Lies, fabulous lies
Monday, November the 7th at 10:07 AM
in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Five (6 years, 6 months ago)
S
o our realtor was pretty up-front about being useless when it came to the purchase of the church, because it's such a "strange property." At the time, I could appreciate that honesty, though now I wonder, other than guessing at the worth of the place, what other concepts had to be thrown out the window. Last week we got a few pleasant surprises, and they seem to be marginally useful bits of information, no matter how "strange" the place is.
Anyhow, I raked leaves on Friday, for the ENTIRE DAY, for the first time at our place. I only managed to rake about half the property because 1) I'm slow and 2) a lot of people stopped and chatted. They go by the name "neighbor" and respond to the gang sign of a raised hand and the word "Howdy."
As a side note: Based on its sprawling 550 (now 552!) person population, Towanda isn't a town, it's a village, thus making all its residents Village People. Though there was no position for "Clergyman" in the original Village People, current world events might cause reconsideration. I've got dibs if the spot opens up.
Back to the story - one of these "neighbors" asked about the church bell, which I proudly noted would ring again, through some eagle-eyed auctioneering from yours truly. The person asked when they had removed the original bell, because he remembers them ringing it when they would show the church to potential buyers.
Insert long frowny look from me as I absorb this fact.
"Maybe you're not pulling the rope hard enough" says the neighbor. I send Sallymodo over to do the deed, and sure enough, we've apparently now got two big bells. I hope to get some photos of the actual bell soon, once I can crawl all the way up the tower.
Later in the day the mayor stops by and delivers some old newspaper clippings (photocopies, at least) dealing with the church and its history. Sally and I read and re-read the info, and found out some interesting stuff. There was a steeple on the place that was destroyed by lightning. It also turns out the place wasn't built in 1945, as the original ad for the property said. At closing the documents told us it was actually 1920. Nice. These new clippings said it was built in 1895, (!!) to replace a church built there in 1859.
Which is before the civil war.
So the latest news is - we have the original (or at least original as we'll probably get) bell, and the building is 110 years old. We're still looking for more old photos, and if anyone would like to produce an artist rendering of the mythical "Sallymodo" I would be most appreciative.
5 Comments
1
6 years, 6 months ago
Shep
permalink
I KNEW it was older than 1945! Very cool findings! I'll have a Sallymodo for you at some point if you can promise my efforts won't result in my bannination from the church of Saint Hughes.
3
6 years, 6 months ago
your dad has started drinking your mom has recurring nightmares and your uncle lon now has psychological problems. well, two out of three...
I looked and read the above, now I am joining the Black Panthers and going underground.
In all seriousness --I AM.
I looked and read the above, now I am joining the Black Panthers and going underground.
In all seriousness --I AM.
4
6 years, 6 months ago
When we closed on our house, we were made to believe it was built in 1980. Then we found out from the neighbors that it was really 1978. Lies, mediocre lies.
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