One of our favorite posts in our entire archive is this one about hearing from our first house’s original owners. It was so much fun to see photos of their family in our house back in the 60’s, and we studied every inch of each picture and relished every detail that they shared in their letter.
We were also friendly with the people who sold us our second house, so although we never heard from the original owners, it was really great to know the sellers who had lived there for 22 years! So we always hoped to hear from the original owners of our current house. For a while… nothing. And then it happened! We actually met their daughter-in-law Chris at an event here in Richmond a few months back and big hugs ensued. There’s nothing better than hearing how special a house that you love is to another family, and she gave us permission to share some snippets from a letter that she sent us along with some old photos, so here it goes!
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” so they searched for the right house in a perfect location for their future grandchildren to come visit. As a matter of fact, the first of their grandchildren was on the way during their move! It was a crazy time for them, buying the house under construction and moving from 500 miles away. They somehow fit in traveling to Texas for the birth of the first grandson, and saw the births of nine more grandchildren, and one great-grandchild while living there! They were dog lovers and brought their beloved dog, Chelsea, an English Foxhound, with them to Richmond. Sometime after she literally disappeared into the woods one day, another dog (Lady) followed my mother-in-law home. She was well loved and stayed with them a long time.
My husband and I lived in Richmond during the births of all four of our children. Before they were born we acquired our first “child,” a dog from the Richmond SPCA. We took her directly to the house to visit “grandma and grandpa” before even taking her to our own home!
All of our children remember the house as a place we celebrated Christmas Eve every year, plus multiple birthdays and other holidays (this photo was taken in the back porch, which you call the converted sunroom, around 20 years ago).
My father-in-law used to put a Christmas tree in almost every room of the house, and they were always decorated to perfection. He used to play a game with our kids, “find the ornament.” He would spy an ornament on the tree, and the kids would see who could be the first to find it. It wasn’t easy! He had hundreds on one tree alone!
My mother-in-law was a fantastic cook and had us over not only for celebrations but just because she felt like cooking. The kitchen was extremely well used and well loved by all. She would spend days baking cookies to take to Virginia Beach every year, when some years all three of her children and ten grandchildren would also be there.
There was an antique chandelier hanging in the kitchen that was precious to my mother-in-law. It belonged to her grandmother. She loved it, but it hung so low everyone knocked their head into it at least once in their visits there! It was removed before the house was sold.
The outside deck and back porch were added by them after moving in. They used the porch on a daily basis, him reading the newspaper and her doing her needlepoint pillows (this is a photo of my mother-in-law presenting one of her pillows to my daughter in the living room).
The tree in the middle of the deck (that you have removed) was just a small thing when they decided to build the deck around it. They wanted to keep it for the shade it provided. It really got huge!
It is really nice to be able to see what you are doing to make the house your own. I love the hardwood floors you have put in upstairs and really like the stenciling you did on the bathroom floor. Your daughter’s room is where my mother-in-law slept during her later years. She would be so happy to see new life there, with the fun girly room you have put together! I also really love how you transformed the half bath downstairs. It is so much brighter and clean looking! I’m looking forward to seeing more improvements in the future. I wish you many years of happiness in your home! – Chris
We’re so grateful to Chris for reaching out and sharing those details and photos with us! It was amazing to hear that the tree on the deck was tiny once. Remember how big it was when we had it taken down?
We realize this letter may not be as touching for you guys, but it was so heartwarming to us. To have a better sense of the life this house has lived and how it has been loved by so many people (filled with grandchildren, home cooking, and Christmas trees) makes us feel so grateful to be here. As a total bonus, we also heard from Erin, one of the grandkids who grew up visiting this house. Here’s her letter:
I’m one of the 10 grandchildren of the original owners of your current house. My mom shared your blog and I am blown away. The house looks wonderful! I have so many fond memories from that house. I am so thankful that you two have moved in and have posted pictures of your updates to the house. Thank you for providing a way for me to still feel connected to the house and for bringing new life to its foundation. – Erin
Amazing, right? It really is awesome to hear from others who are essentially strangers, yet you share something so personal with them: the love of a home.
