As I look out of my window onto a warm, sunny day with gusts of wind that presage the winter storm moving our way, I wish the weather wasn’t so nice. Instead of sugarplums, there are a dozen ideas dancing in my head, begging to be written and shared. Dahlias, drive-in move theaters, flamboyant architects, and small railroad towns – but there are toys to be assembled and the weather is sooooo nice.
If I go outside now, I could get some last-of-the-year gardening tasks completed and enjoy the feeling of the sunshine on my face, and let the wind blow out any discontent with the year 2020. I could soak in the last unexpected treat of good weather with a ramble and a walk with my dogs, and revel in the solitude of farm life. So! I will leave you with this list of a dozen positive preservation stories (otherwise known as buildings that are still standing and are not in danger) from the Gardens to Gables archives -and when the weather turns frightful, you can read these for the first time or for the second. (The link to each article is in the title.)
From March of 2020, the William Miller House, Hodgenville, LaRue County, Kentucky
The façade of the William Miller House in Hodgenville, Kentucky.
From July 2016, An Architectural Whimsical Treat: The Storybook Style
The Frank Long House on Linden Avenue in Oak Park, Illinois.
From June 2018, the Harkins Law Office, Prestonsburg, Floyd County, Kentucky
The Harkins Law Office, Prestonsburg, Kentucky
From November 2019, the iconic Mother Goose House, Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky
Another view of the market, the Mother Goose, and the four bay garage (which appears to be original).
From March 2017, the George W. Robson, Jr. House, Bellevue, Kentucky
The George W. Robson, Jr. House in Bellevue, Kentucky.
From September 2019, Kentucky Carnegie Libraries: Louisville Free Public Library Western Branch
The Western branch of the Louisville Free Public Library system.
From July 2017, the Farmer’s Bank Building, Smiths Grove, Warren County, Kentucky
The Farmer’s Bank Building in Smiths Grove, Kentucky.
From December 2017, Houses by Mail: The Aladdin Company of Bay City, Michigan
Kenwick neighborhood, Lexington, Kentucky.
From April 2020, the Judge Emmet Field House, Louisville, Kentucky
A view of the side elevation and facade.
From February 2018, Historic Shiloh Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky
Façade of Shiloh Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky.
From August 2015, Marking History: The Stanford Female College in Lincoln County, Kentucky
The former Stanford Female Academy, Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky.
And finally, from February 2018, A Queen Anne Delight in Sebree, Webster County, Kentucky
The facade of the McMullin-Warren House in Sebree, Kentucky.
I love seeing successfully restored and re-purposed buildings. Thank you for an optimistic thought to end this year. Here’s hoping for more successes in 2021.