The Petersen House 501 E Avenue A

It all began with an idea…

It all began with an idea. After I bought my grandparents house on Hickory, I got to thinking…What if I buy old houses, uncover their stories, preserve their history, and provide a safe, welcoming place for people to come home to?

I put that thought in my back pocket as I started work on my grandparents home.

And then one day we got a call. It was our realtor. “I’ve got a house I think you should see, “ he said. “It was a family home, and the woman has grown old and moved to assisted living. It needs a little work, but I think you are the perfect buyer.” Turns our the house is not too far from where I grew up. So we went to look at it.

When we pulled up I just new we needed to buy it. I could only hope that there wasn’t anything too far gone, or that the price wasn’t more than my banker would support. Walking up the sidewalk under a large maple tree and onto the wrap around porch, that heart-warming feeling started to fill my heart again.

Inside, I could immediately tell it was well loved home. Tall beautiful windows were covered with vintage curtains, tied back with gold leaf shaped hooks. Something only someone who loves their home and has lived there quite some time does. There is stained glass in the window above the sink- a creative solution for keeping the window after adding on a garage just outside the space. Upstairs every wall is the most beautifully aged wallpaper I have seen. Wide planked wood floors can be seen under the remnants of carpet. I was falling more in love with the home with every room. We made an offer that was accepted. On closing day, the family gave me a handful of pictures of the home. “We’ve heard what you have planned for this house, and we thought you would like these,” they said. With a smile on my face, tears in my eyes, and keys in my hand, I could hardly wait to uncover the stories and treasures of such a cherished home.