the spyder
Well-known member
I figured I should eventually post in here. Back in the early 90's my parents purchased the property my brother, wife, and son currently live on. Both my brother and I grew up here for the better part of our childhood, went to college, moved away, and then somehow found ourselves moving back home. Our parents moved for my fathers job and asked me to move back and take care of the property. My brother, unable to find a job out of school, moved back home with me to help.
The property was started in the mid 1860's. At this point, the first building was constructed. The middle section of the now expanded barn/shop still stands, along with 90% of the original structures. The house was finished in 1891, along with 8 other total buildings on the property. The property is 5 acres overlooking the Willamette River here in Oregon. The buildings consist of 1) The Main House 2) Summer Kitchen 3) Shop 4) Well tower 5) Laundry House 6) Fesant House 7) Beagle House, 8) Bee House, 9) Walnut Dryer.
The fellow who built the property planted mixed walnut trees and had the entire property covered with bee hives. Sadly we are now having to remove the cross bread walnuts, as they rot out in the center. The limbs dangle dangerously above buildings and must be cut down. We are replanting what we can. 40% of the property is covered by Ivy, oh how I hate Ivy... We are hoping to knock it down, along with the blackberries, this spring.
The list of projects is overwhelming. 100+ year old buildings need constant attention. Currently we have some major issue with 4 of the buildings. The worse is 4) Well Tower. We have rebuilt it once already, but now the water damage is so bad on the NW exposure, the siding is falling off. Inside the building are puddles of water. The next is 8) Bee House. Its falling down a hill, literally. Next is 2) and 3). Both buildings are having structural overload issues. Sagging timbers due to deteriorating rock foundations are causing leaks and interior damage.
Anything we do has to last another 100 years. Many things must match existing and worst of all, its being done on one heck of a budget.
Attached are general property photos.
The property was started in the mid 1860's. At this point, the first building was constructed. The middle section of the now expanded barn/shop still stands, along with 90% of the original structures. The house was finished in 1891, along with 8 other total buildings on the property. The property is 5 acres overlooking the Willamette River here in Oregon. The buildings consist of 1) The Main House 2) Summer Kitchen 3) Shop 4) Well tower 5) Laundry House 6) Fesant House 7) Beagle House, 8) Bee House, 9) Walnut Dryer.
The fellow who built the property planted mixed walnut trees and had the entire property covered with bee hives. Sadly we are now having to remove the cross bread walnuts, as they rot out in the center. The limbs dangle dangerously above buildings and must be cut down. We are replanting what we can. 40% of the property is covered by Ivy, oh how I hate Ivy... We are hoping to knock it down, along with the blackberries, this spring.
The list of projects is overwhelming. 100+ year old buildings need constant attention. Currently we have some major issue with 4 of the buildings. The worse is 4) Well Tower. We have rebuilt it once already, but now the water damage is so bad on the NW exposure, the siding is falling off. Inside the building are puddles of water. The next is 8) Bee House. Its falling down a hill, literally. Next is 2) and 3). Both buildings are having structural overload issues. Sagging timbers due to deteriorating rock foundations are causing leaks and interior damage.
Anything we do has to last another 100 years. Many things must match existing and worst of all, its being done on one heck of a budget.
Attached are general property photos.
