One of our favorite posts in the archive is this one about hearing from the original owners of our first house. It was so much fun to see photographs of their family in our home in the 1960s. We studied every inch of each image and treasured every detail they shared in their letter.
We were on friendly terms with the people who sold us our second house, so even though we never heard from that house’s original owners, it was comforting to know the family who’d lived there for 22 years. Naturally, we hoped to meet the original owners of our current house. For a while there was nothing—then, unexpectedly, we did. A few months ago at an event in Richmond we met their daughter-in-law, Chris, and shared big hugs. There’s nothing like hearing how meaningful a house you love has been to another family. Chris graciously allowed us to share excerpts from a letter she sent along with a handful of old photos, so here they are.
The house you are currently in has had a wonderful history of family memories. My husband’s parents bought it when his dad was transferred to Richmond from Cleveland, Ohio over 30 years ago. They had just become “empty nesters” and searched for the right house in a perfect location so their future grandchildren could visit. In fact, the first grandchild was on the way during their move!
It was a hectic time—buying a house under construction and moving from 500 miles away. They managed to travel to Texas for the birth of the first grandson and were present for the births of nine more grandchildren and one great-grandchild while living there. They were dog lovers and brought Chelsea, their English Foxhound, with them to Richmond. After Chelsea once wandered into the woods and didn’t return, another dog named Lady followed my mother-in-law home. She was well loved and stayed with them for many years.
My husband and I lived in Richmond when our four children were born. Before they arrived, we adopted our first “child,” a dog from the Richmond SPCA, and took her to visit “grandma and grandpa” at the house before bringing her to our own home!
All of our children remember the house as the place where we celebrated Christmas Eve each year, along with birthdays and other holidays. This photo was taken on the back porch—what you now call the converted sunroom—about twenty years ago.
My father-in-law used to put a Christmas tree in almost every room, all decorated perfectly. He loved to play a game with the kids called “find the ornament.” He would spot an ornament and the children would race to find it. It wasn’t easy—some trees had hundreds of ornaments!
My mother-in-law was a terrific cook and invited us over not only for celebrations but just because she enjoyed cooking. The kitchen was heavily used and beloved by everyone. She spent days baking cookies to bring to Virginia Beach each year, a time when sometimes all three of her children and ten grandchildren would gather there.
There was an antique chandelier in the kitchen that her grandmother had owned. It meant a lot to my mother-in-law, though it hung low enough that visitors often bumped into it. The fixture was removed before the house was sold.
The deck and back porch were added after they moved in. They used the porch daily—he read the newspaper while she worked on needlepoint pillows. This photo shows my mother-in-law presenting one of her pillows to my daughter in the living room.
The tree that stood in the middle of the deck—you removed it later—was small when they first built the deck around it. They kept it for shade, and over the years it grew huge.
It’s been lovely to see how you’ve made the house your own. I love the hardwood floors you installed upstairs and the stenciling in the bathroom. Your daughter’s room is where my mother-in-law slept in her later years; she would be delighted by the fresh, fun space you’ve created. I also admire the transformation of the downstairs half bath—so much brighter and cleaner. I look forward to seeing more improvements in the future. Wishing you many happy years in your home! – Chris
We’re so grateful to Chris for reaching out and sharing those memories and photos. It was astonishing to learn the deck tree had once been so small. Do you remember how big it was when we had it taken down?
This letter was deeply touching to us. Understanding the life this house has lived—the grandchildren, the home cooking, the Christmas trees—makes us feel even more grateful to be here. As an extra delight, we also heard from Erin, one of the grandchildren who grew up visiting the house. Here’s her note:
I’m one of the ten grandchildren of the original owners of your current house. My mom shared your blog and I’m blown away—the house looks wonderful! I have so many fond memories from that home and I’m thankful you’ve moved in and shared photos of your updates. Thank you for keeping a connection to the house and bringing new life to its foundation. – Erin
Isn’t that amazing? It’s wonderful to hear from people who aren’t strangers anymore, connected by something so personal—the love of a home.
Have you ever been contacted by the original owners of a home you’ve lived in? Or found anything surprising hidden in a wall or cabinet, like the treasures we discovered under the original kitchen cabinets in our first house? I can’t wait to see what we uncover when we open some walls and remodel the kitchen—so far the only find has been an old water bill from ten years ago tucked into the bottom of the trash compactor.