located on another street. I wanted to show you the steep set of stairs that leads to the house and then the side view. It's boarded up and doesn't appear to have any work that's currently being done to it.

As I was walking back past these houses, I could see some kind of out building between the last two houses. Sure makes me curious what kind of building it was used for:

This house is located around the corner from the other homes. Sam Houston State University apparently has bought the home and is in the process of restoring it. All these homes are located near the University.

This last house is probably in the best of shape as compared to the other ones. It's located a few blocks down from the others by our City Hall. The owner donated the home to the city and it remains empty. I hope the city doesn't tear it down. I love the awnings on this home.

Maybe Huntsville should have a walking tour of these homes. They are all within blocks of each other near the University. Hope you enjoyed the homes.