Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Way Back Machine

Once again it's time for a visit in the Way Back Machine.

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The time: Mid 1950's
The place: Near Cumberland, Wisconsin


What's that you say? You've seen this one before? You're absolutely right. I've featured this photo of my grandfather's retirement home once before. This is where he and Grandma Blanche lived during the summer months. During the winter they lived in a small trailer on the Gulf coast of Florida.

This was a one-room schoolhouse that my grandpa converted into a home. There were two bedrooms, a kitchen, a large living room with fireplace, a bathroom and the most important feature of all - a school bell.

We would take turns ringing that school bell until Blanche would beg for mercy. Her brother Clarence, who lived across the road, would call and ask that the kids quit ringing the bell.

As I remember there were LOTS of Norwegian bachelor farmers living in the area. I don't know why they couldn't find wives.

Here's the front of the old schoolhouse. This is an unusual photo because it was taken in winter and they rarely spent time up north in the winter.

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If you look above the doorway it says "Pine Hill" and the date 1928 (or 1923). I wonder if this brick structure replaced an earlier wooden building.

Here's why I'm featuring the schoolhouse a second time. Heidi, the Milk Man's Wife, has offered to help me locate the place. She lives just a bit south of Cumberland and she's promised to help my sister and I locate the spot so that we can visit it on our trip up north this spring.

I can't imagine that it's not still standing because it was one solid building. It would be fun to take photos from the same spots, just to see how things have changed. I'm sure there are still plenty of birch trees around. I wonder if the Nelson home is still standing across the road.

Time changes everything. We'll see.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice! I'd love to see current photos of it! Plus... what a wonderful adventure for you.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

RoeH said...

I'm waiting with baited breath. I just love history and old buildings. Wouldn't that be a fun one to fix up to live in. There's your next project. :)

Vee said...

It is a way cool building! I hope that Heidi is successful at helping you find it again. You and your sister would get such a charge out of seeing it once again. What a wonderful home that must've been. I think that I could happily live in a schoolhouse. It felt as if I did for years and years.

Michelle said...

I love old houses and buildings. The conversion of the schoolhouse to a home sounds wonderful. Best of luck finding the place!

patricci said...

Do you know it is in Lakeland Township?
You could post a request WIBARRON-L.

StitchinByTheLake said...

I've always thought that remodeling an old school or church would be the ultimate fun. There's an old school near me that someone did that with - I'd love to see the inside. blessings, marlene

Cottage Rose said...

Oh how exciting for you, and how sweet of Heidi to help you out. I hope that it is still there, I would love to see the photos of it now. The older ones are just great, I would have loved to see the inside of it...

Hugs;
Alaura

Louise said...

How very cool you have someone to help you find it!