by Leona Jaeger
No doubt many of us have heard the old saying referring to having to wait for something “till the cows come home.” Well, in this case it is meant both figuratively and literally! With that kind of omen, this might be the home you’ve been waiting for!
At already 100 years old when the current family purchased it in the 1930s, this Federal style home was well in need of some love. Family history tells us that it was vacant and starting to deteriorate—apparently the cows that were found wandering around the downstairs rooms didn’t mind, however. And who could blame them?
Situated on 19+ lovely acres in Yorktown, Indiana, this lovely home played quite the part in local history. Bought around 1933 by Dr. Will C. Moore and his wife, the couple updated the home to look like an antebellum style home by adding additional porches and pillars. This was after they had to chase some meandering cows out and add necessary elements such as bathrooms, closets, and and electricity. Dr. Moore worked out of Ball Hospital, but as was usual with many of the surrounding rural folks of that time period, payment for services rendered often took the form of livestock or chickens—hence, the need for the good doctor to own acreage. Horses were later added and housed in the stables which still remain. Several outbuildings are included on the property as well.
The current owner of this jewel is none other than one of Dr. Moore’s grandchildren, which means this home has been loved and in the same family for over 80 years. That kind of dedication to the home and its history is reflected in the care that has been shown it. Although the exterior was converted to more of an antebellum feel, the interior stays true to its Federal-style origins. High ceilings, wainscoting, and tall windows are all a part of its regal simplicity. An abundance of those tall windows let in plenty of wonderful, cheery sunlight, which no doubt beckons you to gaze outside onto the lovely green land surrounding the home.
My favorite room? The library, of course! Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves (complete with sliding ladder) can happily store your favorite tomes, so go ahead a pick a cozy read and sink into the chair next to the gorgeous fireplace. Of course the kitchen is my next favorite spot as it holds all the cookies and coffee that I would crave while reading my favorite book in the library. Or maybe it’s the delightful built-in china cabinet with fold-down table that adds charm. Or maybe it could be because the kitchen has ample cabinets and light to make it simply one of the most cheerful rooms in the house…except for the sunroom. The sunroom is fantastic! Although currently painted, the sunroom walls reveal bricks that were made right on the property when the house was first built. Many of the brick walls throughout the house are said to be 18 inches thick.
Does all these features appeal to you? Have you been hoping for an old home like this one for quite some time? Well, guess what? When people told you you’d get a house like this “when the cows came home”, well, the cows were here. Now it’s your turn.
AUTHOR LEONA JAEGER
From the sturdy practicality of a colonial saltbox, to the lavish details of a High Victorian, Leona believes that each old home holds a beauty, solid craftsmanship, and history that is a mystery and wonder to be explored and appreciated. Leona’s dream is to find a huge farmhouse with high ceilings, wide-planked floors (complete with hidden artifacts under a loose plank), a wraparound porch, and enough acreage to house a horse or two, some dogs, cats, goats, and a ring-tailed lemur. In her spare time she can be found with her face pressed and distorted against the car window, ogling the fantastic old homes in the surrounding areas of Pasadena, California where she lives with her loving husband (who patiently peels her face off the windows and tells her to breathe) and her vivacious 9-year-old daughter.
