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One yard dons a sign reading "Kitty's Corner," a retreat for Kitty Nelson and her family.
"Some people rescue cats and dogs. I started rescuing houses."
Kitty Nelson spoke of the four homes that she has rehabilitated. Never did she intend to begin a collection.
Her corner home had few structural problems, if any.
"It was band-aid care -- a lot of papering and painting," Nelson said.
Antiques decorate the home, stretching from floor to ceiling with intricate trinkets peeking out of corners.
The 1870 home was originally owned by John and Belle Nordyke, Nelson said, who were married the same day as the Chicago Fire.
The front porch nods to culture in the 1800s. From there you can see some larger homes in the neighborhood, once owned by businessmen, and smaller bungalows in which workers made their homes.
The "Main Street" appeal is fast-acting as you might imagine what it was like to sit on the front porch as a parade marched by.
Two bungalows that sit across the street were at risk of demolition. An area church had planned to expand its parking space. Nelson, whose passion for historic homes got the better of her, didn't want that to happen. She purchased the two dilapidated buildings and went to work.
They rest side by side, looking back at Nelson's house like comfortable neighbors. From the exterior they are almost exact matches: extended front rooms hug the quaint porches and an original brick sidewalk borders grassy lots.
"The houses on this street have character," Nelson said. "We maintained the integrity of the period."
Her daughter, Claudia Peterson, inherited the same tenacity for saving historic homes. Peterson, a chef from northern California, purchased a Victorian home at auction.
The multi-level home is located on the same street, which makes one wonder if destiny had a role.
"I knew it had fish scales beneath the asbestos," Peterson said.
Fish-scale shingle siding was a popular choice for Victorian homes of that time. It was risky, though, to rip down the asbestos siding given the odds that it was still intact.
Peterson grins, thinking of the good luck she's had.
"She loves that we're working on her. She loves it," Peterson said.
Already referring the home as "she," it is clear that the family is putting all of their energy into the project.
"We found a newspaper from 1895 wrapped with ribbon, dolls and leather boots," Peterson said. Along with the treasures found in the home, original fireplace tile remained as well.
Walls have been striped down to the plumbing and thin-planked wooden floorboards cover each level. In the second-floor hallway a door peeks over what may have been the servants area. Peterson opens the door to reveal a steeply sloped staircase. The steps are narrow and tall and play with your balance. Once on the fourth or fifth step you can see above the attic floor where sunlight pools into the room.
The 130-year-old home boasts 9-foot pocket doors. Originally called the "Francisco Home, it is now endearingly referred to as "Queen Della Francisco."
The mother-daughter duo toured each of the rooms with energy. They have visions of what can be done.
"I think sometimes people who live in a place for years don't see the changes," Peterson said.
And many don't. Many don't notice how buildings sag from year to year until inevitably there are two options: give the time and money to redo them or bulldoze.
Peterson is in love with her home. It has a "park setting."
"Everything is salvageable," Peterson said.
Nelson rents three of her remodels out. The two bungalows and a multi-level home, which had once served as an apartment building, are available for overnight stays and retreats.
Serving people from interns, to parents of college students and nurses with extended stays, Nelson boasts a retreat-like atmosphere on a charming historic street.
From stained glass windows to dirt-floor cellars, these projects may just be the beginning to revamping some of Marshall's most familiar places.
Contact Sarah Reed at sreed@marshallnews.com
Comments
Wonderful thing to preserve history and the beauty of times gone by! Many would love to do the same but it can be very expensive. Nice to hear something positive going on on in Marshall for a change!
Thank you NJones...someone really needs to address the "slumlords" properties and such. I live in a rental and it is like pulling teeth just to get the simple things done. Ridiculous! We are good quiet tenents that pay on time, some times early, and upkeep is pretty much on us. For the amount we pay for our tiny little house our "landlord" could plow it down and rebuild every two years, and still not lose a dime. Thanks again NJones for speaking up.
The house next door to me was built in the 1840's, Miss Kitty needs to look at it, It is for sale
Well said "farmer'sgranddaughter"! Many hands do a lot more than one set.
Thank you for the directions Eric.
Ironically, during the late fifties I lived for a while in one of the first torn down of the big old houses on E. North Street. We were the last tenant. It became a church parking lot. There wasn't much structurally deficient. It needed plumbing. A church needed the space for parking.
Ah, progress.
Many older houses were built with old growth lumber, dense and select wood that is higher quality than readily available today. Every building, however, needs maintenance, and allowing an old home to fall apart after 100+ years is a shame. Comment blame has been awarded to landlords. As an occasional landlord, I can say that there are some amazingly terrible tenants who can tear up a house in no time or burn it down making meth. Perhaps with the housing bubble burst, people who could buy a house with no money down, no proof of income, etc., may return as renters and drive the tenant quality average higher. If the story included a pair of houses painted a dark, barn red with ivory trim, they are not bungalows. They are cottages. Bungalow is a style with a "low" look and generally a wide front porch across the whole front. Many bungalows have good floor plans that adapt to modern lifestyles. The "asbestos" siding that was so popular in the 1950's is really made mostly of cement. Essentially it is fiber cement containing about 1.5%-2% asbestos, but asbestos content was promoted to sell the product when the mineral fiber was considered a good thing. These days fiber cement siding comes in different shapes with a different fiber.
