Just a little background on the house;

The Helm family built the original house that burned down in the late 1800's. At the time a couple and their parents were living in the home. The daughter was pregnant and due to the fire lost the baby. Unfortunately, she was unable to have any children after that. They re-built on the same spot and because of the fire put stairwells all of the 3 upstairs rooms.

My Great Great Grandfather bought the farm and the house from the Helm's and lived there with his second wife. Eventually they became to old to care for the house and the farm. When my father was about 10 my Great Grandfather purchased the farm and house from him. The house was in complete deterioration at this point, as you can see in some of the photos. My Great Grandparents and my Grandmother completely re-finished the house themselves except for things like electrical wiring and such....

On an interesting note, Jesse James was friends with the Helm's and would stay with them on occasion. His initials were carved into one of the stairwells. My Grandmother took a pencil rubbing and then painted over them! :D

All of the older pictures are mainly taken in the area around the house. My Grandmother was actually born in a house that was one farm over from the one she lives at now. That house burned down when I was a teenager.

There are lots of stories.....lots of stories :)