Sunday Selections, brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, is an ongoing theme where participants post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
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This week the home where my brothers and I were brought up was razed. My mother had lived there from her arrival in Australia in 1952 until her death just after Easter 2004. She was widowed twice while living there.
It is a green, peaceful and pleasant area and I have no doubt that a McMansion will be built in its place.
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| The Port-a-Potty has its own enclosure. Very odd. |
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| The view we had from the lounge room |
Also razed was a wisteria vine which was more than 40 years old. I have no doubt that it will be suckering and regrowing for some time to come. Which gives me pleasure.
How sad to see your old homestead go like that. I hope you have lots and lots of pictures.
ReplyDeleteI imagine there were some mixed feelings with seeing the home of your childhood razed. Unless of course there were nothing but bad memories there, which it doesn't sound like there were. I love wisteria and am trying to grow three vines on the pergola we have in the yard, but doubt that we will be here long enough to see them bloom this year. When you see it grow... you should take a cutting to grow for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI hate seeing old homes knocked down, and those soulless boxes put up in their place.
ReplyDeleteThis likely was very difficult for you. If so, I think I understand. The Montana farmhouse I was raised in had to be deliberately burned down several years ago as an eyesore and safety hazard. It's still traumatic for me, especially when I go back there several times per year, see where it stood and relive all the old memories. It had to be done but it stull hurts...
ReplyDeleteOh dear. The march of 'progress'.
ReplyDeletemybabyjohn/Delores: I don't think I do have any photos of it. I suppose I must somewhere, but I don't know where.
ReplyDeleteCindi: Lots of mixed emotions.
Toni: It will be replaced with a HUGE and expensive number.
Ron Dudley: It surprised me that I did find it difficult.
All: When I heard my childhood home was likely to be knocked down last week my first thought was good, followed by about time.
When we all lived at home a three bedroom, one bathroom home was too small for six of us. There was a lot of tension.
After my father died my mother dived into the depths of alcoholism and I dreaded visiting her. The house became increasingly shabby as an accurate reflection of my mother's abuse of and neglect of herself. If it had been razed soon after her death I could have seen myself begging to drive the 'dozer myself.
When I went down yesterday I was surprised to find some regret. Regret for the might have beens I suppose and because it was as I said a very pretty and peaceful spot. There are now only one or two houses left in the street that remain as they were. The rest have been replaced by expensive, enormous architectural monstrosities.
I think a wisteria covered McMansion will be fitting tribute to your old homestead.
ReplyDeleteGreen and peaceful, always a serene combination.
ReplyDeleteThis is great!
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Thank you. It does have charm.
ReplyDeleteGemmel: Welcome and thank you.
Come At Me Bro: Welcome.
Always a mixture of emotions whenever anything like this happens. My father-in-law (92 years of age) saw his old childhood home torn down a couple of years ago. A new home was built on the same spot. I know it gave him a sad twinge to see it go and I think that's why it's so important that we take our photos and treasure the old ones.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know your memories are golden and therefore indestructible!
ReplyDeleteWarm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
Sorry to hear about your mom's house, and her death. I'm sure that is incredibly hard to take.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty area, for sure, and it touches me that the wisteria will continue to grow, despite everything.
I lived in a number of homes growing up and all but one has been torn down to make way for a McMansion. So I understand what it feels like. Hugs!
And along with the raz, I hope the unpleasant memories went with it. Remember the good and leave the rest behind.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad. When buildings are razed during the lifetimes of those who lived there,it does not seem possible to avoid feeling regretful and that our past lived are somehow being obliterated too. Neglect of gardens, too, where so much work, thought and delight took place, are also difficult to bear.
ReplyDeleteAnd McMansions are so incredibly ugly, and new houses tend not to have eaves, and the 'gardens' tend to use only one or two plant varieties.
Denise: Thankyou. I am a little surprised at how strong and how mixed the emotions are.
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Some of my memories of that house are decidedly black, but you are right there are some golden ones as well.
Cathy Oliffe-Webster: Thank you. Lots.
Karen: I am really not sure what I am feeling at the moment. Not what I expected anyway, but you are right I need to try and evict the demons.
persiflage: Oh yes. When my mother was well her garden was a joy. Hers, and anyone who looked at it. Even after her death there were things like the wisteria and a camellia tree and pussy willows and and and. All gone now. And you are so right about the ugliness of most McMansions. Many more dollars than taste neurones.
totally on a tangent but your post reminded me. 20 years ago a the new wife of a friend of mine talked him into selling his home so that they could live in the country. The backyard of the home they sold was a huge half an acre filled with hundred year old fig trees, plums and apples, amazing old peach trees and heritage roses to die for. It was all razed and concreted and turned into a six unit development.It was a horrible thing to do to a lovely old heritage garden. They broke up a few years later.
ReplyDeleteI've no doubt who ever bought the block of land will build at least two characterless and drab units on it :-).
ReplyDeleteSo sad. This is why I'm so hesitant to revisit my old family home(sold last year). I'd be devastated to see it demolished like this.
ReplyDeleteKim: When I was growing up every house on the block had mulitiple fruit trees. We had figs, apricots, peaches, two different plums not to mention strawberries and gooseberries. All gone.
ReplyDeleteWindsmoke: If what has happened in other parts of the street is any indication a HUGE house will be built there. Huge and ugly.
Manderley: It is sad. It was inevitable, but there is regret too.
Oh, that is sad... but then memories live on in the heart and not only the soil?
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely garden and views you had from your childhood home.
It's either going to be a fence to fence mansion with a concret or paved huge outdoor entertainment area, or it will be four to six units, eight or twelve if they go two storey. Such a shame. Then again, people have to live somewhere. The porta potty has to have its own enclosure so it doesn't get accidentally knocked over...
