L.D. Williams House, 1890

In my filing and sorting frenzy last week, I ran across a copy of an old photograph with (miracle of miracles!) extensive information on the back. Judging by what it says, I believe this photograph was given to me by the late Rod Williams. Judging by the handwriting (beautiful Spencerian script) and the references to various relatives, I believe it was written by Rod’s mother, Elaine King Williams.

A Sunday dinner at The L.D. Williams new home 1900. Front Row on the Lawn left to right
Rees B. Williams – The boy on the jackass – Uncle Rees
L.D. Williams – Your Grandfather Williams
Dan Williams – Bev’s (?) father
Walter Williams – Uncle Walter
On the Porch left to right
Kenneth L. Goulter – Florence Williams’ brother
Larry Colvin – a neighbor friend
L.D. Williams – your father (on railing)
Mrs. Perry Colvin
Colin girl
Percy Graham
Think this is Bessie Graham-Ask Aunt Nell
Mrs. Sam Graham, neighbor
Mrs. Hawks – “Old Lady Hawks” an Indian woman who worked for us
Sam Graham
On the steps  – Your grandmother Eliza Moss Whealdon Williams holding your Uncle Jack age 2

But best of all is the typed label stuck on the front of the photograph: Lewis David Williams Home, Ilwaco ca 1900. Original cost $1500.00 in 1899.  Imagine!  $1500.00!

That wonderful and commodious house still sits proudly on the hill in Ilwaco. I would suspect that in any given year it costs many times that original investment to keep the lovely old structure going. And I wonder what it cost to build our house (though not nearly as grand) thirty years earlier, in 1869?  Or my great-grandfather’s house up the street (now owned by Espy/Williams descendents) built in 1872?

R.H. Espy House in Oysterville, 1872

No matter what, though, architects and contractors and suppliers who work on our old structures here in Oysterville tell us that we couldn’t replicate these buildings for love nor money these days. Not only is it impossible to get lumber milled to the old true dimensions, the very trees in the forests are different from the old growth timber that was once used. One website I checked concerning cedar shingles (required for historic homes here in Oysterville) said:

 The most significant differences in these new growth products are lack of density and maturity. This paucity… seems to affect the retention of the natural oils and acids, especially in the Cedars. This deficit of new growth Cedar results in a “softness” of the deteriorated wood in 15 to 20 years of weather exposure.

            As I said – neither for love nor money!