And The Plot Thickens

So we went down to the Planning Commission and picked up copies of everything that was in the files on The Property.  Sometime in the 1980’s they rescinded the law that required blueprints of alterations be kept on file, but we have good records up until then. 

And boy oh boy were there a lot of changes.  We noticed a bunch of oddities while doing the inspections: for instance, there used to be a septic tank or leach field in the back, and there are still pipes running out that way.  And there was a section under the kitchen floor that was completely inaccessable to the inspectors.  Totally blocked off.  Weird, huh?   Found the answer!  The reason is below.

• 1958: Owners Ace and Dorothy C build a house.
  • 3 bedrooms, and one each: bathroom, kitchen, fireplace, dining room, living room, and a sunken “rumpus room”.
• 1962: kitchen remodel
  • An insinkerator and dishwasher… what novel ideas!
  • The rumpus room floor is raised to the level of the rest of the house
• Outbuildings put up of good 1×12 redwood (no records, we’re estimating erection date)
• 1971: Owner Joel G (who did not live onsite at the time of the work)  alters the rumpus room and and adds a wing.
  • New wing: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a hallway and a seperate furnace & water heater
    • Extends the Master Bedroom and adds new Master Bath.
    • Repurposes one of the bedrooms to be a ‘transition’ lounge room between the old and new wings.
    • Apparently, one of the new rooms is set up to be a darkroom with a sink, who knew?
  • Rumpus Room: removes the wall seperating the kitchen from the rumpus room and bumps out its external wall into an alcove.
• 1978: Owner Michael J. adds a pool, using the last flat space in the back yard.
• Later: final bedroom is added onto the end of the wing.
• Later still, the current roof goes on.

It’s fascinating to see all the changes each owner has put onto the house; each adding their own flavor.  We even had a dentist, his name is still up on one of the garage doors.  I hope they’re all well and happy, wherever they are.