Have you ever heard from your home’s original owners? Or uncovered anything cool in the house (like this stuff that we found buried under the original cabinets in our first house’s kitchen)? I can’t wait to see if we’ll discover anything when we open up some walls and redo the kitchen! So far all that has turned up is an old water bill from ten years ago in the bottom of the trash compactor.
cc says
The house I grew up in was built by my parents before I was born and was sold when my parents divorced, and the couple who bought it have lived there ever since. They’ve now been there almost as long as my family lived in the house, and though my dad is still sort of a neighbor of theirs (it’s out in the country where homes are few and far between) I’ve still never even met them. By all accounts from the other neighbors, they aren’t so friendly or sociable, and I can certainly tell how they keep to themselves. I’ve been too afraid to ask if I can see the place, but must admit I’m dying to go in!
BreeAnn says
My parents built our family home in 1985 and still live there, but we were just showing their grandchildren photos of it the other day. It was blowing their minds to see their parents in the same room, 20+ years (and prior to quite a few updates). I love the history if my home. I’ve told my parents that they aren’t allowed to move ever unless one of the 4 kids can buy it! We call it “The Homestead”
Caryn says
I’ve got chills reading this, I think it’s fabulous!!! We bought our home from the son of the original owner and while he wasn’t too chatty at the closing, we heard from him later. He mailed us a tax bill months later and also enclosed a note saying how he’d driven by a few times and how much better the place looked now and that his dad would be really proud.
We found blueprints in a drawer after the closing and I got super excited about framing one but then realized it was for a different house! Same home plan company, but a smaller and different plan. I’d love to know the story about who changed their mind and why before they decided to build this particular house. I’m considering getting in touch with the son and asking for any info or photos he might be willing to share with us. I’d love to have some pics of this house being built or a big 1970s family Christmas photo or something cool like that!
Ali says
When I was a kid my sister found something cool in a hard-to-find spot under the stairs. Clearly, the previous owners (and maybe even the ones before them) had been putting the front page of the newspaper in there on historically important days: the first moon landing, the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nelson Mandela’s election, every national election, and other major events. Whenever there is a ‘big event’, my mom buys an extra copy of the paper for “under the stairs”. Who knows who will find it next!
1008 Hollywalk Park says
Hmmm… well… a visit from the Bailiffs for the son of the former owner of our current home…
It’s so nice you have some lovely history to go with your house.
csc says
ha! We had that once in a house we rented for a while– it was raining buckets, and a sheriff’s deputy came into the garage where my husband was trying to grill burgers. He ended up taking a burger with him, and we ended up wondering what the owner (also the previous occupant) had been up to in our house!
Sunita Thomas says
Touching! Actually the grandchild’s mail brought tears to my eyes. It takes me back to a house I used to visit as a grandchild. 8 of us under one roof for vacations. Still etched so clearly in my mind’s eye :). I would love to go and see that house some day :)
Sunita
Pune, India
Jenna says
I’m fortunate to know the history of every single house I’ve lived in (4 houses). That’s what happens when you are a farmers daughter and a farmers husband!
We currently live in my husband’s grandparents home. They built it in 1982. He has many memories coming to Grandma and Grandpa’s and playing with all the cousins. Grandma and Grandpa passed away in the late 90’s. At that time, my husband’s uncle purchased the home for his growing family. Two years ago, we purchased our current home. Talk about keeping a home in the family!
Our first home as a married couple, was his childhood home and the “home place” (which happens to be right next door to our current home). That house has seen a ton of history. While we were still living there, an elderly woman and her daughter came around. They started telling us that the older woman grew up here, and it was neat to see the changes to the farm and house over the decades.
Joy T says
My husband is a pastor, so we live in a parsonage. It is a beautiful English cottage-style stone house that was built in 1946 and was completed by the church people pooling their ration slips. My personal favorite is hearing about the two families that gave ration slips for a toilet and a tub. I didn’t even know they gave out slips for those!
We know quite a few of the former pastors who have lived here. My son’s bedroom is the childhood bedroom of one of my college professors! He told us that if we ever find his baseball card collection he would split the profits 50/50.
Before we moved in a former pastor’s wife told my husband, “Oh, I wallpapered that whole house and made it look so beautiful!” I haven’t had the heart to tell her that almost all of that “beautiful” wallpaper was removed within our first six months in the house.
