The historic house we are renovating is a storied place. I don’t mean the three stories of living space; I mean the tales within the walls. The house was built originally as a duplex in 1920. We are the first to convert it to a single family home. It was a fraternity house for a while in the years before I was born. Most recently it was home to Dominican Friars.
Our next pet is definitely going to be named after someone in the 1958 pledge class.
There’s also Schiff from 1966, whose name is still marked in the sidewalk in front of the house.
We have discovered some cool items during the renovation process. There was a poster of Dumbo from the 1940s, fraternity grafitti galore, what looks like a rune stone, a tattered baseball cap from the “Negro Swimming Invitational” that was wedged between the walls, and this.
It reads:
“They love one another. They never fail to help widows; they save orphans from those who would hurt them. If they have something they give freely to the man who has nothing. If they see a stranger, they take him home, and are happy as though he were a real brother. They don’t consider themselves brothers in the usual sense, but brothers instead through the Spirit, in God.” – Aristides, a non-Christian, describing Christians to Hadrian
Auspicious words to shepherd us into our new home, no?
Wow, that’s so cool. It’s like a treasure hunt!
I am so in love with this house and all its “treasures” Even better that you cherish the stories that led it to you as well =) Can’t wait for you to get there!
I’m going to be processing “Negro Swimming Invitational” for a long time….