This is FarmWife's house.
This house was built in 1901, and local legend says that it was the electrical transfer station for Wickersham back when Wickersham was a real town—a metropolis, practically, serving as the meeting place between loggers and railroad men. There were brothels here then, and legend says that this house served as a whorehouse, too, after its turn as a power hub. It was also home to a huge family, later, who grew up in this house and who squeezed in so tightly that one child called the dining room closet home. It was also home to a witch, once, and in the 1980s it was so decayed that there were blackberry bushes filling the kitchen. FarmWife wants to find out the name of the family that built the house, so that someday when it's looking beautiful she can get a little plaque that says "Jinglehiemer House, 1901" or words to that effect.
FarmWife's youngest daughter was born in this house. She's lived in it for all her life, and never lived anywhere else. This is the house that FarmWife likes best, out of every house she's ever been in. She loves it, even though it needs a paint job and a porch remodel.
This is FarmWife's first house, and she can't believe she got so lucky as to find it, with her husband, and to buy it, with her husband, and to live in it for all these wonderful years.
Here's my question: if I'm you're favorite pet, and it's your favorite house, then for hay's sake WHY CAN'T I COME IN?
Ears,
FenBar
We ( Miss Jen mule and my humans) live in a 1910 farmhouse in Snohomish county that was built in 1910. We were lucky enough to have an original inhabitant drive up one day to see the house and inquire. Since then we found a website by googling "historic maps" and found the record of ownership through dozens of years. I looked at Whatcom county to see if I could find anything at Wickersham, but couldn't tell. Wasn't sure exactly where you are. Maybe you could. This past year we had a centennial party for our house and were so pleased to be able to invite the descendants of the original owners. Relatives came from as far away as California and Massachusetts. It was a great party. Maybe you can find some descendants, too. Makes for a great party. A gentleman such as yourself would be an excellent host.
ReplyDeleteNews from the Whatcom County Archives . . .
ReplyDeleteThe 1918 Block Book lists the taxpayer for Wickersham First Addition, Block 3, Lots 4-7 as J.A. Yorkston. It also shows an assessment for an improvement on this tax parcel. The taxes on lots 8-10 were paid by Sally Sigasgard. No improvements are listed on these lots.
The deed history of lots 4, 5, 6, and 7 from 1918 back as indicated in the Auditor’s General Index to Recordings is as follows:
· 11/21/1913 sold by P.S. Haner to J.A. Yorkston
· 9/13/1911 sold by J.R. Crews to P.S. Haner
· 8/1/1911 sold by H.J. Raybourn to J.R. Crews
· 5/22/1905 sold by Noah V. Wickersham to H.J. Raybourn
· 10/24/1892 Block 3 sold by William Wickersham to Noah Wickersham
· 8/3/1892 Plat of the First Addition to Wickersham recorded by William Wickersham