Kim says
Wow! We were living in Minneapolis and unpacking boxes from our move to a 1924 bungalow when a van pulled up outside the house. And just waited. And the people in the van kept looking at the house. They were all in there 80’s, if I had to take a guess, so it wasn’t really scary.
Finally, someone got out of the van and came to the door and introduced himself. When he was just 7 or 8 years old, his father had built the house and he wondered if he might come in and look around. He was the sweetest man, and his brother was no longer strong enough to move around too well. The father was a professor at the Dunwoody Institute and the house was built using Graduate Students for a summer project!
This explained all the interesting roofing angles (flat roof, gables, cross gables), and bump-outs and knee walls. We loved the house and were so happy to meet the original owners.
When we went to sell the house, I did a search in the Minnesota Historical Archives and found an original B&W photo of the living room being wallpapered. The students were wearing all white, pants and t-shirts, painting on the paste with a brush. It was wonderful.
Kare says
I cried reading this. Yes, I am a little crazy:) My fiance and I are currently house shopping for our first home and every time I walk into a house, I wonder about all the wonderful memories that were made there by other families. I can’t wait to make our own memories in a beautiful house like yours. Thanks for sharing!
Tracy says
This completely made me cry? A friend of my husbands bought the house that my husband grew up in a few years ago. He sends pictures all the time and also says stuff like ” ask your dad why he did blank to my house” it’s very funny!
Amber says
We live in the home that was my great grandparents. My grandfather grew up in this house. We find all kinds of treasures each time we tackle a new space. There were lots of things left behind in storage. An old cradle, an old bassinet and an old walker (we’re talking made of wood and tiny metal wheels) are among my favorite finds. Also some jars with my great grandfathers name on them from his bee keeping/honey days. Pretty cool!
erica says
An elderly man stopped at our house and introduced himself and told us that he had been born in the front bedroom! We showed him around and he told us some stories from his family life there. It was a really sweet moment to hear some of its history and be able to show him what had changed and what stayed the same.
Olivia says
This is such a great post. We moved into an old ranch style house and the previous family (and only other owner) measured their children and carved their names on a side wall in the kitchen. We haven’t refinished it and I’ll be kind of sad to paint over their memories :(
Ashley says
We recently purchased our first house, which we will be moving into next weekend :) We purchased from the original owner, who is 94 years old, and has been living there alone since her husband died 15 years ago. They built the house together when he retired from the military in the early 70’s. When we looked at the house, we had a long conversation with her about all the things that they did…he finished in the basement by himself a few years after moving in, about the grandkids that they had while living there etc. It was really neat. We’ve since made a lot of changes to the house, some that were incredibly difficult because she asked us to keep certain things (bushes that were planted by them that now were breaking up the driveway so had to be removed etc). But I love that we’re only the second owners of this house! When we took possession there was a letter written from the original owner as well as some plates/bowls and baking dishes that she left for us! So precious! Can’t wait to move in and have our family grow up there (our boys are 10 months and 5)
Robin says
Our house is 100 years old, and we are the 4th owners. The couple that we bought the house from lived here 39 years. They gave us a box with pictures, receipts, and newspaper articles of the neighborhood. It was so amazing to have a living history of our new house.
They loved selling their house to a young family, but “Mrs. Dorset” had a hard time letting go of her house. She would call about once a week for the first year to check in about something; asking if I had remembered to cut back the yew bushes on the side of the house, or if I had replaced the filters in the furnace, etc…She had a really hard time letting go of this house.
She stopped calling when she came by one day and saw that I had dug up and rearranged one of her garden beds. She was so upset at what I had done to ‘HER’ house. It was so hard to see her like that, but at some point, we had to “become ” the owners of this house. I wonder what we will be like when we sell it to the nxt young family in 35 years!!!!
Vanessa says
This makes me cry! There is something about old memories and I think its so cool to see the life your home had before you. Thank you for sharing.
Chelsea @ Chelsea Eats Treats says
I love this post!! It must be so nice to think of all the memories that were made in your house :) I wonder whose idea it was to paint all the trim blue?!
Ash says
We live in an old tavern built in 1865. The town we live in is known for ‘the Black Donnelly’s”, a family that resided in the area during the 1800s with a dark history of arson, theft and murder. The Donnelly’s were killed by a vigilante group. Rumour has it the Donnelly’s frequented what is now our home and even tried to burn it down! This past week we began gutting the lower level of our house and we have found several neat treasures behind the lath and plaster and under the original floorboards. We’ve also heard many interesting stories about the previous owners of the house. History is fascinating especially when homes are involved!
