Before It Was Green

Grandmama's house is what many today refer to as the Greenhouse. It has in recent years been transformed into somewhat of a place of appreciation of the arts so to speak. This is primarily due to the influence of Tommy Davis and me as we have promoted numerous gatherings to celebrate the birthdays of various ones of our inner-circle of friends. It provides a wonderful venue for such events. It has also been the place of memorial services for those who have gone on to their eternal life in whatever was the individual's destiny. Many joyous events have been hosted there and we have even been asked to use it for a political rally on one occasion.

I'm not sure that I remember the original house at this site as I've been told that a house stood there before the present  structure and was destroyed by fire. That could explain why the septic tank was so far away from the house. Perhaps the builders of the present structure simply choose to attach the replacement house to a septic tank which previously existed for the house which had burned previously. At any rate I have a photograph of Grandama sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of the present structure and on the back of the photo her name is inscribed as Edna J. Bell 1945 Mcintosh. The picture was given to me by cousin Phil Odom and he found it among the extensive collection of pictures made by his Father Albert Odom. At the time when the picture was made the house was still unpainted. People did not start painting their houses until about 1948 or thereabout.

Aunt Joe told me a couple of years ago that Grandmama originally lived in the house there with Uncle David after he was discharged from the Army. When Uncle David married Aunt Daisy the house was sold to the C.R. Stanford family. I distinctively remember June and I standing beside the chimney with Bob Stanford and he was wearing nothing but diapers. Soon after that the Stanfords sold the house to Grandmama and I believe I remember exploring the house with June and we both marveled at the fact that there was a modern toilet in the house as well as a bathtub and hand sink. I believe at that point in time we had not yet finished the addition on our own House next door.The Greenhouse originally had three chimneys and was considered to be a very fine building. Grandmama's maiden name was Downs and the house had been built by some of the Downs family who were known for building excellent structures. An interesting fact about the present building is that there is no ridgeboard in the top of the gable.  The rafters which are handcut with a handsaw and cut to fit precisely. At any rate the house had a very modern layout consisting of  a living room and adjoining dining room with the kitchen at the back where it is to this day. The other side of the house had two bedrooms separated by a foyer like area adjoining the dining room,with doors opening into each of the bedrooms as well as a door opening into the bathroom. It was well thought out and nicely built.

The rear bedroom had a fireplace as did the living room. There was also a brick chimney attached to the outer wall of the kitchen for the wood burning stove. One of my very earliest recollections is sitting at a small kitchen table with a porcelain top as I watched Grandma prepare a gingerbread man for my pleasure. I felt like I was special because I lived close enough to my sole Grandparent to be with her every day. I had Mama and Daddy as well as Em and Grandma all right there each and every day and on top of that I had a brother who was ten years my senior as well as a knowing older sister all of whom were just way too good to me. No child ever had a more secure and loving surround than I did to grow up within.