Speaking of fine old homes, one of Chariton's will be sold at auction on Wednesday, June 27 --- 216 South Grand Street --- to settle the estates of the late Judge Bill and Elgin Stuart. It had been their home for 57 years.
I've always admired this house and think you should buy it --- moving to Chariton if necessary. Sale of household items will begin at 5:30 p.m. and of the house, at 7 p.m. --- write it down!
According to the auction circular, the home was built during 1890 by C.W. Rose, who I'm thinking may have been the Charles Wesley Rose who married Jennie Proctor. If I'm mistaken about that, I'm sure someone will let me know.
It's a little hard to assign a style, other than Victorian, to the house. Viewed head-on from the west, it looks vaguely colonial revival. But that I suspect is a factor of the later entry and modern shutters. My guess is that there have been substantial alterations to the front over the years, and that there might once have been a frilly front porch all across the facade, or perhaps just a different entry porch. But the absence of the shingled band that marks the transition from first to second floor on the north, east and south sides suggest a major change.
The bayed and balconied south front of the west wing is the most distinctive feature of the exterior. Imagine stepping out there with a cup of coffee as the sun is coming up? Or watching the world go by on South Grand on a summer evening.
There's also a back yard with lots of potential and considerable privacy as well as a single garage and shed. A good deal of updating has been done to the house in the last couple of years, although it always has been well maintained. So this is about as good as it gets in the marketplace for a fine old house that's always been a home rather than a self-conscious showplace.
Sale of the house will break bonds between Chariton and the Stuarts, a family that has included a line of attorneys and others that stretches back into the 1850s. And that's too bad.
If you'd like more information about the auction, including photos of some of the items to be sold, you will find it here.
1 comment:
As far as I know, the C. W. Rose mentioned here is, indeed, Charles Wesley Rose, brother of my great-grandfather Silas Howard Rose. C.W.R. married Aunt Jen (Proctor) in 1875, I believe. Uncle Charley spent the years 1898-1905 in the Klondike looking for gold; this must have been the home Aunt Jen occupied while he was gone. I have a "Victorian yard-long print" that once belonged to Aunt Jen. Maybe it hung in this house. Neat!
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