First I'd like to speak to "Welcome"- Your negativity speaks volumes. If you don't appreciate what Marshall has been in the past, maybe you have not attempted to "think outside of the box"! As many of us have discovered over the past 15 years (atleast), the best way to revive Marshall is by celebrating and reviving her past glory and dignity! Refurbishing a beautiful old property speaks volumes when out of town traveler's visit our town for various occasions and events! Yes, they really do notice! Marshall's past can be our new greatest source of pride if we all work together.
In the early years of Marshall up to the 1960's, Marshall was a very prosperous community with some of the finest homes in the area. Anyone who has bothered to learn about Marshall's history knows that Marshall attracted very high quality and prosperous business men and women. These people were people with high personal quality and integrity. They were sociable and religious. Their commerce and agriculture interests included many doctors, lawyers, merchants, educators and trained and skilled craftsmen and women who raised families here and eventually going to work themselves. The railroad played a huge roll in development of our city and many smaller towns who also have some nice older homes. These businesses and their owners are what developed Marshall as a fine shopping and business area with diversified appeal. There was much money to be made in these young cities which attracted families from eastern states and surrounding smaller towns. Everything needed could be purchased downtown. The areas of Eastwood, North Street, Arrow Street and Brunswick as well as other areas were the early residences of many of these fine people because they were near the hub - the Square. In addition, education and manufacturing development prospered as well.
Modern day traveler's, past residents and even tourists visit our downtown area and request to know where the oldest homes are because they want to enjoy their past granduer and beauty. Our remaining older homes that range from 1870's to even the 1950's reflect a time of great prosperty for Marshall. And these homes were built with quality workmanship that does not necessarily exist today. They are worth rehabing and restoring as residences. Sadly many of them end up as rentals and are not appreciated by the landloards who own them. Believe me if you could look up into the gables and attics of these older homes you would see design and skilled workmanship of an era gone buy!
Visitors also admire and gaze upon our 1882 Saline County Court House and praise it's prominance and importance within our Downtown area.
It's not too late for Marshall if we all find a way to do our part! Even keeping our own properties clean and neat makes a huge difference. Just drive through Blackburn, Emma, Alma, Concordia and Higginsville. See the difference?
Mrs Nelson has really made a difference on North Street. I am thrilled to see her family return to be a part of Kitty's Corner. It will take the youngster's of the 60's, 70's and 80's to bring Marshall back to life. By the way Marshall isn't dying! The drive and energy of her residents just needs some Geritol, skilled hardwork and dedication. Even more, Marshall need's for everyone to dream a little instead of taking everything for granted!
Together, we can all make a diffence - even a small one!
Wow, good for her! I sure wish Ms Nelson would give the "slumlords" in Marshall some lessons. I moved to Marshall when I was six and it was a beautiful town. I moved away in my 20's (early 90's) and recently moved back. I was utterly shocked at the rundown look of the majority of rental houses here. I can't believe the members of the city council allow this to go on (maybe they own the rundown properties???). Aren't there any laws in Marshall about upkeep? These "slumlords" want to buy up as many houses as possible and charge outrageous rent, but not be responsible for making them fit to live in. It's so disappointing to see the town I grew up in and love so much look so shabby. I sure wish there were more people in Marshall willing to "rescue" houses like Ms Nelson and her daughter!!
It is exciting to hear about the renovation of the beautiful old houses in Marshall. Maybe this will inspire others in the community to follow suite. Marshall is such a special place.
Oh "welcome"....bahumbug! I think this is a wonderful thing! I live close by and have admired the old house before they started fixing it up. It is a beautiful older home with great potential. I would have loved to buy it myself if I had the money. Miss Kitty and Miss Peterson, thank you! I can't wait to see the finished project and good luck with all the restorations. Maybe this could be a bed and breakfast too? I'd love to visit, and if not I hope to one day see the interior. : )
Welcome,
Guess things could be worse. You might have chosen "cheerful" for your "nom d'plume".
Dont know why there fixing anything up in this town the town is going broke its going to be a ghost town
On what street are the houses located? What is the nearest crossing street? I would like to drive by the next time I am in town.
Three cheers for Miss Kitty and her daughter! There are several vintage homes in this area that have been painted recently or are currently undergoing renovation and repair. They reflect the pride our residents have in Marshall. The owners are good and thoughtful neighbors.
Not so neighborly are the owners of the two houses on North Redman, around the corner from Miss Kitty. Peeling paint, unmowed weeds, missing shutters, rotted and fallen porch ceilings -- they are a blight on the neighborhood. Does the city council have an ordinance with teeth sharp enough to force the owners to clean up? If so, why hasn't it been enforced? If not, why isn't there such an ordinance?