View from the park bench on the front lawn.
One of the benefits of going to the home site on a weekday late morning is you get to connect with other Laura Fans. In this case, it was my tour guide! I was the only visitor on the 11:30 am tour, so she and I had our run of the place. I told her I had toured the house many times in the past, so instead of giving me the canned tour, she agreed to let me in on what's been happening the last 20 years, and point out some of the things they've updated.
The back stairs were repainted, reinforced, and opened up, so you could see up into the attic rooms. These were a revelation, as these were closed off previously. What's crazy about these stairs is they are essentially a narrow ladder to shimmy up there. The 1920s must have been the era of the mint green paint, it's the same color that was used in my parent's attic room.
They also opened the master bathroom off the bedroom for viewing, but not to use. Laid out were her small cache of cosmetics, including her brand of perfume, Shalimar. Except the Shalimar, her brands were strictly drugstore. She's a thrifty Scotswoman!
She and I lamented the choice to build that #@$! parking lot while we were in Laura's little office. One of her visions for the farm was for her windows to be "living pictures," a modern choice on par with Frank Lloyd Wright's vision in his architecture. I cajoled her to let me take a step, maybe two to view the upstairs as the noon sun was streaming into the windows. Nothing doing.
We discussed and celebrated Almanzo's artistry, noting the handmade sewing kit he fashioned out of cigar boxes, the lap desk made from scrap wood and polished to a velvety finish, the canes, the shoes, his twig lamps, the cypress log table, and of course the stone fireplace Laura begged him to make for her of natural stone from the farm.
Placard side 1.
Placard side 2.
Side view of the farmhouse, the screen porch is still off-limits.
The dining room and dumbwaiter into the kitchen. This is where she sorted and answered fan mail.
The anniversary clock Almanzo obtained as a gift for Laura in the mid-1880s.
Ground zero for Laura fans. This is the side office off the bedroom where she sat to write the Little House books.
Her fainting couch in the office, where she would rest and remember. This is one of her big picture windows, and I tried to take the picture at just the right angle so I wouldn't get the #$!% parking lot below.
An example of Almanzo's craftsmanship, a twig lamp.
The front parlor, with the couch facing the west windows. The family library is in the back and I craned my neck to see what titles are there. I understand there's a list of the books available in the bookstore if you want a Little House literary challenge.
The music library features an organ, a credenza filled with music, and a big portrait of Rose. Say what you will, Rose had style.
They say they left the house untouched from the day she died, so this was her last jam.
When is a vase not a vase? When it is a celery vase! Apparently, celery was very expensive back in the day, and this was THE wedding gift to give because celery = luxury.
What is a rare treat for a modern LauraFan? Being able to enjoy Laura's front porch. Twenty years ago, the porch was off-limits to visitors; this visit, not only were the front doors thrown open, I was able to walk out and experience being one of her guests.
The ravines are over there. The best guess is natural erosion and modern plumbing have rendered the Wilders' natural spring obsolete. I tried getting back there but there were too many vines, weeds, and growth.
Wilder back porch. A reminder that while this is a literary historical site, while she was living, it was a farm with working spaces.
I was invited to take a spin through the newest feature, which was dubbed Almanzo's Garage, coming next.
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