I love Activerain and yesterday was just another reason to love it even more. I have a house listed that has some amazing history behind it and one of the things that was found during the remodel was some love letters written during World War II.
The Schiller Station home was an amazing home that was a stop along the Portland to Estacada rail line and the Schiller family built this home along the rail line in 1912 where they raised their five kids. In 1951, after all the kids had moved out, and even though some of the kids still lived in the neighborhood, they sold part of their farmland, along with the Schiller Station home, to a family with six kids.
Now, let's fast forward to 2008 where my client and builder brought this home back to life and now put it up for sale after four long years of work. The flyer box is outside and a friend of the family that moved in during the summer of 1951 drives by and grabs one of those flyers. One of things we advertised with this home was that we found a lot of things in the walls like magazines, post cards, and even some love letters from 1944.
I wrote a post about these on Activerain and when she searched for Schiller Station, she came up with my Activerain post about the home and the love letters. It seems the postcard that we thought was the Schiller's turned out to be of the Walker Family that moved in over the summer in 1951. The person who picked up the flyer recognized her friend from the picture on the postcard. She went to the website to see a larger picture so she could confirm that it was her friend's picture. She contacted her friend, who used to live in the house and told her what she had found. The prior occupant of the house contacted me to see if she could get the postcard back.
The current owner, of course, agreed and last night we spent two hours walking through the home, found out what has changed in those 50+ years, and to our surprise she brought even more pictures of the home and her family to share with us. I will be getting copies from her soon.
Well, as we talked and showed her the post cards, we showed her the love letters since her last name matched the one on the cards. Guess what, those letters were being written to her mom from her father who had written them while at basic training in 1944.
Now, here is the awesome news about those love letters. Her mom is still alive and we have handed all the love letters over to her. Her mom is going to be coming out in the next few weeks and we can't wait to walk her around the property and show her how good it looks now, and hopefully, even get some more stories about the house.
So, thanks to Activerain and the story of the love letters, love have found its way 64 years later, but the love letters have now been returned to their rightful owner and we couldn't be happier about it. I can't wait to write about how the showing goes with mom and what she thinks of the remodel.
Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739
Todd Clark and the Friendly Home Team
Knipe Realty
Todd@IFoundYourNewHome.com
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)746-9573
I am a licensed Realtor who specializes in Washington County, Oregon and also work in both Clackamas and Multnomah Counties including the cities of Aloha, Beaverton, Canby, Clackamas, Gladstone, Gresham, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Sherwood and Tigard. All information contained in these posts are copyrighted and cannot be used without prior written approval authorization from the author me Todd Clark. If you are looking for an outstanding agent please give me a call I would love to help you with all your real estate needs.
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That is awesome!
What a thrill. Great business we're in right?
Todd, that was touching. There is definitely some real history in that particular property. I will help you in any way possible. I am direct to real REO'S. if you know any real buyers please let me know. Thanks!
Peter - It was one of the best experiences I have had in real estate.
Todd what a great story about Active Rain and a love connection 64 yr later.
Todd- Wow what a great story. How wonderful for the lady to receive her love letters back. I hope you will post the rest of the story when she walks through the home, This reminds me of "If these walls could talk"- Great Post
Keith - We have been trying to find out as much as we could about this home since we listed it, knowing that is where the value and love is in this home.
Todd, how fun for the mom to get those letters after all these years. Priceless!
Gary - It was neat that Activerain had such a part in this person finding us and the letters. I can't wait to hear the mom's reaction.
Todd, that's a really cool story and those families are lucky that you're an agent that shares more than just shop talk on AR. Congratulations on the experience.
Wow, you just never know what you are going to get in out of the Rain!
Todd, what a wonderful touching story. Have you thought about calling the news channels. They should enjoy reporting something this wonderful after all the crap they have to report. I would think they would jump on this.
Barbara - We have actually contacted the show, but haven't heard a response back yet. (A little disappointed on that one)
Todd, how awesome. That is going to be a neat tour with Mom, I'll be looking forward to reading your post on her visit. The ower of The Rain!
Linda - It will be a thrill to hear back on mom's reaction. It was certainly enjoyable for me to hear the stories.
Todd,
That has to be the "Feel good story" of the summer!
Mark - I'm glad I do also, because we looked for these families, but because of deaths and name changes we were unable to find them.
Cristal - Certainly didn't expect this!
That is wonderful to be part of something that is really going to make someone happy. That is one of the things I like about working in real estate and with people - the chance to make them happy.
Fred - That is a great idea as you are correct they would eat it up and maybe it would help me sell the home.
Todd....nothing to say except what a great feeling to find the owner of the letters and stuff. Finding out more about the house and stuff is just the icing on the cake.
Todd, what a sweet story and a perfect ending!
Duane - I am hoping to get the news to cover it and if not, I'm going to try to film it for a great blog post.
Mark - I have to say it did feel great to find the owner of those letters.
TODD - That is one of the best stories that I've read on AR. It sounds like something from a movie. I'd be interested to read more about what happens when the mother tours the home.
Todd - what a great thing to be part, to help reunite a family with some of their history
Regina - I agree this is certainly one of the best feel good moments I've had since getting in to real estate.
Todd that is an amazing story - thanks for sharing - can't wait to get updates when you meet her. :)
Todd- That really is a heartwarming story. My Mom's family has a home that's been in the family since the early 1900's and in one of the barns we found love letters from a family member that dated to the civil war. It was amazing how well they wrote in those days! Unfortunately this family home will probably go on the market within the next year or so. I can only hope another family buys it and creates their own history there as well. It's so cool how this house you write about has "protected" those love letters all these years.
Todd, what a great story! This network has become so much more than anyone could have anticipated. Reminds me of so many other Activerain success stories of people finding relatives. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy - That was neat, but knowing the person those letters belong to is still alive and that she will once again hopefully feel the same joy she had the first time reading them may happen again 64 years later.
Leslie - It really is isn't it?
Adam - Thank you and I have to say walking around the house finding out what the house looked like in 1952 and how they lived almost felt like I was in a movie with the pictures that she brought with her. It really was one of the great stories of my career.
Mike - I can't wait until the mom arrives here and gets to see the house now that it has been completely remodeled.
Cyndee - I can't wait to update everyone, it is something I certainly looking forward to showing.
Matt - Oh, I hope your family can keep it also. I love history in homes and love to hear the stories. I'm really looking forward to get even more stories from the mom.
Debbie - Wow, I can't even imagine finding relatives because of the net, I know we did find my wife's grandfather because of the net though.