1849 My lot is part of a 148 acre farm and remains part of this farm
till 1901
1901 Henry Laffer and C. C. Laffer together purchase part of the farm
1901 Henry and C. C. Laffer has the property subdivided into 6 lots
The lot this house is built on is titled Lot #1
1901 Henry Laffer purchases all 6 lots for C. C. Laffer for the sum of
$600.00
1901 Henry Laffer then sells Lot #1 to W. I. McLean JR for the sum
$400.00
1904 W. I. McLean Jr sells Lot #1 and the new house built on it to
William and Margaret Paull for the sum of $2400.00. The house
was changed for Paull family when it was built. Originally the
house was suppose to have four bedrooms on the second floor
but since the Paulls were an older couple who's two older sons
Frank and Dallas were married and no longer at home. Their
unmarried daughter Mabel did live at home so since they felt
only two bedrooms were needed. So the back two bedrooms
were eliminated from the original floor plan. A flat deck roof put
over the first story rooms that would have been covered by the
two bedrooms that were eliminated. In the upstairs hallway
instead of two doors leading to the two bedroom that were
eliminated a window was put in. Also needing changed was how
the back chimney for wood cook stove and a small stove in the
dining room was supported. Since it would have originally ran
through these two bedrooms and been supported by the walls.
Two steel rods were ran from the back of the house and these
were tied into the back chimney to support it so the right height
could be gained so the chimney would draw the smoke right.
Also a buggy shed is built in the back yard.
1905 In the first couple of years William and Margaret Paull enclosed
the wash porch so they don't have to fight the elements to wash
they clothes and get water for normal home usage as the well
is located on this porch. This might have been planned all along
since the exterior siding on the wash porch was old ship lap
siding and not narrow siding used on the main house. They also
enclosed the open porch on the east side of the house with
windows and screens so they can be opened in summer time
as it is quite common for people of this time to sleep on a
screen porch in the summer since it was not quite as hot as the
main house.
1928 William Paull passes away and his wife Margaret inherits the
house and property
1941 In January of this year Margaret along with her two sons Dallas
and Franks Paull sell the house and property for the sum of one
dollar to their daughter and sister Mabel A. Paull who is single
and has lived with folks since they had the house built. (I
figure this was a move to protect the house since Margaret
passes away just several months after selling the house to
Mabel, they must have figured the house would be protected
and could not be sold for Margaret's care if it was in Mabel's
name) Mabel now inherits the house and is the sole owner.
1950? I am not sure when but know it was the early 1950s when
Mabel remodeled the kitchen, bathroom and changed the coal
fired furnace for a fuel oil forced air furnace Some of the
things done at this time was in the kitchen the old sink was
taken out and the window on the west side of the kitchen was
shortened to allow metal cabinets and a sink put in, The
chimney for the cook stove was taken out at this time and I
believe a electric stove was put in since I can't find any gas
lines coming into the house. A lot of older people from this
era was scared of gas stoves exploding and would not buy one
for this reason, In the bathroom the old hand filled bathtub is
taken out and a modern bathtub installed, Also a modern sink
and a modern stool is put in the bathroom, The house is now
hooked up to City water and sewer system, Before this time
all the water for home needs were served by the well on the
wash porch and the waste water is handled by a underground
tank just off the corner of the wash porch, Also at this time
Mabel has aluminum storm windows put on the down stairs
windows all but one window on the north side of the kitchen,
I believe that Mabel held on to the common practice of that
time when you had some water to throw out you would just
open a window and throw it outside. In the basement Mabel had
a 1/2 bath put in the one corner, I think she could have moved
the washing machine down to the basement at this time. There
are some water pipes I can't figure out why they are in the area
accept maybe supply water for a washing machine. Also by this
time the old buggy shed has been tore down and more modern
garage is built just south of the old buggy shed. The actual year
this is done I am not sure.
