Saturday, January 2, 2010

Older Is Better

I like old stuff. Not old as in falling apart junk....but old as in character, with a story to tell.

In my Country Living magazine I always go to the Real Estate Sampler. I like looking at the houses. This month the houses are all under $100,000 and were built circa late 1800's. A beautiful 4400 square foot Italianate in Missouri? Or what about a 2100 square foot Queen Anne in Ohio? A 3000 square foot home in New York?  I love the architecture of older homes.  I enjoy the history that one uncovers in homes that were built long ago. What families lived and loved there? What memories were made in these houses? The truth is...these days houses, for the most part, are built without the character and detail that houses were years ago. It always makes me a little sad when I see tract home subdivisions going up in just a few short months.  All the houses are mirror images of each other. No personality. Boring.

I also love old books. I was looking through my collection today and some of the books are so funny in light of what we know now.  I own a Growth In Spelling--Book Two from 1929. The speller is for 5th through 8th graders. It has a sticker in the front of the book that this book was the property of the Carroll County Board of Education. (the county I grew up in...in MD.) It's interesting because the authors forward goes on to tell the readers that this new speller "applies psychology of learning and the facts of school life to the learning of spelling".  So cutting edge! Or what about A History Of The United States from 1904? Now this book is interesting. Neither of the World Wars had occurred yet. Many of the countries in this book no longer even exist. We didn't have several of the states that we have now. In fact one of the maps in the book has the Dakota territory, the Nevada territory, the New Mexico territory. Of course, Hawaii and Alaska were not even on the map at all! There is something about looking back, and seeing all the changes that have occurred in the past 100 years, that makes me wonder what will happen in the future? The history books of today will one day be outdated. Does anyone remember Uncle Wiggly and Jackie and Peetie Bow Wow by Howard Garis? This book is very old--one of the first editions and I wish I knew the copyright year, but the copyright page was gone before I bought the book.  I'm thinking early 1900's? The illustrations are just done in red and green, with little dots, by a Louis Wisa.

I've already let everyone know about my love of classic, black and white movies.  The 1940's and 50's were really good decades for movies. Hollywood was glamorous instead of sleazy. Eclectic instead of insane.  You know what I mean.....how many times has modern Hollywood made remakes of the originals? That's because the originals are always best. Hands down.

I could go on and on....with my love of  "the crooners" from the 50's, my collection of vintage T-shirts, antique pictures ,or my collection of handmade quilts.

I really don't think the past was so much better than the present. I don't look at the past with rose colored glasses. There are always difficulties in life, no matter what decades one lives in, but nonetheless there are still many things to love about all things vintage!!!

2 comments:

  1. Hey, That's what I say!!!! It took me 2 1/2 years to find our home. I wanted one that had old wood work and high ceilings...pocket doors and a big front porch....
    I love it here..at least for now. I so agree with you!! Dianntha

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  2. I share your love of old things and books are my very favorite for sure. I also have old spelling and history books. I also have a couple old globes. It is interesting how the world has changed with name changes and the wars and such. I wonder how many wonderful books have been sent to the trash. UGHHH....I can't think about it. Sad!
    Glad you are helping to rescue them, like me.
    I have an old school health book from the very early 1900s. Boy is that a good one!!
    Amy

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