Comments on: The Wash House

By: vicky

vicky — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:16:22 +0000

my grandparents had a wash house…i can still smell the soap and feel the warmth of going in there! i have always wanted one…i hope u can save yours.

By: Helen Pearce

Helen Pearce — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:03:11 +0000

We always called the laundry the wash house growing up i remember getting my fingers caught in my Nanas old ringer (thats what we called the old machines in Australia ) i also remember chickens hanging upside down with no heads dripping into the old cement trough ready to be plucked it all seemed so normal chickens running around with no heads on back then.
i loved my childhood
imagine if that old wash house could speak what tales it would have to tell *soft smile*

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:54:00 +0000

If it were me, I’d love to pick it up and move it to where your living now. So much ‘family’ in it. To bad your cousin doesn’t feel the same. Take it roses too. You can keep that going as a family heirloom. That’s what I’ve done with my grammas Fern Leaf Peonies.

By: Cousin Sheryl

Cousin Sheryl — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:51:12 +0000

Please Folks! Don’t make Cousin Mark (my husband) the villain of this piece! He is a pack rat, preservationist and history buff, extroidinaire! (sp?) You should see the stuff that he WON’T get rid of! THE BARN IS SAFE!
The Wash House floor and sills are rotten and the building is getting ready to break in two. For safety reasons, it has to go. My husband will undoubtable find somewhere to store the wringer washer (he will probably restore this to working condition and show it off at antique tractor/engine shows) and other items inside. There is an old baby crib in there, too. We will find some keepsakes and wood for Suzanne!
She will get several “goodies,” I’m sure.
We wish that we didn’t have to tear it down either.
The apple tree was diseased and getting ready to blow over in the next storm (on TOP of the Wash House). There were no apples on it and no bird’s nests that we noted.

Best wishes too all!

By: Darlene

Darlene — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:45:52 +0000

If you do take the wood home, make sure you don’t get it near your new house. It does look like some type of termite or beetle has been chewing on the bottoms of the wood and if it gets near new wood, they can then build a colony in the new stuff.

I too love old buildings of any sort. I LOVE the smell of very old buildings. Garages, barns, and wash houses alike have a wonderful musty smell to it.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:51:06 +0000

Have you looked into the options/cost of having it moved, Suzanne? Maybe if you approached your cousin with the idea he’d understand what it means to you. Good luck.

By: JenniferB

JenniferB — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:55:03 +0000

I think the old washboards would be cool too!

By: SuzieQ

SuzieQ — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:35:58 +0000

It’s a shame that these reminders of the past have to go. What in the world will future generations have to wax poetic about? A laundry room with a washer and dryer? How boring and uninspiring. I have a love of old abandoned buildings.

By: robin

robin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:35:36 +0000

get down there and claim all you can! door knobs/window panes/wood/shelving……even the rose bushes! build one on the new farm…or just something that will remember the wash house…something that will keep the memories…fresh as that sweet smelling flapping in the breeze of long ago laundry day wash!

By: monica

monica — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:45:41 +0000

Please disregard my previous response: PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN!!!!!

First the trees, now the wash house, what is next: The cute little red and white farmhouse. Boy!!! Thank goodness I had more coffee!!!! Be stronger than what you are with the rooster! He is teaching you to be mean and stick up for yourself! don’t back down! 52 seems pretty handy! Just think of the room to process your wool!