Quoting August Abolins to Nancy Backus on 07-01-19 01:08 <=-

My experience has been that most people are quite willing to let a
former resident, or descendent of a former owner/resident, see what
it's become.... they like the connection to the past through a real
person, too... ;)

One time, (about 20 years ago now) my mother and I drove by her first family home, the home were I was raised up until age 9. We stopped
along the side of the street to have a good look at the house. We
sat silently as many memories flooded back. Then she suggested we
knock on the door and see if we can get a look inside. I thought
this idea was a bit untoward or a weird idea to say the least.

It is a sort of weird idea, in some ways.... but quite understandable in
other ways... :)

I resisted, but she decided to go for it. I stayed in the car, but
she stepped out to see if anyone was home and would let her in for a
tour. About thirty minutes later, she came back with quite a story
of a wonderful visit.
I regretted not going along when I had the chance!

I'm glad I didn't resist my mother-in-law's suggestion to knock on the
door of a house that had been built by my great-grandfather for his
family (eight daughters, the oldest of which was my grandmother)... it
had been turned into a duplex, but we were able to see the inside of the
one half... truly a remarkable experience.... :) Mom and I were doing
a genealogy trip together, this time focusing on where my grandmother's
line had lived, worked and died... :)

More recently, my sister knocked on the door of the house that we had
grown up in... after my parents moved in with another sister, someone in
the neighborhood had offered to buy it... and he'd fixed it up and sold
it.... She was invited in, and had a lovely time seeing how the house
had been fixed up... and there on the mantlepiece, was a picture of our
family, put there by the guy that had first bought the house, and kept
there by the second family... They thought it was wonderful to meet
someone from the picture... Daddy had bought the house in 1965, my
parents moved out about 40 years later....

A few years after that, I was able to "visit" the house with google street-view and noticed how it had changed once again.

That happens....

And now only a few weeks ago, google street-view revealed that the
house does not exist anymore. But I digress..

That's sad, though....

ttyl neb

... If all is not lost, then where is it?

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Fido Since 1991 | QWK by Web | BBS.FIDOSYSOP.ORG (1:123/140)

Quoting Joe Mackey to August Abolins on 07-01-19 07:07 <=-

August wrote to Nancy --

I stayed in the car, but she stepped out to see if anyone was home
and would let her in for a tour. About thirty minutes later, she came back with quite a story of a wonderful visit.

I imagine most people would be more willing to let in a little old
lady than an strange male.

Possibly.... but I'm sure you could look harmless enough... ;)

I regretted not going along when I had the chance!

I should have at least tried anyway...
That is a small town anyway.

That's my take on it anyway... :) No harm in trying.... :)

And now only a few weeks ago, google street-view revealed that the
house does not exist anymore. But I digress..

Many of the places I've lived are no longer around for any number of reasons. I keep thinking how with it gone people are losing money on tours once I become rich and famous (or infamous) with signs I once
lived there. :) Joe

If you become famous or infamous enough, they'll put up plaques/signs on
the road marking the place even without the building there... :) Never
fear, they'll find a way to make money off you... <G>

ttyl neb

... The computer is fine; I'm experiencing technical difficulties...

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Fido Since 1991 | QWK by Web | BBS.FIDOSYSOP.ORG (1:123/140)