Lost Possessions - 1927

Lost Possessions - 1927

It was a grand old house.  Sitting at the top of a steep slope over looking the road with a southern exposure.  Carpenter/farmer Henry Overhiser had selected the site and build the first house in the 1860s.  He added on and improved the home as the family expanded.  William Albert married Daisy in 1896 and took over the farm after losing his first wife and two children.  Albert became very successful and was able to add the beautiful porches and many modern conveniences.  

Like other farms, the Overhiser house was the farm headquarters.  It sustained the family with shelter, food, social life, safety and security.  The warmth in the house on a cold stormy day or night was so welcoming.  Delicious smells drew you into the warm kitchen like a magnet.  Housemates would sit around the radiant fireplace and play games.  The farm house contained the family history, photographs, books, valued heirlooms, and memories.  One would also experience this warm and cozy feeling in the animal areas of the barns on a cold winter's day.

One day in 1927 eleven year old Albert (my dad) was told by his mother (Edna) to run down to Riley's Store and get a fire extinguisher.  Albert was there in quick order as it was only a half mile to the west.  He stood behind a couple of customers and waited his turn.  Then Riley said, "Albert what can I do for you?"  To which Albert said, "our house is on fire, can I borrow a fire extinguisher?"  Everyone in the store rushed to the big house but were unable to extinguish the fire that had started in a chimney.  The back addition to the house was saved and is still used today by Allan as a tool shed.  However, most family possessions were lost that day. 

I would expect Edna took charge and found housing for the family while Bill took on the task of rebuilding to the west of the burned out house.  A tool building was expanded and became the "new house".  The Bill and Edna house was home for Albert, Ken, Doris, Ed, Janet Joyce (1-8-1929) and Bill (William Douglas 2-5-1936).  That same house has been welcoming, warm and cozy for generations.  Fifth generation farmers Allan and Kim have more than doubled the size of the Bill and Edna house with two major expansions.

The mortgage on the grand old house became a blessing.  Daisy wanted to be paid for signing over the farm to the newlyweds.  Therefore, in 1916 Bill and Edna had to borrow money.  With the help of Aunt Olive (Wm Albert's sister) and Uncle Sam Galbraith, a $4,000 mortgage was secured.  The First State Bank of Allegan required insurance be carried on the house so we assume Bill and Edna received some insurance money to help rebuild.  A second major fire at the farm occurred in 1941 when the big barn burned.  That fire may have been started by smoldering green hay.

We all face disasters and disappointments.  How we react and move on is a lifelong challenge.  Bill and Edna moved past their disasters with class. 

At The Farm December 1, 2010

Life at the farm is in traditional winter mode.  Tree trimming, equipment maintenance, attending farm meetings, snow plowing, school activities, township business, and preparing for Christmas vacation.  Water and electric lines have been run to the small animal barn and the larger small animals have been sold.  The chickens have been moved to the chicken coop which sits on the site of the big barn that burned.  The cider is gone and the cooler only has a few apples left.

Sweet summer fruit dreams this winter.