The big Victorian at the corner of Park and Gurley was open to the public for the first time since its 100th birthday nearly 10 years ago. The occasion: a bazaar to benefit the historic Citizens Cemetery. A lot of the visitors were just like me -- curious to visit the inside of a splendid old house the outside of which I see almost daily!
Greeters and some of the assistants were costumed appropriately for the event which continues tomorrow (go if you get a chance!)
And there were goodies galore! In fact, it was hard to admire the house itself there were so many items for sale, over 1000 of them made by the hostess, Cookie Brinkmeyer. The house was built by Henry Brinkmeyer, a prominent local businessman who arrived in 1884 from Germany, and has remained in the family ever since.
Gift items ranged from Victorian pillows...
...to quilts in various sizes and colors...
...to Christmas tree ornaments...
...and a grand cat, part of the Grunge Goddess Primitives collection on sale. I lusted for this animal, but it was a hair pricey so I settled for a much smaller pair of barn cats in the same series.
Now for a look at some of the historic house. Above, the mantlepiece and, below, the fireplace.
A china cabinet in the breakfast room...
...a truly antique phone...
...a lovely art deco light for the staircase...
...an old piano with family pictures...
...lovely old oak woodwork throughout the interior...
...pretty diagonally mullioned windows on the porch...
...and upstairs as well. What a fun way to spend a cool but sunny November afternoon.Link Notes: The Courier has an extensive story plus a picture gallery of the Brinkmeyer House; go take a look, especially at the bedroom pictures with their old beds. Another link of interest: I began getting visitors who were sent my way by a roving RV blogger -- one of those adventurous retirees who has chucked roots for the life of a modern vagabond. The RV Boondocker-Explorer writes cool short essays, visits interesting out-of-the-way places and takes pictures while he's about it.
This house is one of my fave's. About twenty years ago I had a long conversation with a nice old lady out doing yard work. I assume she was the current owner. It seems like I'd see her out there quite a bit. Pride of ownership is still very obvious.
ReplyDeleteOh, my gosh! How old is Cookie Brinkmeyer? Is she one of the sisters who lived there when I was in grade school in 1947?
ReplyDeleteThey used to send bouquets of flowers to Lincoln school to thank the children for not pickiing the flowers they grew between the street and the sidewalk.
I'd heard that house was a Sears Roebuck kit, but couldn't find anything quite like it when you featured the SR houses on a post.
How wonderful to see inside!
RE -- If I read the Courier article correctly, the current occupants are a brother or nephew of the old ladies and his wife.
ReplyDeleteBrain -- I hope you get a chance to see the house! Cookie is a Brinkmeyer by marraige.
Brain -- Were those flowers hollyhocks? I've noticed that every spring, hollyhocks try to come up in the median strip between Gurley St. and the sidwalk. Poor things -- they get cut back each year.
ReplyDeleteLooks fascinating - hope Max doesn't mind the new funny cats!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, again!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see that house in real life.
lucy -- At this stage of his life, Max would rather catch lizards and salivate after out-of-reach birds.
ReplyDeletemeggie -- the day the sign went up, I began planning my visit. I never expected to get inside that house which has intrigued me for a good 20+ years!
Glad you were able to scout through the house, lucky you.
ReplyDeleteHermano
Bro -- too bad you weren't in town for the event! However, there are a lot of Christmas goodies in the offing, including the Acker music night.
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