Re: Beebe -- our 1935 Bungalow on Baker Street.
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 12:11 am
Going to the lumber shop today reminded me a few times over of how lucky I am in some regards to have such a shop nearby. At the same time, given some of the conversations I have had with the staff there based on purchases I've made or have wanted to make, I worry that even a hold out like that one may go the way of the dodo as to what services it can provide for old house lovers to whatever degree.
The reason why I am thinking about that started with the window stop bead adjustors I asked for a few visits ago. They didn't have any left in stock, so I put in an order which I asked about today. Turns out the company they used to get them from doesn't have them anymore. The fellow I was talking to said he has one other supplier he'll be seeing soon he thinks might have them. I know where I can find them online, I just like to buy local when I can, especially a family business. He also didn't have any sash cord in stock, although he said it used to be a staple before folks started putting in the vinyl. What used to be standard stock, no longer is.
Still, there are lots of things they do have that make them exactly the kind of place I love to shop. For instance, the spade handle I bought. Gratis, it was the last one, and he did say "don't get much call for these now", but they had it. I hope to get that attached later this week, but I'm a bit uncertain how difficult it will be to get the old metal bolts out. I also know I'll have to shape the handle a bit and draw up the slot because the girth I need to fit the cup part of the metal is bigger than the lower end of the shaft as made. That will mean needing to refinish it too, in order to keep the wood seal, but that's not a big deal, just another step.
The other bit I picked up was exactly the sort of wire I needed for the rain chain! And a length closer to what I needed now, and thus more in line with my budget.
This is why I'm glad they are still there, and within easy walking distance to boot.
In other news, it seems our elderly neighbor in the next door bungalow is heading to assisted living. We had a feeling they were getting the home ready for sale, given the activity that's been going on of late. We chatted with the daughter today while she was on the porch, and she confirmed our suspicions. She also invited us to a "closed" interior item sale they'll be having next week to sell off furniture and the like, as apparently none of the kids will taking the majority of it.
Although I was thrilled we got the invite, I also feel a bit of trepidation. I couldn't quite muster the courage to ask if they've already found a buyer via a pocket sale, or if it will go on the market. It's a 1928 bungalow, and still has more original exterior details than ours. The size is a bit different, and I don't know if it was originally built that way or not, but it has two front doors because it's split two apartments, 1 over 1. The lady who is leaving used to live there with her spouse on the second floor while her in-laws lived on the first, then when they passed, they moved downstairs. The second floor hasn't been rented since 1993, according to the tax card.
One thing I feel guilty admitting is one nice thing about being invited to the sale is I will get to see the interior of the home for the first time. I know there have been changes and one addition since the original build, but I don't know how much is extant inside. Our neighbor had been sick more than not since we moved, so we really have only had a few over the fence chats with her.
The property overall is really nice, honestly. It's a larger parcel and has a great garage/workshop/shed layout for the rear out building. Sean and I actually acknowledged today as we did a walk about the neighborhood that although we have no idea what they might sell it for, those two reasons alone make it...well, not nicer than Beebe, but still makes both of us a bit wistful if timing had been different and somehow the price might have been similar. Of course, not knowing what it looks like inside or how easy it could be to convert it to a single could very much negate that too. I also suspect the price will be significantly higher than Beebe too. Technically, this area is supposed to be zoned single family, but there are a few multis here and there that were older than the zoning. So we're pretty sure it would be grandfathered. That has us a bit worried too, because Gardner does have some slum lord types who might snatch it up and run it into the ground as a dual rental or worse, chop it up further.
I think I'm going to make a point of being a bit forward and asking if they already have a buyer or not. I'm really hoping so, and that it will be a good neighbor.
The reason why I am thinking about that started with the window stop bead adjustors I asked for a few visits ago. They didn't have any left in stock, so I put in an order which I asked about today. Turns out the company they used to get them from doesn't have them anymore. The fellow I was talking to said he has one other supplier he'll be seeing soon he thinks might have them. I know where I can find them online, I just like to buy local when I can, especially a family business. He also didn't have any sash cord in stock, although he said it used to be a staple before folks started putting in the vinyl. What used to be standard stock, no longer is.
Still, there are lots of things they do have that make them exactly the kind of place I love to shop. For instance, the spade handle I bought. Gratis, it was the last one, and he did say "don't get much call for these now", but they had it. I hope to get that attached later this week, but I'm a bit uncertain how difficult it will be to get the old metal bolts out. I also know I'll have to shape the handle a bit and draw up the slot because the girth I need to fit the cup part of the metal is bigger than the lower end of the shaft as made. That will mean needing to refinish it too, in order to keep the wood seal, but that's not a big deal, just another step.
The other bit I picked up was exactly the sort of wire I needed for the rain chain! And a length closer to what I needed now, and thus more in line with my budget.
This is why I'm glad they are still there, and within easy walking distance to boot.
In other news, it seems our elderly neighbor in the next door bungalow is heading to assisted living. We had a feeling they were getting the home ready for sale, given the activity that's been going on of late. We chatted with the daughter today while she was on the porch, and she confirmed our suspicions. She also invited us to a "closed" interior item sale they'll be having next week to sell off furniture and the like, as apparently none of the kids will taking the majority of it.
Although I was thrilled we got the invite, I also feel a bit of trepidation. I couldn't quite muster the courage to ask if they've already found a buyer via a pocket sale, or if it will go on the market. It's a 1928 bungalow, and still has more original exterior details than ours. The size is a bit different, and I don't know if it was originally built that way or not, but it has two front doors because it's split two apartments, 1 over 1. The lady who is leaving used to live there with her spouse on the second floor while her in-laws lived on the first, then when they passed, they moved downstairs. The second floor hasn't been rented since 1993, according to the tax card.
One thing I feel guilty admitting is one nice thing about being invited to the sale is I will get to see the interior of the home for the first time. I know there have been changes and one addition since the original build, but I don't know how much is extant inside. Our neighbor had been sick more than not since we moved, so we really have only had a few over the fence chats with her.
The property overall is really nice, honestly. It's a larger parcel and has a great garage/workshop/shed layout for the rear out building. Sean and I actually acknowledged today as we did a walk about the neighborhood that although we have no idea what they might sell it for, those two reasons alone make it...well, not nicer than Beebe, but still makes both of us a bit wistful if timing had been different and somehow the price might have been similar. Of course, not knowing what it looks like inside or how easy it could be to convert it to a single could very much negate that too. I also suspect the price will be significantly higher than Beebe too. Technically, this area is supposed to be zoned single family, but there are a few multis here and there that were older than the zoning. So we're pretty sure it would be grandfathered. That has us a bit worried too, because Gardner does have some slum lord types who might snatch it up and run it into the ground as a dual rental or worse, chop it up further.
I think I'm going to make a point of being a bit forward and asking if they already have a buyer or not. I'm really hoping so, and that it will be a good neighbor.