Sarah says
Our house had a brick border surrounding a group of trees in the front yard. As the trees grew over the years, the roots had busted up and moved much of the brick border so it was looking pretty bad. One of the first projects we tackled was to get rid of the ugly, broken, falling down brick border. As we were working on it, an elderly gentleman pulled up and started yelling at us for digging out the brick border he worked so hard to make when he owned the house. Oops….
Stacy says
Oh no! Did you explain you were just trying remove it because of the tree damage? Poor guy. I bet he was embarrassed. I would have been.
Amanda Weaver says
This post made me cry! I have a love of old and historic homes, and sometimes am overwhelmed thinking of all of the memories they contain. The love of a home is one of the most wonderful feelings, and to connect with others who loved the same home is just amazing. Thank you for this post!
Dana Leigh says
This is so sweet! This reminds me of the time when my sister (I work with her at a doctor’s office) was scheduling a new patient and the patient said her address and my sister had to have her say it again because it was the house we both grew up in, lol. Unfortunately the house has gotten to the point where it needs a lot of work – it even has the same paint from when we moved from there 16 years ago. So sad. i miss that house …. But this story made me smile :)
Jen says
My husband and I moved into our renovated 1880 farmhouse 5 years ago. We have found many interesting things from a civil war button in the garden to a school newspaper from 1889. The most interesting find being marble grave markers covered with weeds with just initials on them. Then I decided to do some research so I went to the county clerk’s office and found all of the owners names back to the original owners. Once I had names I went through the newspaper data base to find more information. The grave markers where most likely children that passed away. There is so much history in an old house. It really is humbling to think about a house existing for so long before my time and hopefully for so long after. I feel obligated to take good care of it and instill it with more positive energy and memories.
Kara says
LOVE this post!! Houses are so sentimental to me since I lived in my childhood home for 21 years before getting married. And now my husband, daughter, and my pregnant self are set to move back right across the street to my old neighbors’ home (they are downsizing). The family has lived there for over 30 years and was actually the mom’s childhood home. To be entrusted to take care of a house someone has lived in for over 60 years and to breathe new life into it, is very special to me. So glad you could hear about the original homeowners of your home!
Denise says
Wow, incredible! Thank you for sharing, and thank you Chris and Erin for sharing your memories and pictures. Sitting here a teary-eyed 38 weeks pregnant hormonal mess after reading this post.
elaine - Visual Meringue says
Wow! This is awesome :) Thanks for sharing!
Zula says
How awesome!! The family that built our house over 30 years ago contacted me after we moved in and asked if they could see inside. I completely understood and quickly said yes. A year after that they asked if they could come back to see what we had done and bring their (now adult) kids. My husband thinks I’m crazy to keep saying yes – but he has never loved a house like I have and obviously like they did. I’m wondering if this is going to be a yearly thing?? :)
Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says
I LOVE this post!!!!! It’s so fun buying an older home that’s been “used” and getting to the heart of what it used to mean for the lives that lived in it. My family has almost always purchased brand new homes (except for me, of course!). I love the character (and characters) that an older home brings to your life. LOVE it!
Sarah A says
Unrelated to the lovely stories of former home owners, but I had to share that while noodling on Amazon for free kindle books, my eyes were naturally caught by the title “Young House Love: An eShort Story”! I wonder if the author is hoping your fans will check out her book?!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip!
xo
s
VickyC says
I live in a 1906 bungalow in Sunnyvale CA, I bought the house from the grandson of the original owners, the small “master” bedroom had 2 closets, 1 a walk in but no bathroom, the grandson told me that originally that was a build in nursery. When he was born in the house his room was that nursery as his parents had moved in and the grandparents had moved out to a house next door. He planted an avocado tree in the yard as a young man, that tree is still standing, 30 feet tall and covers our backyard. He came by after I bought the house and took cuttings off the tree to graft at his new place. We get hundreds of avocados every year from our tree. His sister owned the grandparents house next door, both lived in the area into their late 60s when they sold both houses.
