We drove to Austin recently and spotted this old Victorian beauty on the way there.
It’s fallen into terrible disrepair and looks like it’s been abandoned for a long time.
Can you tell it was a cold, grey, and dreary day when these photos were shot?
I stopped to admire the beautiful old trim on the front porch.
Judging from the siding stacked on the front porch and the lumber strewn here and there, someone has obviously been trying to salvage this old beauty.
There was also a stack of old porch posts propped up in a corner in the back.
It pained me to see this. Still does.
There was something extra special in the backyard.
It was a cool old Morris pickup — it sat between the house and a dilapidated barn.
No telling how long it’s been sitting there.
If money were no object, I think it’d be so cool to fix it up and drive it regularly. It’s probably next to impossible to find parts.
Hope you enjoyed seeing photos of this old place!
[UPDATE as of 5/19/14: According to Delores (comment below), the Historic Society at City of Kosse has purchased this property and plans to to restore this beautiful piece of history.]
Isn’t it sad that a beautiful old house like that was left to deteriorate to that point? And the truck would be fun to drive around town.
Yeah, it is. We see them all the time. I’m sure that people had a reason to abandon them, but it’s got to be a recurring reason(s). What it is, I wish I knew.
I was hoping the house was one of YOUR next projects!
I wish.
What a grand lady she once must of been! I love old houses-they have such character! It’s hard to see one rotting away. Cool old pick up! Now wouldn’t that be fun to have in working order?
I think it’d be such fun to drive that little truck.
oooh that delicate trim. That girl is a beaut! The morris minor was a dreamboat and glasses hanging on the rear view mirror. In this case the I would prefer the M.M., all restored of course. I love a woody wagon. Tis my dream car.
Great post !
Yeah, I fell in love with that little truck. It would be so cool to drive it and show it off.
Oh what a beauty! We live in a 120 year old Queen Anne Tower home. It was scheduled for demolition 30+ years ago. A couple bought it and did some cosmetic repairs and sold it to us so they could rehab a larger version of our house. We bought it 34 years ago and totally re did all the HVAC and have rehabbed it through the years of raising 5 children in it. I absolutely love our home and it makes me sad to see this gem in such disrepair. It can be done but it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears! DH learned how to rewire and plumb. The only thing he didn’t do was to reroof (we took it down to the rafters). We have salvaged Victorian gingerbread from homes that are about to be razed.
Wow! I applaud you for the time, sweat, splinters, headaches, body aches, and money it must have taken to renovate your old home. I love to hear when they’ve been saved from disappearing. If you have two really good photos of the ‘before’ and ‘after’, I’d love to feature them on the blog sometime.
how fabulous she once was….and still is:)
I knew you could see her as she was as a youth, as compared to how she looks as an old lady.
Sad about this house and so many other. The more things change the more things stay the same… the colors are ON TREND even for today.
Yes, sad she is not in her glory days. But, any chance someone has even abandoned the demolition? Does not look like the salvage is too serious. Be nice if you could get it as I know you would use/sell the parts for other fabulous projects.
I think whoever is salvaging her either doesn’t know how to do it or has lost the motivation. I would love to salvage it — the issue is whether we CAN due to distance and costs.
Would be wonderful for you if was practical.
For sure!
Oh my goodness – what a wonderful old girl. Darn if I could win the lottery and have to money to restore one of these beauties. A girl can dream :)).
Thanks so much for sharing.
I dream all the time, Debbie. No harm in that. 🙂
What a dream of a home, and what a bonus to find the Morris Minor Woody Wagon. My husband and I had one that needed to be restored years ago, we traded it to someone else who ended up trading it to someone else down the line. It would cost a fortune in millwork for both the house and the wagon. It would be nice to know where this car is located, if you don’t mind sharing. We live in San Antonio, so wouldn’t it be a ‘coincidence’ if it were actually the same car that we traded away so many years ago.
Smiles,
Carol
The house and car are located in Kosse, Texas right on Highway 7 just east of town. How funny it would be — how coincidental — if it wound up being yours.
Kim,
Great news about this house! The historic society of Kosse have now taken ownership of this home and are beginning to hold fund raisers, selling t-shirts, etc. to raise money to restore this beautiful piece of history. My mother was born in Kosse and we pass by this house and take pictures of it whenever we are in town. The entire town is so excited to get started. They are not sure what they might do with it yet. B & B, Library, Museum, etc. etc.?
That is fabulous news!
My daughter goes to Baylor and we are on our 4th year this year, so you can imagine how many trips I make. Everytime I get into Kosse I start thinking about “my” house!!! haha, (a girl can dream). I slow down ever time I go by this ol’ gal! I love her and wish she were mine. Good News about the historic society having adopted this beauty!!!! Hopefully something fabulous for everyone to enjoy. I will definitely keep tabs on the status, progress and news on her!!!!! Great News!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
Honestly, I would have loved to salvage that old place, but was delighted to hear the news of the historic society’s restoration intent. It will be a HUGE job, but more power to them! Hopefully they can turn it into a museum or maybe a bed and breakfast. That road through town gets a ton of traffic — I would think a B&B would do well.
Man I wish I could live here, before I ever saw this house, it was in a dream of mine. I wish I could just walk around inside.
I reconized that house as soon as I saw you photo! I have family that lives in Ft.Hood, so we have been driving by this house for about 10 years. We have stopped and taken pictures and we’re so happy to hear that she is going to be restored.