Let's get on with the tour. We've still got a way to go!
I wish I had taken pictures of the sitting room when it was set up as a sitting room, but for quite a while it has been a place to hold the dollhouses and other items that are too bulky for the rest of the house. This room is at the top of the stairs and to the right of the library. It is in the center of two bedrooms. There's no hallway; it's placed in the old style of doing things where to get to one room you have to go through another. We believe that the room to the left was part of this room originally and there wasn't a wall going into what is my sewing room now. It looks like the doorway is newer than the rest of the house.
This is the wing of the house that was used as a surgical area and recovery room for the small surgeries that were performed here and maybe even some baby deliveries (although I'm sure most were born at home.) An 80-year-old-neighbor remembers playing upstairs with the doctor's children when there were beds lined up along the outside wall, ready for the patients or maybe in anticipation of an epidemic.
This particular doctor had children who were quite undisciplined and were allowed to run and scream throughout the house. The children would often jump from bed to bed and even jump from the attic pull-down stairs onto the beds. The housekeeper would be the one to chastise them. The doctor's wife never raised her voice, I was told.
This is a diamond disk player. My husband has always loved music players of all kinds. This one plays the thick Edison records. We have quite a collection. This particular disk player is for sale, It's very heavy and we really don't want to move it. If you know of anyone who is looking for one, please have them contact me.
Here you can see the thickness of the 78 records that were used in this time period.
Duane says the quality is far superior to the Victrolas that play the regular thickness record. And you don't have to worry about damage when playing it.
My husband also has quite a collection of Al Jolsen records, Helen Kane records (the voice of Betty Boop) and Uncle Josh cyclinder disks. We don't plan on parting with any of those. We keep this old sheet music hanging above the disk player.
This dollhouse was built by my father at age 80. This is not a kit but each piece of siding and roofing is individually cut. He made this house to sell for a little extra income while feeding his hobby at the same time.
I recently sold this one to one of my best friends. She is already decorating it and furnishing it and tells me she is having a ball.
This dolllhouse was made when Dad was in his 60s. He made it for my 35th birthday. I loved it and cherished it, and then later when my daughters were old enough to play with it responsibly, I allowed them to help in the decorating. They spent many dollars of their allowance money on small items, and we handcrafted others.
My youngest daughter, Taylor, has taken this one into her home and is redecorating and making new items to furnish it as the farmhouse that it is.
You can see stories about this dollhouse on my daughter's blog called Dollhouse Adventures.
The small lighthouse next to it is another one of my Dad's projects. It will pass on to my grandson.
It's been difficult finding new homes for these items that I love, but it's much easier knowing they will stay with family and friends.
Please check out my other blogs at:
Thyme for Herbs
An Herbal Bedfellow
Tickling the Ivories