ReplyDeleteI think it's always a strange brew of emotions to see someplace from your past destroyed, even if it wasn't a happy place. It was still a part of your history.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the knowledge of the McMansion to come makes it a bit depressing as well. I suspect if they'd saved the tree and were going to turn the site into a garden, it wouldn't feel quite so bad. Maybe.
The portaloo with its own enclosure made me smile (weird indeed), but I feel sad for you that your childhood home is no more. I hope the wisteria will regrow.
ReplyDeleteSomehow the destruction of the vine seems like adding insult to injury. All very sad - and very familiar.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to see the time go on by...pretty trees, I think the vine will make it too
ReplyDeleteYou have such a good outlook on things. To look at something that has gone is not always sad, but as you said, "it's about time." Thanks for sharing a bit of your past life here...
ReplyDeleteHi EC,
ReplyDeleteThe small terraced house in which I was born was destroyed in the name of progress when I was about ten years old.
But for you it looks like the scenery was so much nicer.
I can see the need for progress but sometimes it is just so sad that these things have to happen.
Cheers
PM
Yes... the end of the vines adds insult to injury. I was sorry to hear this... the home in which you grew up, gone. What is the place coming to? I wonder whether there is a photograph of the place on Google Street View? Small comfort but something.
ReplyDeleteDid you keep a cutting of the wisteria?
ReplyDeleteHow sad to see a childhood home disappear. That's progress, they tell us.
LadyFi: I think you are right that memories live on.
ReplyDeleteRiver: Judging by the rest of the street it is going to be a two storey fence to fence job. I am not certain I would trust a 'dozer driver who couldn't avoid the potty without help.
Paper Chipmunk: The McMansion is a sad change from a street where your door key opened every second house. And yes, a very mixed bag of emotions at the moment.
Carolina: The wisteria is just roots (big ones) poking out of the soil, but I think it will be back.
Dave King: I am sorry. It sounds as if you have walked this road too.
Kim @ Stuff: The trees are wonderful. I brought back some acorns for the cats as a souvenier.
DJan: Thank you.
PM: I can see why it was inevitable, but that doesn't mean that it can happen without a pang. Or two. Thanks.
Christine: There might be a photograph on Google Street View. Thank you - I will have a look.
Friko: They were so thorough there is nothing left of the wisteria but roots poking through the soil. Nothing to take a cutting from. Yet.
How difficult that was for you. My farm home was razed five years ago, and a modern vinyl sided home put in its place. I know the plumbing works now, and the heat is steady. But, I miss the old place with the maple trees, barn, and fences.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. Good luck, wisteria.
Susan Kane: Despite the wisteria being only upturned roots in the soil, I would put money on it making a significant attempt to sucker and sprout again. It survived my father's testosterone driven pruning so a mere bulldozer is nothing.
ReplyDeleteMy father and grandfather had a similar experience.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa built their house for his wife and three kids in 1952 and sold it in 2002 when he needed to move into an aged care facility. It was knocked down six months later and, yep, a hideous McMansion is now in its place!
They have McMansions everywhere, I guess. I imagine that is disconcerting to see your childhood home razed like that. I hope the wisteria comes back.
ReplyDeleteKath: McMansions rule it seems. Sadly.
ReplyDeleteLynn: I was in the area yesterday and saw that my pre school is also coming down. It is an area which is largely too expensive for young families now so the land is worth more than the facility. Which is wrong. On so many levels.
Dear EC,
ReplyDeleteThe same has happened to the house in which I grew up. It was built in 1944. When my father died in 1975, his sisters sold the farm and the developers razed everything.
Now thirty-five years later, the land, out in the country, is overgrown with brambles. Nothing was done. I find myself glad and yet sad when I drive by. Memories flood in.
I can understand your wanting the wisteria to grow!
Peace.
Dee Ready: Thank you. I find myself thinking that brambles would be better than a McMansion, but both can tug on heartstrings.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your childhood memories. You can revisit the wisteria with a smile on your face knowing not all can be removed from your passed.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Pam :)
Pam: Thank you. Here's hoping.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by and leaving a kind comment.
ReplyDeleteThe music on my blog is, Morning Dew by Dan Gibson. You can find it on Youtube. The music player is at mixpod.com
I just remembered that there are two songs on my mixpod player- the other one is- Wishing by Dan Gibson, and can also by found on youtube.com
ReplyDelete:)
Wow, what were they razing it for? It feels almost desolate, though I'm glad you could visit one more time.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wiswell: After my mother was died the house was sold - at least twice. It is in an up and coming area and we always knew that her house was past restoring, it really needed to be rebuilt from scratch. It appears that day has come.
ReplyDeleteEven when things need to be rebuilt, it's hard to see our visual landscape change -- and the removal of trees/greenery is just as hard, as it takes so long to re-grow...
ReplyDeletePearl
Pearl: Thank you. Lots.
ReplyDeleteHeh heh heh...I'm glad you can draw at least a little wicked pleasure hoping those wisteria suckers keep regrowing ;) I had one growing on a trellis/arbor, planted 16 years ago, which, when a hurricane destroyed the arbor, refused to die down, and is still hacked back to 3 foot tall, waiting for a new one to curl up around.
ReplyDeleteThat property looks like a heavenly place to have grown up. My parents bought their home in 1953 and still live in it. It will be hard when it is one day sold. We offspring decided we will have to burn it down instead.
Spectra: I am banking on the wisteria to make a come back. They are sooo resilient. Yesterday we went for a country drive, passing by a number of homes that had only the chimney standing. Guess what was winding its way up said chimney.
ReplyDeleteYour welcome. I fine music soothing to my sole.
ReplyDelete~:)