Once upon a time we were riding down a side street in the tiny hamlet of Misenhiemer, NC. The "we" was likely me, Janie, Ruthie, and Mama (Virginia). We came upon a cottage-style house that was clearly uninhabited, but clearly a "house of interest"--one that you would buy immediately. So, rather immediately, we called the realtor listed on the sign. The price was...to say the least...astounding! For the house (never mind that the kitchen roof was falling in) and the land around it, complete with 5 outbuildings and a well) the owner wanted $6,500.00. (Yes, the decimals are in the right place.)
And so, "we" (that would be Janie and me) quickly called our respective husbands to see if we could wrangle "a deal." This was rather early on in our marriages, finances being what they were, and the fact that the roof was caving in, the tandem responses came back..."No Deal!"
Oh well. It was a good idea at the time....wait...is that Aunt Ruthie crawling into the realtor's van (rolling office?) and writing a check? It was...it really was. She bought it!
And so, the Misenhiemer House, or the "Holiday House" as it came to be called, came into the Cole family. Move ahead about $50,000 in renovations [it would have likely remained with the roof caved in had Janie and I bought it!], and here is a peek at the place today.
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| corn crib |
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| barn |
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| smoke house |
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| chicken boxes |
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| machine shop? granary? |
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| and buzzard roost |
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| out house |
Some parts of the old house, built by a Culp relative, could stand more attention, it's true. But we've had some good times here.
For every house is built by someone,
but the builder of all things is God.
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