Brandy says
I am happy to say that I’m in contact with my current home’s first owner. I am the third owner of my 14 year old house. The first owner moved from Arizona to the East Coast about 4 years ago. Through wonderful neighbors, I was able to connect with the original family. I, too, am grateful to know my home’s happy history. I’ve sent them several emails asking questions and also thanking them for things they did (like putting wood flooring throughout the whole house). When I post pictures on social media of my kiddos enjoying our back yard, the original owners comment about the times their kids were doing the same things. It’s heart warming for both families to have the opportunity to connect through the time we spend within these four walls.
Mandy says
This totally brought tears to my eyes! Love it!
JenB says
Several years ago, we bought a house on the street where my husband grew up. His parents still live 2 houses down. Many of the neighbors remember my husband when he was our sons’ ages (4 & 2 years). When my husband was about 5, his sisters decided they would all ‘run away.’ They hid in the shrubbery of the house we now own. All of these connections make our home feel like it was always meant to be ours. I loved this post so much. Thanks for sharing.
Sayre says
We’ve never found anything the previous owners left behind except a ceiling full of dead mice and rats in traps (a rental, thank goodness), but we did decide to leave something for a future owner! I wrote about it on my blog. Here’s the link: http://sayresmiles.blogspot.com/2010/03/under-stairs.html We had a lot of fun doing it and hope it makes someone smile in the future!
Kim says
This story made me Google my home to find any history – sadly I couldn’t!
However, have you seen that Google Maps has a timeline now of when they record the street view? It goes back to 2007! Not too far back, but it’s amazing the difference I can see in our house already!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s cool!
xo
s
Amanda says
We found a photo that looked to be from the 70s of a teenage boy sitting on the toilet. It wasn’t risque at all so it was pretty funny. :)
Stacy says
I loved reading post, as well as reading everyone else’s adventures with their new and old homes.
I grew up in the same house as my mom. And when my parents bought their current home they bought from a family friend. So, I have always known the origins of the home. The house I grew up in is currently in foreclosure which makes me sad but hopefully someone will buy it and restore it. My parents put so much work into it and sadly the previous owners haven’t kept it up.
My husband and I recently bought our second home. This home was owned by the family down the street and we have gotten to know them a bit this past year. Our first home was sold about every 5 to 10 years. We only met the sellers at closing. I wish we could have gotten to know them better but life just never permitted that.
Happy that you got to know the back story of your home. Sounds like it was well loved.
Lydia says
I guess maybe that shouldn’t have been as touching to me, but I totally started crying at this part: “Your daughter’s room is where my mother-in-law slept during her later years. She would be so happy to see new life there, with the fun girly room you have put together!”
That is just too sweet and sad and amazing. (I’m also 36 weeks pregnant so, you know). Snifffff.
Eden says
My husband and I purchased a piece of land a few years ago that had an old house in total disrepair. Unfortunately the house was in such bad shape that we had to tear it down but on demolition day, I learned a valuable lesson about family, history and the importance of where you are from: http://riverroadproject.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/a-history-lesson-based-on-assumptions/
Paula says
We un-covered the name of the original owner of our home when demolishing a shed that collapsed in a storm. His name and our address was written in permanent marker under the floor (likely when it was shipped), and one of our other neighbors confirmed that Arthur had been the first owner.I want to frame that board and hang it in the garage or something.
We know that after that, our home was sold and became a rental for many years, and after that owned by a nice family who had bought during the peak of the market and then did a short sale, which means we have some odd issues from neglect and cheap repairs.
It feels like our house needed a lot of love, and that the yard especially is growing like crazy, almost like the house knows how special we think it is, and is just blooming because of it all the special attention we give it.
Michelle says
I haven’t met the previous owners, but one day someone put a large black and white picture in an envelope on our front porch. It was a photo of a woman in the backyard with horses and the back of our house showing that was then pasture is now neighbors. Cool, but where did that photo come from?!
Caitlin Losey says
What a great post! History really does make a home more special. I am currently in the process of buying my grandparents home and it is an emotional process. I am lucky that they are still alive and full of wonderful stories and memories about the home.
I don’t often comment, but I am a loyal reader since way back when you guys were This Young House. I was an editor at TheNest.com when you guys were on our cover! Just as the spirit of this post suggests, knowing where something began and how it has evolved makes everything that much more enjoyable.
