Over the years, I have developed an interest in historical research from connections I've made through my love for old architecture. Maybe it's because I grew up in my grandparents' house in Denver, an old foursquare built around 1906, and then in later years bought a 1909 bungalow. I just like old houses. I'm also a voyeur at heart, and love to go inside other people's homes, especially if they are circa pre-1950.
When I discovered the Historic Open House schedule for homes that are on the National Register of Historic Places, I couldn't believe my luck. They became a regular monthly event, often with friends tagging along. I discovered that most of those homeowners had a very personal connection to their houses, either as a descendant of the original owners, sometimes going back to the original donation land claim, or because in doing the research for registering the property they made a very personal connection to their home's history. In either case, I enjoyed listening to their stories. Sometimes I asked if I could come back to take photographs and learn more, and was never turned down. In fact, they seemed delighted to share the stories. Other, more romantic connections, have also come to light. One such story is about Miss Ida B. Goodell, whose letters were discovered hidden in a bedroom’s walls during the remodeling of a house built in the late 1800s.
I have compiled a photo journal incorporating some of these stories to share with you. I hope you enjoy them and feel the same magical connections that I do.
