October 11, 2007

• Waldschmidt House _ LE

  Two weekends ago John and I spent time with one of Xanga’s very talented Photographers and extremely nice person, Sparkling_Rainbow .  We had dinner at the Schoolhouse Restaurant, took photos of the grounds, talked a lot and then proceeded to the Waldschmidt House, just down the road, where we again had our camera’s out.  Waldschmidt House is a beautiful Civil War era stone house located in Camp Dennison a Civil War Union Army Campground.  The Waldschmidt House was part of a large parcel of land purchased by the Cincinnati Kroger family but passed to the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) with funds for historic renovation.  The DAR renovates historic properties and then opens them to the public for viewing promoting the memory of American History.  Waldschmidt House and its grounds are not as prestigious as some old plantation estates but it is another spot I could be happy owning.  The construction is stone and the rooms have large old fireplaces including the kitchen with large hearth.  The DAR labels its architecture as Pennsylvania Dutch.  It is in fact of the same design as the house I grew up in but in much better condition and scenic placement.  Even so, I know the history my old home could relate, if able to talk, would be very much the same.

  

  Waldschmidt House, Front View

  

  The house I grew up in on Vine street in Reading, front view and brick, not stone.  There have been many changes to it and most were, poorly planned.  NOTICE THOUGH, the plan is exact to that of the Waldschmidt House though some of the windows on the north side have been boarded up. 

   

  

  Waldschmidt House Front to left side

  

  Vine Street home, front to left side view.  My house was not as large, inside, as the Waldschmidt Home.  Notice the right side up and down were outdoor sitting porches.  Very nice in the Summer but useless in the Winter months.  The original rooms in the house consisted of 2 large rooms upstairs with a small hall between where the stairs led down to the first floor.  The bathroom was also on the second floor and I imagine the footage used for it would have been a part of a larger, original, second bedroom.  I have no idea when the bath and plumbing were put into the house but think it would not have been built as part of it and the grounds would have had an outhouse.  The bottom floor was two large rooms, a living or sitting room and a large eat in kitchen.  The hall was between, same as above, and the center door, groundfloor, outside, was the entrance to the home through the hall area.  There was also an entrance, groundfloor from the porch then thru the kitchen.  I also want to mention the windows.  The original windows in our house were exactly like those in the Waldschmidt House.  Many small panes in each and in the Winters, they frosted over as there was no double panes.  The rooms were cold but the windows were a wonder of frosted fairy lands.  There is a full basement underneath the home and an attic for air space only.

  

  The small building to the right of the Waldschmidt home in this photo is a Spring House.  The home also has its herb garden and there are some other buildings on the grounds, some original and some reproduction.  The similarities between my home and the above don’t show beyond the first two photos.  I am sure due to the era my home also had an herb garden and its share of small or large farm animals.  I know it had a well for water as it stands covered with a cement slab and it had a chicken house we used as a play house, long gone.

  

  Our house did have its big lazy trees, a grape arbor which was loved by me but torn down in time as a nuisance.  Mentioning here, tours are available in the house but, NO PHOTOS ALOUD. We weren’t in the mood for inside as it was so hot but as it’s been years since I was inside I’d love to see it again.  If I do, I’ll be sure to write a decent description.

  Some links for you:

  The family that walks on all fours _ PBS  Quite the program for anyone interested in History, Genetics, Religion and more.

   

  Bake for a Cure  A nice way to share recipes and create funding for Breast Cancer research.

   

  Please remember our military.  This lovely Xanga lady makes it easy to do:  Xangan USA_Troops_Aide

   

  Be well everyone,

   

  Becca 

   

  I almost forgot,  why I haven’t thought of this years ago is beyond me.  For those of you who have difficulty seeing the links below on my busy background, give these links a shot.  They do work. 

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