1960 Dallas and Frank Paull inherit the house after the death of their
sister Mabel
1960 My Great Uncle John Warren and Great Aunt Metta purchases the
house and lot from Dallas and Frank Paull for the sum of $10,000.00
1960? In the early 1960s John Warren and Metta enclosed a open
porch on the west side of the kitchen cutting off a lot of the
view from the kitchen, they also move the aluminum storm
windows from the shortened kitchen window to the window on
the north that Mabel had not put a storm window on
1967 Metta inherits he house and lot after the death of her husband
John Warren
1975 My parents Kenneth and Freda purchase the house and
lot on a auction held by my Great Aunt Metta for the sum of
$4000.00 but some of the charm of the house is lost when the
vintage light fixtures are removed and sold on the auction,
Some of the local antique dealers want the auctioneer to sell
the stick and ball fret work in the doorway between the dining
room and living room, Luckily my father demanded that the
fret work not be sold since he has purchased the house on the
auction. So this great fret work is still there thanks to my father
1975 Kenneth and Freda has propane tanks put on the west side of
the house and gas line is ran to the gas cook stove, Metta was
one of those older people who was afraid of gas stoves and
she had an electric stove. The house is also roofed and painted
after many years of needing this work, The trim is painted a
lime green at this time my Mom liked green, My father also has
me put up modern light fixtures to replace the vintage light
fixtures that were removed and sold during the auction
1977 I steam the main layers of wallpaper from my bedroom but at
this time I painted the room a light ivory color instead of the
deep rich colors Victorians would have used, I wished I had
studied what color the original paper was at this time but I was
not interested in restoring the house back to its original state
I also put down a beige colored carpet over the old painted
floors
1978 Kenneth and I put on aluminum storm windows on the upstairs
windows and we also put down tiles in the kitchen and the
dining room
1987 My Father Kenneth obtains sole ownership of the house after the
death of my Mother Freda
1989 My father has me put the right size aluminum storm window in
the windows on the north side of the kitchen and I put the
shortened aluminum storm in the window it came from, We
paint the house changing the lime green trim for a deep blue
trim
1996 My Father Kenneth deeds the house to me Thomas in
return that I provide a home for Donnie my brother who has
downs syndrome
1997 My Father Kenneth passes away and my brothers Jim, Dean,
John, Joe, Roger, Rodney and Mike and my sisters Helen and
Mary uphold our Father's wishes and I obtain sole ownership of
the house and lot
1998 A strange wind hits and we have a wind force of 120 to 130 mph
for over 30 minutes, After coming from the basement where I
took refuge since I thought it was a tornado that hit, I find that
1/2 and enclosed porch that the Paull family used for sleeping
has been tore off. After rebuilding the porch I paint the house
1999 I steam the wallpaper off the dining room and discover that the
original wallpaper was deep royal blue with flowers plus gold
silver highlights, The ceiling paper has a cloud like design with
a fancy outer border on it, Not really interested in restoring the
house back to how it looked in 1904 I make one large mistake
and a second smaller mistake, The big mistake is when I find
that the heart pine floor has stains around the edge of where
we had laid tiles. Instead of fixing the problem I put down under
layment and put a vinyl floor covering down. The smaller
mistake is I paint the room a pale blue color
2001 I find myself thinking of returning the house back to its former
glory and take up an old carpeting in the parlor and finish the
heart pine floor, After putting down an area rug I can see the
room start taking on a Victorian feel to it
2004 Having decided to return the house back to how it looked in
1904 I have started that journey and you can follow on the web
site as the house changes back
till 1901
1901 Henry Laffer and C. C. Laffer together purchase part of the farm
1901 Henry and C. C. Laffer has the property subdivided into 6 lots
The lot this house is built on is titled Lot #1
1901 Henry Laffer purchases all 6 lots for C. C. Laffer for the sum of
$600.00
1901 Henry Laffer then sells Lot #1 to W. I. McLean JR for the sum
$400.00
1904 W. I. McLean Jr sells Lot #1 and the new house built on it to
William and Margaret Paull for the sum of $2400.00. The house
was changed for Paull family when it was built. Originally the
house was suppose to have four bedrooms on the second floor
but since the Paulls were an older couple who's two older sons
Frank and Dallas were married and no longer at home. Their
unmarried daughter Mabel did live at home so since they felt
only two bedrooms were needed. So the back two bedrooms
were eliminated from the original floor plan. A flat deck roof put
over the first story rooms that would have been covered by the
two bedrooms that were eliminated. In the upstairs hallway
instead of two doors leading to the two bedroom that were
eliminated a window was put in. Also needing changed was how
the back chimney for wood cook stove and a small stove in the
dining room was supported. Since it would have originally ran
through these two bedrooms and been supported by the walls.
Two steel rods were ran from the back of the house and these
were tied into the back chimney to support it so the right height
could be gained so the chimney would draw the smoke right.
Also a buggy shed is built in the back yard.
1905 In the first couple of years William and Margaret Paull enclosed
the wash porch so they don't have to fight the elements to wash
they clothes and get water for normal home usage as the well
is located on this porch. This might have been planned all along
since the exterior siding on the wash porch was old ship lap
siding and not narrow siding used on the main house. They also
enclosed the open porch on the east side of the house with
windows and screens so they can be opened in summer time
as it is quite common for people of this time to sleep on a
screen porch in the summer since it was not quite as hot as the
main house.
1928 William Paull passes away and his wife Margaret inherits the
house and property
1941 In January of this year Margaret along with her two sons Dallas
and Franks Paull sell the house and property for the sum of one
dollar to their daughter and sister Mabel A. Paull who is single
and has lived with folks since they had the house built. (I
figure this was a move to protect the house since Margaret
passes away just several months after selling the house to
Mabel, they must have figured the house would be protected
and could not be sold for Margaret's care if it was in Mabel's
name) Mabel now inherits the house and is the sole owner.
