09/18/2018
THE 40 WEST AVENUE HOUSE SPEAKS ABOUT HER HISTORY AND NEW COLORS
In 1848, my builder took a lot of time and effort in designing me to stand out amongst the crowd with a Federal flare. I proudly stand three stories tall, have nice large windows to let the sun in, a modest crown trim at the roof line, extra trim at each window casing, and extra trim at my corner casing. I was all kinds of extra! I was painted white and some of my trim was painted blue. My owner paid a premium for that blue paint, but I was obviously worth it. Boy did I look good. You know, many houses didn’t get painted at all back then! I was one of the lucky ones.
Oh by the way, my front porch was much smaller back then. It was only in front of the door. At about 1900, my owners dressed up my classic Federal look with a Victorian porch that went across the entire front of the house. It was all the rage at the time. All the Federal houses in the area were doing it. We were all trying to compete with the beauty of the classic Victorian girls across the street even though we were much older and easier to maintain. All that detail…who could resist? Although my fancy new Victorian porch was painted white, I really held my own next to the other beauties in the neighborhood.
I stood like that for 132 years, until about 1980. My classic design was really standing up to time, but I had lost a few of my shutters and was starting to show my age as a few of the houses around me were sporting jazzy new color combinations. To keep up with trends, my new owners took me in a new direction. Woo woo… they took my shutters off, rebuilt my front porch to make me strong again and by George, they painted me pink! Yes, I was really strutting like one of those Victorian ladies and quickly became the talk of the town. I became known as “The Pink House.” I was painted predominately pink with white trim and no shutters. The porch even had an accent of a brighter pink. That’s right, I was making a statement. But I missed my shutters. The curiosity seekers came and admired my beauty every year at Christmas time; I was on tour for everyone to come inside and check out my under garments too. My owner had decorated me with pink floral wallpaper and pink paint throughout. My kitchen was white and black with bright red countertops. Yeah, I was one of the uptown girls for sure. Those Victorian girls couldn’t stand all the attention I was getting.
For 34 years, I had a great run masquerading as a lovely Victorian. But I fell on hard times and neglect and my owners eventually had to give me up in 2014. Along came new owners who vowed to bring me back to life, so that I may once again stand high and proud among the crowd. They took their time and realized the lovely core that was hiding underneath all that pink lipstick. Their goal was to preserve a piece of history and teach their children the value of hard work, learning the trades, and making me live as long as possible with all the new comforts of a more modern home. That’s right, I’m a teacher now and so proud to help young minds learn about history. I admit, I’ve requested some improvements, since I want my new owners to be comfortable. They don’t have to live like we lived in 1848, you know, going potty outside, having heat in some rooms but not in others, etc. I’ll work with them on that as long as they keep it tasteful and understand I’m a Federal both inside and out.
So now my owners are ready to unveil a part of the master plan for me. They spent years deliberating over whether or not pink was still the right color for the new and improved me. We (that’s right, I was part of the decision), decided that what I am is a “Grand Ole Federal Girl” in my bones with a touch of Victorian flare on the porch. That’s what I am and that is what many of the Federal girls around Woodstown evolved into during the Victorian era. We decided that pink was not my color. I needed colors to show off my pretty extra trim and my big sunny windows. They are painting my siding to accent those colors and to remind everyone that I’m a “Federal” not a “Victorian.” Nothing against those Victorian girls, they’re pretty in pink. That’s just not what I am.
Oh and I can’t forget, I get my shutters back, woo woo… and I know my porch will be coming soon, too. But you’ll have to wait and see. If I can wait 170 years to be this awesome, I hope you can be patient for a bit longer. As for my undergarments, well you’ll have to wait and get to know me a little better. I am still a lady with class you know!
