The Old Homestead

Today, I took that rare, away from the farm, errand run - post office, paint store, lunch with Glenn at his invitation; lastly, dropping Glenn off to pick up his log truck. 

old, log tobacco barn at new location

Earlier this week, Glenn (my Glenn) helped Glenn Wilson, a friend and log home professional, transport the logs of an old tobacco barn from Danville, Virginia to their new location in the south end of our county.  This reconstructed log barn will become some one's home.  It will be beautiful. 

old, existing chimney on site incorporated into the new home

Our actual acquaintance with Glenn Wilson is relatively recent; although, we have been aware of his descendants for years.  Early in the chain of ownership; our farm, Mountain Glen Farm, use to be the farm of Glenn W.'s ancestors.

Prior to our purchase of the 182+/- acres in 1989, Glenn W. disassembled the old, log home which was located down hill from the farm's current dwelling.  This log home was intentionally built near one of the large springs found on the property.  We knew the site; but we never saw the home, until recently.

Glenn W. masterfully reconstructed the two-story log home (called a 'mansion' in the deed) as accurately original as possible, nearby, for his own residence.  Touring his home was like going back in time.  I could picture that house back on our farm - imagining the kids running in and out, livestock being tended in the adjacent field, household water being retrieved from the spring in a wooden bucket.  Old fruit trees and spring daffodils continue to mark the site.  I used the brick chimney remains to border some of my flower beds, as a kind of connection with those who came here before me.  Those bricks have real value.

I wish that house was still located on Mountain Glen Farm.  But, we would never have had the finances to return the house to its former character.  The structure would have continued to deteriorate under our watch.  Becky was glad that Glenn W. was able to save and restore a precious part of local history - his family's history.  I concur.  One less tangible lost to the past, one more to appreciate.  And, we are left with an area in the lower pasture we call, 'The Old Homestead'.  I can live with that!


Note:  Look at the large photo at the top of the blog - the tree in front of the pond is located at the site of  'The Old Homedstead'.