Monday, September 10, 2012

Where the Sidewalk Ends

The neighbors two doors down have a rooster. I can hear him. I've never met them but one has to believe they must be good people if they have a rooster. I have a feeling I'll have to wander over sometime soon and introduce myself.

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(This is actually a photo of one of the roosters at Conner Prairie. I've not taken to wandering over to the neighbors barn to take pictures of their chickens... yet.)

They are allowed to have a rooster because, like us, their land is zoned agriculture. Even though we are somewhat surrounded by urban sprawl, our properties are grandfathered in and have never been annexed. You see, we are part of what they call the "gentleman farmer" historic district. A stretch of victorian homes built in the 1880's and 1890's for the more successful businessman or retiring farmer. A good portion of the homes here still have the acreage they started with. One I know of even has roughly twenty acres, yet from the street you would never know it as historic downtown is within walking distance. At the time this house was built though,  it was considered to be in the country. In fact, here is a 1925 photograph clearly showing the farm fencing and remarkably few trees. 

 

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There was a barn here not long ago.  This was a painting of the back of the barn. According to the neighbors the small lean-to section on the left was a chicken coop. The lawyer tore it down. I doubt he liked chickens much. If I had to guess I'd say the feeling was mutual.

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10 comments:

Tombstone Livestock said...

Have fun uncovering all the history you can on your new home. Great finding old pictures and the painting. Might be fun to have a metal dectector .....

Lynda said...

How wonderful to have that picture and heritage of your home. I am glad "it" has owners who will love it back to its glory. Are you going to name the house?

Jayne said...

Lucky you, having an old photo and a painting of your property! Loved the comment about the mutual feeling between the chickens and the lawyer. HA! By the way, I saw a Craiglist ad yesterday for Indian Runner geese and thought of you and Conner Prairie. :)

Anne@Kitschy Vintage said...

It's great to have the old photo of your house!

Christine said...

I actually don't have the photo and the painting. The lawyer still had them in the house with little notes on them that they were not for sale when we came to look at the place. So I whipped out the camera and took pictures of them.

Anonymous said...

Such a fabulous adventure discovering all the history and quirkiness of an old house. :-)

Karen Anne said...

Quick reflexes/smart move to take those photos.

Did the $10 fake rooster on facebook come home with you?

Christine said...

No, I left the rooster behind. Poor bugger.

Elaine said...

Too bad he tore the barn down--it looks relatively sturdy. That rooster is one handsome dude. I'm happy to hear that you're grandfathered in--does this mean there may be some animals living with you at some time in the future?

Historical Ken said...

Wow - history seemingly coming to (or brought back to) life in your own home and neighborhood.
Wonderful!