As we continue on with things like the exterior carpentry and interior priming, updates on the house may slow down a bit. Unfortunately, there’s just not much to tell when it comes to these things, and work is being done so slowly carefully that the changes are harder to recognize. So, in the meantime, I’ve asked a few people to be “guest bloggers” on the site. Today, we are starting with my dad, Jim Powers. He’s been not only extremely supportive of our project, but excited and enthusiastic as well…which is very much appreciated!! Enjoy this little blurb from him, and have a marvelous day! :)
I remember growing in the 60’s and 70’s in New Bern in our classic American Foursquare home on National Avenue down in New Bern. Our house was built in 1907 (I think) and was very much in the style of Sarah and Charles’s home, although not as big. We moved into that house when I was in the 7th grade from probably a 1000 square foot 3 bedroom/1 bath house a few blocks away that was in a flood plain. It also had recently caught on fire so moving seemed like a good idea to my mom and dad I suppose. I remember first going into the National Avenue house and thinking it was soooo BIG and ceilings were soooo HIGH! I loved that house. It too was in pretty bad shape when mom and dad bought it (not as bad as the Taylor Gaylor house, but still pretty bad). My dad, probably the tightest man with a buck I ever knew, called in favors, found people from all over who were willing to work for cheap (or maybe for ice cream since he was an ice cream route supervisor for Maola Milke and Ice Cream!). As far as I know, he and mom never borrowed money for fixing up that house and just did a little at a time as they could.
The things I remember most about the National Avenue house:
1. The metal roof. Nothing like a gentle rain peppering a metal roof.
2. The big front porch. We spent many an evening sitting on that big front porch. We had a nice porch swing and I remember swinging back and forth in that swing so much I would literally get sea sick!
3. No air conditioning. I laid awake many nights in the summer time with a fan blowing directly on me waiting for the heat to ease up so I could go to sleep. But really, no one had AC on National Avenue back then. I never thought too much about it.
4. No heat upstairs in the house. Most of the time this was not a problem, but on those coldest mornings after you’ve been snuggled up under about 5 blankets and have slept so good, getting out of bed and hitting that cold floor meant you headed downstairs – in a hurry. Mom and dad finally put central heat and air in the house after me and my sisters all had left home – what’s up with that?
5. The train switching yard. There was a train switching yard about 2 blocks from our house. I remember laying awake at night listening to the trains clanging and banging (usually while I was trying to get cool enough to go to sleep). Train switching is a soothing sound
6. Neighbors. These houses were built on very small lots and National Avenue was in an area where people walked by on the sidewalk a lot. If you were out on your porch, more times than not someone would drop by and visit a little while.
7. Dinner. My mother worked (full-time as I recall) as a bookkeeper for a car dealership, but she always, ALWAYS cooked dinner for the family and we ALWAYS had canned biscuits with whatever we were having. I am not sure if that was because she was a lousy biscuit maker (probably not), or convenience, or my dad just preferred canned biscuits – but we always had canned biscuits.
8. Christmas. My mother LOVED Christmas (my dad tolerated it) and we always had a Christmas Even Open House where neighbors would drop by for a visit along with food and Christmas cheer. Christmas was a fun time at 1304 National Avenue.
Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of our National Avenue house back in the day, but this is an image I snagged off of Google Earth. Other than some of the plantings, not much else has changed. Glad to see it has been kept in good repair. It is easy to see how many of our oldest friends have commented on the similarities between the Taylor Gaylor house and our old house on National Avenue.
Charles and Sarah, I hope your kids have the same fond memories growing up at 702 Park Avenue as I did at 1304 National Avenue! I love you both!
Great memories, Jim. And about the biscuits… The story was that Daddy didn’t like MAMA’S homemade biiscuits and was known to go to the store for canned biscuits when we were out!!
Great stories Jim! I wasn’t at your mama and daddy’s many times, but the times I was there had great memories!
I loved that house. I loved walking in and feeling Miss Charlotte give you a big squeeze hug. I also thought it was a grand house — I loved the ceilings and the size of the room downstairs. I remember hearing Jim play his drums upper stairs. I remember knowing Steve Bengal lived across the street! :) The Ross’s lived down the street and DeAnna Hayes and her family lived down the street behind the church. And the Maola Milk plant was on the river behind the house. I remember having my first wedding shower there hosted by Amanda and Stacy, Miss Charlotte and Margaret Volney and Big Bird coming to entertain us girls! Both of my children have attempted to locate jobs in New Bern — mostly because they simply love it just as I do and I think they know I’d follow them there. They always start out on National Avenue looking for places to live. When I could ride my bike, I always took a ride from downtown to the cemetery and every time slow down and say “that’s Jim’s old house”!
I remember visiting that house as a child and always being scared of walking down those stairs for some reason. I remember Jane being in school and telling me to go up and look in her room as she had made I believe cough syrup and I thought that was the coolest thing ever. Jim would be playing the drums and I was sooo in love with my (cousin) You know when you are small is does not matter that you are related…lol Then Amanda came along and I was crushed!!!! Love you Amanda…..Ruth was always laughing , Uncle James scared me to death and Aunt Charlotte I remember was ALWAYS so calm and had sooo much food. Good times for me in what I remember there!!!!
Such grand memories we all have of that house! I remember having a wedding shower there too. Yep-the Chirstmas Open Houses were the best. I loved that when we all started having babies, we took pictures of all of them at the Christmas Open House. Those are some pricless pictures. I remember that swing and I remember the big flower bushes in the back yard. Those were some special times!
Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Jim! Matthew and Alison were in New Bern today and we took them by the house – as well as all the other landmarks of our childhood in and around National Avenue,
I also have great memories of the National Avenue house – it was quite a departure from our cracker-box, one bathroom house on High Street (which is no longer there).
Sarah and Charles’ house does remind me so much of the National Avenue house, although was not as big, and I know was not as fabulous as Sarah and Charles’ will be when they get done with it. It is so exciting to watch the progress through the blog. Can’t wait for the next chapter!!
Things I remember about the National Avenue house. . .
Listening to thunderstorms upstairs with all the windows open. . . I think that is where I began loving thunderstorms
Our bedroom upstairs (Jane and I) with RED carpet. I have no idea why we chose RED carpet. I was already a die-hard Carolina fan by then!
The way Charlotte decorated every nook and cranny for Christmas . . . candles everywhere – and she could put any amount of greenery and candles together to make something elegant. . .
All standing around the ONE window air-conditioner!
Porch-sitting neighbors . . . the Someralls on one side and the Giddens on the other, and the Bengels across the street – it was a time when EVERYONE knew their neighbors.
Azaleas in the back yard. . . and lots of them!
Playing the big, black, upright piano in the foyer (sometimes with drum accompaniment)
Fond memories!! A very blessed childhood!!
I can’t wait to listen to the thunderstorms on the metal roof, do a lot of front porch sitting, and decorate EVERY nook and cranny at Christmas. You know I have A LOT of my grandma in me when it comes to holidays!! :)
very best memory ever at the National Ave house was the night your mom and dad held my dad’s surprise retirement party there. It was SO hard to ever surprise my dad with anything, and seeing his face when he walked into a house full of people all there just for him, and then seeing his huge grin as he said, “you got me!” is a really precious moment. Your mom could make any event special, and that one was absolutely awesome-all of his kids there, all of you guys there, all the childhood friends and his work buddies gathered together in that warm and beautiful home blessed every day by your mom’s gorgeous smile. Loved it!