Lessons from an old house

311 S. Meridian is an old house by today's standards. We think it was built in 1952. The blue prints we found are dated 1948, but they are generic, not specific to this house since there are modifications (we have no fireplace and the prints show one.) The on-line record of this place, which now exists nationwide for most houses over 10 years old, shows construction in 1952. I am not hung up over four years, but it gives you the idea of the technology we are dealing with...to wit:

1. Electrical service - it has fuses and breakers (not sure of the amperage service, but not over 100.)
2. Electro-mechanical controllers for the heating system...weird, looking, sounding, hard to find parts.
3. Concrete...dark and brittle in some spots.
4. Roof...3/4 inch boards not plywood.
5. Hardwood floors in all but the bath, kitchen and laundry...there we have sheet goods.
6. Mostly two prong outlets...some three. Again, wierd.
7. Plaster walls, not drywall.
8. Siding...wood with many layers of paint.
9. Garage door opener...electro-mechanical, not analog let alone digital. My mother had one that looks like this one and she had it installed in 1965.
10. Toilet...3 gallon flush not one. Aleene thinks we ought to change it to conserve water, but I differ....you figure out why.
That's enough...you get the point.

Aleene is off taking care of kids and I am waiting the return of Sparky (navy term for electrician) to see if he could find parts for our livingroom heating system. He got the bathroom going yesterday, so we are making progress. The other rooms are fine.

As we go forward, I will let you know what else we find. In a perverse kind of way, this is fun.