KatieV says
So touching and fun! I would LOVE to hear from our home’s original owners!
Ortisse says
It’s so great to read this letter, I always thought houses had soul.
I bought my apartment to the kids of the original owner. The son I met during the purchase told me his father was part of the engineer team who built the building, he and his brother an sister spent their childhood in this apartment, playing in the cellar with other kids. At their parents death they rent the place to my 3rd floor neighbor (they love the place so much they bought the same apartment when it was on sale. Then, they rent it to an other family,I learn 6 months ago, that I work with the father of this family. His wife told me she loved my apartment a lot and she was sad to leave.
I really love my place, it’s great lighting, it’s hardwood floor, it’s great plans… and I love the fact it has history.
Lisa says
My husband and I bought our first home a little over a year ago. We had moved back near my hometown in PA from Brooklyn, where we had rented for 15 years. We had moved back primarily for our young son and also to be closer to my family. We’ve loved tending to our home outside and in. We’ve done a lot of renovations (all on our own) and are so happy with how the house is shaping up. Even before the renovations, we felt like the house was perfect for us. Soon as we saw it for the first time, we knew it was ours. Just a week or so ago, my husband was mowing the lawn and my 3 year old son and I were out front watering plants. A car pulled up and a woman a little older than me asked if we were the owners. When I told her yes, she proceeded to tell me a heartwarming story about her aunt and uncle, who used to own the house. They weren’t the people that sold us the house, but had been in the home for many years before them. She had spent a great deal of time there growing up as her aunt and uncle hosted lots of parties and picnics (we have a huge yard) with her extended family. There were football and baseball games, barbecues, showers, and holiday dinners. She then said that her mother (the sister of the owners) is still alive and often asks to be driven by to see what we’re doing to the house. I nearly cried. I told her that anytime they want to come by and see how it looks on the inside, I would be happy to give them a tour. She loved that a young family have moved in and that we are now making our own memories there.
I totally understand the sentiment in your post. How lovely for them to reach out to you! xo
Megan says
The house I grew up in my parents bought in 1982, we knew the original owners lived a few streets away. In high school a friend of mine had her mother drop her off at my house, it turns out her father built the house when she was a teenager – small world!
Even now, many years after high school I am still close with my friend and her family. Last summer her sister got married and I got to meet her grandparents, the people who built the house. We shared funny stories about the house and its weird quirks and how it took several years for him to build as he did it as a side project – which explained all the weird quirks… Ha!
Thanks for sharing!
Lou Anne says
I, too, teared up at this post. So sweet!
My dad’s parents, along with my dad (when he was a young teenager) and his 2 brothers and 1 sister, built the house my grandparents lived in for many years. I remember countless birthdays, Christmas Eves, Mother’s Days, and other family gatherings in that house. I remember playing Scrabble with my grandmother there, and to this day don’t know for sure if she used to let me win or if I could really beat her. My dad is a carpenter and the experience of building that house was a big influence on him. My grandmother passed away in 2007, so when my grandfather died in 2012, my brother bought the house and moved in with his family of 4 (now 5). My brother is also a carpenter, and updated the entire house when they moved in. It looks very different now, but it is so special and wonderful to be able to visit and have family gatherings in the same place.
Congrats on learning more about your beautiful home’s history!
Harper says
I teared up reading this. So lovely!
rebekah says
Oh! I love that story!! It is so much fun to hear about other people’s history. The original owner of our house actually invited us over the week before closing to show us how to use the buck stove, what makes creaks in the house, how to use the homemade watering system in the yard…it was so much fun to meet them and hear fun stories AND learn a thing or two about why the guest bathroom will “phantom” flush when it rains :)
Amanda says
In 2011, we bought our 1918 home in Norfolk, VA from the people who had owned it since 1949! They included a book of all of the service receipts they’d kept over the years, as well as names and numbers of people who had worked on the house over the past decade or so. The first page of the book was a letter telling us a brief history of the Moore’s life in the house. One day, my husband was working in the yard (I was running errands – boo) and five of the six kids who were raised in the house stopped by! He was regaled with all sorts of stories about growing up in the house and they were very pleased with the work we’d done on it. These things really do matter and we’re proud to be good stewards for this old beauty on the river. We’re throwing her a birthday party in four years! Thanks for your story, Sherry!