1950? I am not sure when but know it was the early 1950s when
Mabel remodeled the kitchen, bathroom and changed the coal
fired furnace for a fuel oil forced air furnace Some of the
things done at this time was in the kitchen the old sink was
taken out and the window on the west side of the kitchen was
shortened to allow metal cabinets and a sink put in, The
chimney for the cook stove was taken out at this time and I
believe a electric stove was put in since I can't find any gas
lines coming into the house. A lot of older people from this
era was scared of gas stoves exploding and would not buy one
for this reason, In the bathroom the old hand filled bathtub is
taken out and a modern bathtub installed, Also a modern sink
and a modern stool is put in the bathroom, The house is now
hooked up to City water and sewer system, Before this time
all the water for home needs were served by the well on the
wash porch and the waste water is handled by a underground
tank just off the corner of the wash porch, Also at this time
Mabel has aluminum storm windows put on the down stairs
windows all but one window on the north side of the kitchen,
I believe that Mabel held on to the common practice of that
time when you had some water to throw out you would just
open a window and throw it outside. In the basement Mabel had
a 1/2 bath put in the one corner, I think she could have moved
the washing machine down to the basement at this time. There
are some water pipes I can't figure out why they are in the area
accept maybe supply water for a washing machine. Also by this
time the old buggy shed has been tore down and more modern
garage is built just south of the old buggy shed. The actual year
this is done I am not sure.
1960 Dallas and Frank Paull inherit the house after the death of their
sister Mabel
1960 My Great Uncle John Warren and Great Aunt Metta purchases the
house and lot from Dallas and Frank Paull for the sum of $10,000.00
1960? In the early 1960s John Warren and Metta enclosed a open
porch on the west side of the kitchen cutting off a lot of the
view from the kitchen, they also move the aluminum storm
windows from the shortened kitchen window to the window on
the north that Mabel had not put a storm window on
1967 Metta inherits he house and lot after the death of her husband
John Warren
1975 My parents Kenneth and Freda purchase the house and
lot on a auction held by my Great Aunt Metta for the sum of
$4000.00 but some of the charm of the house is lost when the
vintage light fixtures are removed and sold on the auction,
Some of the local antique dealers want the auctioneer to sell
the stick and ball fret work in the doorway between the dining
room and living room, Luckily my father demanded that the
fret work not be sold since he has purchased the house on the
auction. So this great fret work is still there thanks to my father
1975 Kenneth and Freda has propane tanks put on the west side of
the house and gas line is ran to the gas cook stove, Metta was
one of those older people who was afraid of gas stoves and
she had an electric stove. The house is also roofed and painted
after many years of needing this work, The trim is painted a
lime green at this time my Mom liked green, My father also has
me put up modern light fixtures to replace the vintage light
fixtures that were removed and sold during the auction
1977 I steam the main layers of wallpaper from my bedroom but at
this time I painted the room a light ivory color instead of the
deep rich colors Victorians would have used, I wished I had
studied what color the original paper was at this time but I was
not interested in restoring the house back to its original state
I also put down a beige colored carpet over the old painted
floors
1978 Kenneth and I put on aluminum storm windows on the upstairs
windows and we also put down tiles in the kitchen and the
dining room
1987 My Father Kenneth obtains sole ownership of the house after the
death of my Mother Freda
1989 My father has me put the right size aluminum storm window in
the windows on the north side of the kitchen and I put the
shortened aluminum storm in the window it came from, We
paint the house changing the lime green trim for a deep blue
trim
1996 My Father Kenneth deeds the house to me Thomas in
return that I provide a home for Donnie my brother who has
downs syndrome
1997 My Father Kenneth passes away and my brothers Jim, Dean,
John, Joe, Roger, Rodney and Mike and my sisters Helen and
Mary uphold our Father's wishes and I obtain sole ownership of
the house and lot
1998 A strange wind hits and we have a wind force of 120 to 130 mph
for over 30 minutes, After coming from the basement where I
took refuge since I thought it was a tornado that hit, I find that
1/2 and enclosed porch that the Paull family used for sleeping
has been tore off. After rebuilding the porch I paint the house
1999 I steam the wallpaper off the dining room and discover that the
original wallpaper was deep royal blue with flowers plus gold
silver highlights, The ceiling paper has a cloud like design with
a fancy outer border on it, Not really interested in restoring the
house back to how it looked in 1904 I make one large mistake
and a second smaller mistake, The big mistake is when I find
that the heart pine floor has stains around the edge of where
we had laid tiles. Instead of fixing the problem I put down under
layment and put a vinyl floor covering down. The smaller
mistake is I paint the room a pale blue color
2001 I find myself thinking of returning the house back to its former
glory and take up an old carpeting in the parlor and finish the
heart pine floor, After putting down an area rug I can see the
room start taking on a Victorian feel to it
2004 Having decided to return the house back to how it looked in
1904 I have started that journey and you can follow on the web
site as the house changes back
