And you thought I was kidding about the blackberries!

The Caton House is officially ours! We signed papers the 20th and hope to take possession before the June 4th deadline. The nice folks we bought it from have found some old tile and hardware that they're giving to us! They're really glad that we bought it because they know us and they know we can make the house look beautiful again.

There's an estate sale company going through the inside sorting stuff for the estate sale next month, and our employees and I have been working in the yard. I was there most of the day today and my arms are so sore I can hardly lift them! Take a look at the latest photo, that's John with the loppers. We made a lot of headway, and actually found the magnolia tree that's deep in the blackberries. And that's just one patch of them - the whole alley is lined with a huge blackberry "hedge"! Then there's the bamboo which I'm fairly certain is the running kind which means it spreads like wildfire! Not good. I like bamboo but it can be extremely hard to control unless it's the clumping kind. There are also forget-me-nots (Myosotis) blooming, as well as blue bells (Hyacinthoides) and of course dandelions! So there's a lot of work ahead in the yard as well as in the house! The starlings are raising a family in a birdhouse that's nailed to a huge black walnut tree at the rear of the property so we were being serenaded by the chicks peeping and the adults scolding us.

Brian has been working on the plans to restore the exterior as well as looking for replacement materials that are in keeping with the period of the house. We've found that part of it has wooden gutters! We are also looking into roofing material that will be historically accurate-looking, so either cedar shakes or a composite material that looks like cedar but is far less combustable. I'll post the results of our research as I find out the details.

Now, I'm going to go soak my sore muscles in the Jacuzzi!

Paperwork, paperwork

It's been snowing paperwork here for 2 weeks now. And we haven't even closed yet! We've been meeting with our realtor, attorney, accountant, banker, and city planners. I'm already tired of signing my name and closing isn't until Friday. We hope. The title company has found a glitch in the title: a document that was never recorded. The folks at the title company have been working hard to track down the errant paperwork so we can move forward. We've used this title company before and they've always been great! First American Title if you're interested.

If we close on Friday 4/20 as planned we won't take possession until June 4. The current owners have lots of stuff to sort thru as Bob was a packrat of cosmic proportions! We knew they would need time after the sale so we're letting them occupy the house until then. In the meantime we'll be able to start working on the yard, and do a little work on the outside of the house. The backyard has been taken over by blackberry bushes which are hell to remove. Blood transfusion anyone?

We met with 2 city planners last week to get a feel for the permit process. Because it's an historic building we'll need approval from the city Historic Resources Commission (HRC) before we make any exterior changes. It sounds like the process will take at least a couple of months, partly because the HRC only meets once per month.

I've been doing some horticultural research to find out what plants were popular here 150 years ago. I know the pioneers brought some plant material with them, and I'd like to keep the landscaping historically accurate. I realize that I won't be able to use accurate varieties in some cases but I can get close. I'm not good at waiting, and am itching to tackle the place. Brian has been working with CAD to prepare an "after" plan and images. The elevation drawing makes the place look amazing! I can't wait to see it like that, as it once was.

One of the most inspiring things has been the reaction of friends & family - very happy for us, and encouraging us, and we've had offers of help from surprising places. Our attorney, a young couple we've only known about a year, and an old friend we haven't seen in a very long time may be coming here to pitch in! Although the young couple I mentioned drove by the Caton House today and emailed me "You bought that? On purpose?" Another friend (and our insurance agent) said when he drives past the house he hears the theme song from the Addams Family! I think we know too many comedians...

The Caton House history

Jesse H. Caton left his home state of Missouri in the company of the famous Applegates to travel the Oregon Trail. He helped to bring the first wagon down the Blue Mountains. He met and married Precious Starr in 1848; she had come here on the Oregon Trail earlier that year. They lived in several areas of Western Oregon before buying a house & tract of land (Lots 1 & 2, Block 16) from Levi Phillips in Corvallis in 1859. Jesse lived in the house until his death in 1863, after which time his family continued to occupy the property until 1913. On March 29, 1913 Jesse’s daughter & son, Ida Forston & J. L. Caton, sold the property to Anna M. Irwin. On April 12 of that year she sold the house to J. H. D. Goldson. Georgia & J. H. D. Goldson sold the house on May 3, 1921 to Sarah J. Brown, who sold it to Stella Brown on January 17, 1925. Stella Brown, a Corvallis bootlegger, quit claim to the property on February 16, 1937 and left Corvallis. On October 30, 1940 Paul & Marion Gathercoal bought the house and property for $800 from the City of Corvallis. They sold it to Paul’s brother Jim & Cleona Gathercoal on November 13, 1944. Jim was a local architect. He sold the house in 1953 to Robert Irwin who lived in the house for about 50 years. Bob’s son & daughter-in-law, Tom & Jill sold the house to Brian & Kris on April 20, 2007.

We (Brian & Kris) own a design/remodel firm and intend to restore the outside and yard to its original beauty, and convert the inside into our showroom & offices.