1846 Homestead Renovation

My husband served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. We moved around a lot and by the time we celebrated 32 years of marriage, we had lived in 28 houses in two foreign countries and seven states. It was time to talk about a forever house. Call us crazy...everyone else already has, but our 1846 Texas homestead renovation was the route we decided to go in order to create our dream home. When we decided to turn a dilapidated dog-trot home into our dream home, most folks thought we were out of our minds. They were right. It was falling down. The last cousin who lived there was a hoarder and a recluse who hadn't taken care of the house in several decades. Sheetrock was falling from the ceilings and everything that the rats hadn't chewed up was rotten. However, the house was the oldest structure in Hill County, Texas and had been in my family since 1852. It was worth it, we said. We are saving history, we said. And then the rattlesnakes appeared along with the rats. Add in all the rotten wood and countless other issues that come with a 170+ year-old house and you get an idea of what our lives are like. From climbing on the roof to crawling under the house, we have done things we never dreamed we would have to do. Call us crazy...everyone else already has, but our 1846 Texas homestead renovation is a labor of love that is already paying off!

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  Patterson,  Wood

    John Patterson Loyalty Statement to the United States of America – 19 Nov 1869

    John Patterson signed a loyalty statement following the US Civil War. Below is the transcribed letter (for easy reading) and a photo of the letter. Enjoy!   Transcription: United States of America The State of Texas, County of Hill   I, John Patterson, do solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God that I will hereafter faithfully support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States there under and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existence of the present rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves so help…

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  Wood,  Wood Family Reunion 2020

    12 June 1866: S. Candlish to James Wood

      Transcribed Letter: St. George’s Square Sheffield June 12, 1866 Mr. Jas Wood My Dear Sir, Before you read this letter the enclosed funeral card will have conveyed to you the sad intelligence of the death of your Brother – He died from apoplexy- was only five hours ill- and was never conscious after being seized – Tho not being vey well for about two months, he attended to his business until the hour he was summoned above all earthly things. It has passed from amongst us a deeply lamented and much missed man, passed however into an honored grave, we can sayhe served his God faithfully and like his…

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  The Homestead's History,  Wood,  Wood Family Reunion 2020

    27 November 1896: Emily Ann Frazier letter to Jane Wood Frazier Patterson

    Transcribed Letter: Valley? Farm Nov 27th 1896 Dear Jane, You must not think that I am going to tell you anything new or strange because I write. That would be out of my power. You have lived here and know how little news reaches here. I send you two newspapers the only ones I have seen since I came here except a Dutch paper sent her to Mr. Wickeland as it will not be very interesting to you or I, I will give it to Mr. Frazier for gun wadding. I think we will hear more news now as there is a regular mail to Fort Graham once a week. …

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  The Homestead's History,  Wood,  Wood Family Reunion 2020

    26 January 1880: William Riddell to his sister, Isabella Riddell Wood

    Transcribed Letter: Wellgreen 26th January 1880 My Dear Sister, I received your letter of 16th Agust 79/ all right and was glad to see you were all well once more, as you say the time is uncertain, it will not be long that we will have the priviledge of writing to one another in this world, but I hope we are all Trusting in Jessus Christ, so that when our latter End does come we may all meet in a Better world, and meet with those who are gone Before, to Dwell for ever with he Lord, this is a world of sin and Sorrow and triles, but if we…

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  The Homestead's History,  Wood,  Wood Family Reunion 2020

    May 7, 1853: Margaret Riddell Letter to Her Sister, Isabella Riddell Wood

    Y’all owe me big for this one.  Not only is is difficult to read, but dear Aunt Margaret used inventive spelling, wrong punctuation, and random acts of capitalization.  Bless her heart. Cobourgh Place, Sighthill January 7th, 1853 Dear Sister, I hop you wil excuse me for not writing before this time to you.  It is wonderful how the time slips by in the worald, I am hapy to inform you that My Mother is just about her usewall way for health although she is very frail. She cannot walk through the house without me supporting her by the wone side and she cannot turn herself in her bed, I put…

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  The Homestead's History,  Wood,  Wood Family Reunion 2020

    28 October 1862 Near Little Rock, Arkansas: John Wood to Mother Isabella Wood

    John Wood writes a short letter to his mother letting her know that he is well and that everyone with his are well.  Evidently, they have captured some Union soldiers and are sending them to Little Rock. Transcription: October the 28, 1862 Mrs. Wood, I have taken the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present all the boys is well the arcansas taken 80 yanks the other day. We are sending the yanks to Little Rock every day.  I must bring my letter to a close John Wood

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  Family Genealogy Research,  Wood

    26 November 1857 Letter from Fort Bridger During Mormon Wars

    John Wood writes home to his mother, Isabella Wood in Texas describing the events and circumstances surrounding him at Fort Bridger, Utah Territory.  He promises he will come home as “soon as Brigham Young will let me”. Transcribed Letter: Fort Bridger, Utah Territory November 26, 1857 My Dear Mother, It is a long time since I wrote to you, but it is a longer time since I heard from you.  I left Paducah, Ky, for St. Louis, Mo. Not finding anything to do there.  I went to Ft. Leavenworth and there I engaged to go as a teamster to Salt Lake.  I intended to have wrote you from that place,…

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  Uncategorized

    Concrete Floor Staining Failure – Revisited

    Once Upon a Time Once upon a time our floors were beautiful.  They were the product of hard work and they were exactly what we had envisioned.  Unfortunately, that beautiful dream didn’t stand the test of time.  In fact, it didn’t stand the test of contractors or (to be fair) normal use.  I have already discussed the problems we had with the concrete in “A Colossal Error in Concrete Staining”   What happened?  What went wrong?  Most importantly, how on earth are we going to fix it?  You can read that post, or continue here for a recap and our attempts at finding a solution. In the Beginning… In the beginning,…

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation

    Welcoming Additions: Front Steps and Sidewalk Make Visiting Easier

    Once Upon a Time… Once upon a time, our home was a simple four room dog trot house.  It had one door in the front and one in the back.  Those who lived here before us eventually needed to center, open hallway space and they enclosed it, leaving the front porch open.  It was easy for people to see how to get into the house.  See the gate above?  Go through it.  Walk carefully on the (mostly) flat rocks that lead to the front of the house.  There is one door.  Knock on it.  While there wasn’t a real side walk and no need for front steps, it was welcoming.…

  • 1846 Homestead Renovation,  The Art of Beautiful Living

    Our New Antique Eastlake Style Dresser

    Antiques Tell a Story Antiques tell a story.  They were present in homes of the past, quietly participating in lives of people long since gone.  Antiques need care, of course, but caring for antique dressers and other antique furniture isn’t difficult.  They just need some tender loving care. I recently “inherited” this beauty (along with several other pieces which will eventually find their way into a blog post).  The finish was dry looking and it had a build up of dust on it that had to be removed before we could begin. I was excited about this dresser.  The marble top is free of any chips or breakage.  The mirror…