Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Part 3: The One That Got Away

 
 Here she is in all her Historic Glory.



This Gothic Revival has been in my heart since
I first laid eyes on her.




It was built in 1856
by  Civil War Captain,
Mr. Kennon.
{Crazy, huh?!}

Another iconic family lived here as well.
The Paulks.

Doesn't ring a bell, does it?

How about Mrs. Bonnie Paulk?

No?

Okay, how about
Bonnie Plants?

Yep, it all started here
with 10 pounds of cabbage seed.
Of course, back then, this homestead was
on 209 acres. 
It now sits on a mere 3+ acres.

Still, I am in love 
with its story.



Could you imagine living in this house?
It was very serene walking through the doors.

It is a calm home. Maybe it could feel our
energy and said, "NO WAY! They have crazy kids!"
Hey, you never know! 

Come on, I'll show you around then tell you what happened...
{click on the photos to enlarge}

Entry hall
Vintage wallpaper in the entry hall

The"sitting"room (would've been our dining room)


One of the bedrooms. This one was finished and
would have been Petunia's room.



This would have been the boys room.

This would have been the master bedroom

Master bath

Kitchen

Kitchen back door with a slammin' screen! So loved that!

Formal living room with formal dining through the doorway.
Formal living would have been dining and sitting room for guests
and the other room would have been our family room.

A large concrete pad perfect for a BIG barn!

Gates to the woods. 

This is actually on the neighbors property but in view from the
kitchen window. I'm certain this once belonged to the old homestead.
I was going to ask to buy it from them. Love, LOVE.

We would have renovated this into a guest house for our B & B.

Cottage number 2. Another guest house.

Gorgeous brick patio behind the house.

The grand front porch.  The Azaleas were so beautiful!

On the front porch.

A view from the front porch. This Victorian is across the street
and is a 2nd home to the owner. 

So, we looked at it again after our first visit.
Husband loved the wooded acreage on the back side
of the property and was already planning out
the kids  tree forts, zip lines and beautiful
hidden gardens for our guests that would 
be staying at our
Bed and Breakfast
{which is what we had intentions for}.

We even got to meet our new neighbor,
Miss. Martha!

Talk, talk, talk.
Fly home.
Phone calls and email to Realtor.
Email offer.
First Yes {Bank President}.
President presents to Board
{not sure if it even got that far}.
Cash offer comes in.
We got the B.U.M.P.

Sigh.
Sigh some more.

Try and look at the bright side.
Roll eyes at the umpteenth,
"It only means something else better
will come along".

Hmm....

To Be Continued.

xo, Amber

Friday, April 19, 2013

Part 2: Southern CHARM

Okay, so I was totally in love 
with all things Southern  
before we went to Alabama.
The way of life,
the slower pace,
the hospitality,
the cost of living,
manners,
front porches,
fireflies,
the accent
and of course,
sweet tea.


I found Union Springs
after seeing a few homes for sale
a couple of years ago and 
just started researching the 
area and what the South
is all about.

The only real way to learn about it
is to GO. 
... and so we went on our
Adventure.

* *

Driving into town and 
stepping out of the car
only to see things I had 
previously seen in pictures,
I fell completely
head over heals,
BIG time.
So did he {husband}. 



Miss. Joyce had warned me
that we may not like it
because it was kinda 
stuck in the 50's.
My heart pitter-pattered.
{We liked that idea.}




We pulled up to 
The Josephine Hotel
which is now


The main floor of the three story hotel
houses the
Real Estate office,
an Art Gallery
and a Sandwich Shoppe - Ice Cream Parlor.


The upper two levels are awaiting renovation
to bring them back to their past splendor.
I wish I had taken pictures in there,
you can see and feel what it once was
and boy, was it grand.
The wood work is so beautiful
and well preserved.

Miss. Joyce has hopes of bringing
 it back to a working inn.
It would be fabulous!


Prairie Street



In the city center is a statue
of a Bird Dog because
has the the best and largest 
in the nation. 



I can tell you so much more but I'll end up 
writing a book so I'll 
fast forward to the houses.

Oh, the houses mansions.

Oh My Goodness...










This beautiful lady is getting a
complete overhaul so she can
continue to stand for many more
years to come. I think it's
great people are moving to town
and saving these homes.
Many are from Civil War times and
the history that fills them
is amazing. 


This particular home is said to be one of the
most spiritually inhabited. It sure is beautiful!




Union Springs is probably one of the most beautiful
places that I have ever been to and seen.

We were completely mesmerized by the 
charming homes, picture perfect neighborhoods
and the smell of wisteria, azaleas and the forest.








But nothing tops the hospitality of our new
friends in Union Springs.
Hopefully one day, we'll be able to call 
them neighbors.

Next post: The homestead that really stole our hearts.
Wait till you hear the story that comes with this home.
You'll fall in love too.



xo, Amber