Downsizing the Family Homestead Pt 6

The process of downsizing a multi-generational home and moving several states away can be somewhat daunting! This is how I managed it!

For the Love of Old Houses

For The Love of Old Houses is a website that specializes in highlighting older homes.  Allyson, the person in charge of the website is intrigued by the history and the charm of older homes.  They feature mostly pre-1960’s homes but also share unique homes and mid-century modern homes occasionally. Their tag line is: ~Connecting Old House Lovers to Their Dreams~

I have followed them on Facebook for the last couple of years.  Late last week, I reached out to Allyson to see if she could feature my farmhouse.  She graciously agreed to feature my home and it was featured yesterday on their Facebook and Instagram pages!  So exciting!

Here is the information she shared:

Live the Vintage Charm of Yesteryear in Rural Champaign County! This American Foursquare Farmhouse (3100+ sq ft) sits on 4.35 surveyed acres. With 9 Outbuildings and a second home situated on the property, this rural farm has enough room for a business, hobby farm, livestock or just room to roam.

Farmhouse has newer addition with wood burning fireplace open to eat-in kitchen and newer bath featuring garden tub and shower. Four built-in cabinets in Dining Room. Spacious Living Room with hardwood floors. French doors lead you to first floor Master Bedroom and adjacent office or dressing room. Home retains the splendor of the original woodwork with functional transoms, rosette Mouldings, Built-ins, tall windows allowing for plenty of sunlight throughout the house and hardwood flooring under carpet. Five bedrooms upstairs with additional storage. Recently rebuilt front porch with original fretwork, Original decorative gables, Concrete Patio, 2-car detached garage.

Other outbuildings consist of Barn, Corn Crib, 2 workshops, Screened pavilion with concrete floor, smaller screened workshop also with concrete floor and an Everlast Shed. Options are endless with these outbuildings – great for outdoor entertaining, workshop, studio or canning kitchens.

Nestled behind the farmhouse and a row of evergreens sits a newer 2170 sq ft Manufactured Home. This home boasts an extremely large kitchen with desk, pantry and skylight. A 20×14 deck is just through the sliding doors in kitchen. Master Bedroom has ensuite bath/dressing room and walk-in closet. Two additional Bedrooms and full Bath are down the hallway. Parking and outdoor workshop is no problem with a 60×30 shed adjacent to second home.

Legal description and parcel will be determined. So much to see on the property – Rare Find! Call today to schedule your showing. Room Dimensions: Farmhouse: Entryway: 10×6.5; BA: 10.3×12.9; Utility: 6.5×5.5; Family Room: 15.7×14.8; Kitchen: 11.5×16.3; Dining Room: 13.5×13.5; Living Room: 14×22; BR/Office: 13.5×13.5; MasterBR: 14×13.4; BA: 8×6.5; Upstairs: BR1: 13.3×12.5; BR2: 12.5×13.3;BR3:13.5×11.2; BR4: 14.4×15.4; BR5: 11.2×13.4. Manufactured Home: Utility Room: 12.5×6; Kitchen: 14.5×26.5;Living Room: 14.7×32; Dining Room 12×14.5; MasterBR: 15.7×15; BA: 13.9×10.3; BR2: 11×14.5; BR3: 14.5×12.8; BA2: 11×5.

Contact: Ginger Denton (217) 369-4864

https://legacylandco.com/land/40-county-road-500-north-ivesdale-il-61851/

More about For the Love of Old Houses can be found on their Facebook page and their Instagram page.

Packing Update

I left Florida two weeks ago to travel to Illinois to hopefully finishing cleaning out the houses and the outbuildings.

I swear someone keeps breaking in and leaving more stuff for me to deal with!  This time, I think it was someone who used to own a flower shop!  There are piles of silk flowers and various props laying in the gathering room! Oh, wait… I put those there…..  Silly me!

While in Illinois, I had some personal business to attend to as well as visiting with a few friends and family members.  There were a few days when the weather was simply awful with wind and rain, fortunately no ice or snow, though!

There was a showing for the property early last week with a follow up showing over the weekend.  That was exciting!

Treasure Hunters

Also on Sunday, two couples came with their metal detectors to see if they could locate any buried treasures.  Lots of nails, pieces of aluminum cans and a few old buttons were found.  The most unique item they found was the lid from an old condom container!  Maybe there is some truth to the legend that before this house was built, another structure was on the property that housed ladies that would lure men from the nearby railroad for some evening entertainment!

Retail Therapy

I may have taken a break or two from packing and cleaning to visit a couple of my favorite shopping venues.  I found several garden related items that will work great in the Florida house.  Time got away from me before I could stage the items in the farmhouse for one last photo shoot before I headed back to Florida.  I did manage to quickly prop this sign up against the fireplace and take a quick picture.  The saying is quite appropriate, don’t you agree?

Until Next Time!

This would be the view from my rear-view mirror if it were summer!  It wasn’t this green when I left yesterday!

My plans to finish the cleaning out process were not quite successful!  So, I will need to make yet another trip back.   In the meantime, there are at least 35 more boxes packed and ready to go to an auction as well as most of the remaining furniture.  The people that brought their metal detectors out on Sunday helped me get the large pieces of gingerbread, a table and a wrought iron gate that originally came off my house in Cincinnati loaded into the van!

part 7