A Centennial House and Farm

My sister, Sheri, has the most amazing home.  She lives on a farm that is registered as a landmark with the Oklahoma Historical Society's Centennial Farm and Ranch Program.  Her husband's family has owned and farmed this land for over 100 years.  I think this is pretty amazing considering Oklahoma has only been a state since 1907.

Five generations ago, in 1903, the family who bought this land actually lived in a dugout for some time while building their home. The farmhouse has been added onto over the years and was remodeled approximately 15 years ago. Still remaining inside, are several features original to the home.

In addition to farming, this property was also once an operating dairy farm. They now raise Black Angus beef cattle, alfalfa, wheat and sod grass. 
Wouldn't you just love to look out your kitchen windows and see this kind of view? I would! Without a doubt!

Due to not paying attention to the settings on my camera, I only captured a few good shots this time. But I decided I still wanted to share these pictures of Sheri's home with you.

A cast iron tub in the downstairs bath. Old, definitely, but probably not original to the house.
Notice how she used an outdoor urn to hold her towels. I love this idea!

The front door is original to the house and well over 100 years old! When they remodeled, layer after layer...after LAYER of paint had to be painstaking removed to reveal the beauty of the wood beneath.

The staircase is also original to the house.  This staircase is only 28.5" wide and turns as you reach the upstairs landing. This is quite narrow! Building code for stairs in a residential home is 36" wide! The staircase in my house is closer to 48" wide! 

Sheri shared with me a story found in the genealogy records of her husband's family. There is a diary entry about the original lady of the house.

"Aunt Rose, we're guessing, was about 400 lbs. the last time I saw her in 1936." It was said she only traversed those stairs once a day and each time "She and the staircase groaned as she hauled her large mass upward."

Sheri and her family love that they have this kind of humorous, yet loving, details of their ancestors! Needless to say, this house was built to last!

Sheri's home is filled with antiques, heirlooms and paintings done by family members. She has nurtured this sense of family history, yet still maintains a beautiful and stylish home.

You can see her son Tyler's bedroom HERE.

I hope to bring you more of her beautiful home in the future. (When I remember to use the right settings on my camera, of course!)

Whether actual family heirlooms or found heirlooms, a space becomes so much more warm and inviting when we are able to use pieces with a history!
What are your favorite old pieces? Are they found items or passed down through your family?

Have a Blessed Day!

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