True Bungalow Love.

[Ana]

The most amazing thing just happened!  The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the man who had our bungalow built just came to visit!  Totally unexpected, they decided to drive through Chicago from New York on their way to Kansas.  I was sitting at my computer and noticed people outside taking pictures, I went outside to say, "Hello." and they introduced themselves.  I almost ran up to them and hugged them.  What are the odds!  I have the original architectural prints and have been searching the name of the original owner on the internet since I moved in with no luck, or maybe I thought it was no luck.  I invited them to come in and they were even more excited than me for their visit.  I showed them the original prints, the house, we exchanged information.  I am going to send them the original prints (they only asked for a copy) after I make copies (they really belong to them) and they are going to send me any old pictures of the house that they may have.  This is a bungalow/house lover/owner's dream come true!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Indeed.

[Berwyn Patsy]

How exciting Ana!  Surprises like that, do not happen very often!
There were only 2 owners before us , in our house on Kenilworth.
One of the daughters of the 2nd owner, rang my bell one day. I gave her a tour,
and she was grateful and shared some childhood memories she had of the house.
It was a good feeling.

[Bonster]

Isn't that awesome??

I had the same thing as BP happen to me.  The son of the (2nd) owners of our house from the mid 1950's till the late 90s when the mother died came by on a summer day about three years ago.  I brought him in, and we did a tour of the place.  Granted, my place isn't architecturally as significant as most others, but it was neat to hear about the changes over time on the property, and a historical account of family life (family of four) in my house during the 60s.  We never did follow up with him for pics...gotta do that.    The best part of it was his admiration for the changes we had made, and how happy he seemed that someone was working on restoring his old home.

[Bonster]

 The best part of it was his admiration for the changes we had made, and how happy he seemed that someone was working on restoring his old home.

My neighbors tell me he was partly to blame for the degradation of the house - after the father died,  he lived there but didn't do much, and after moving out he'd only help to keep the house in compliance with the city.  She (his mother) was unable to do much on her own to keep the property up.  Apparently our house was party central for him and his buds, too.   

[Felix Greco]

  Apparently our house was party central for him and his buds, too.   

Kinda like now?   

[Bear]

He was casing the joint.

[Felix Greco]

  Apparently our house was party central for him and his buds, too.   

Kinda like now?   

that would be porn central, now...

Beta or VHS ?

[Jo]

The most amazing thing just happened!  The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the man who had our bungalow built just came to visit!  Totally unexpected, they decided to drive through Chicago from New York on their way to Kansas.  I was sitting at my computer and noticed people outside taking pictures, I went outside to say, "Hello." and they introduced themselves.  I almost ran up to them and hugged them.  What are the odds!  I have the original architectural prints and have been searching the name of the original owner on the internet since I moved in with no luck, or maybe I thought it was no luck.  I invited them to come in and they were even more excited than me for their visit.  I showed them the original prints, the house, we exchanged information.  I am going to send them the original prints (they only asked for a copy) after I make copies (they really belong to them) and they are going to send me any old pictures of the house that they may have.  This is a bungalow/house lover/owner's dream come true!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Indeed.

Aw, that's very cool. 

[Bru67]

The most amazing thing just happened!  The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the man who had our bungalow built just came to visit!  Totally unexpected, they decided to drive through Chicago from New York on their way to Kansas.  I was sitting at my computer and noticed people outside taking pictures, I went outside to say, "Hello." and they introduced themselves.  I almost ran up to them and hugged them.  What are the odds!  I have the original architectural prints and have been searching the name of the original owner on the internet since I moved in with no luck, or maybe I thought it was no luck.  I invited them to come in and they were even more excited than me for their visit.  I showed them the original prints, the house, we exchanged information.  I am going to send them the original prints (they only asked for a copy) after I make copies (they really belong to them) and they are going to send me any old pictures of the house that they may have.  This is a bungalow/house lover/owner's dream come true!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Indeed.

This happened to us too, twice since '03.  Apparently these old dumps leave quite the lasting impression on those who live in them   One former resident of ours has kept a picture of it on her fireplace mantle for many years, among the family photos.  Quite the tribute!  After they recovered from cardiac arrest from how much we changed it, it was very cool to hear them describe what was here or there, and how things came to be. 

[Bungalocity]

I'd like to strangle my prev. owners.....for pickling all that damn wood butternut stain in 1968!!!!!
It's gonna take me another year to redo all that.....